A Special Baby Broke the Silence

N.T.#479 " A Special Baby Broke the Silence"

Feb. 4, 2025 

Luke 1-Part 14 

LET IT GLOW

Do you remember the day your children were born? I will always remember those two special days for my husband and me. First came a baby girl and then a baby boy. The Lord had answered my prayers. We are so proud of the adults they have become, serving the Lord in their lives. Today, a special .baby is born which we will study 

Can you hear the special baby crying? Truly, silence was broken in what was once a very quiet home of Elisabeth and Zacharias, the older couple on the street. But what a blessing it was!

Zacharias had been silent for 9 months, while God had been silent for 400 years. He and wife Elisabeth waited for their special baby John to be born, a prophet from God speaking to the people of Israel. What a blessing. 

What were the special events surrounding John the Baptist's birth?

• Elisabeth had hid herself from the public for 5 months being pregnant. (verse 24)
• Zacharias had not heard nor spoken during the 9 months of his wife's pregnancy because of his doubting Gabriel's message and God's ability to give the couple a baby in their old age. (He should have known about the miracle of Isaac's birth to the old couple Abraham and Sarah.
• Elisabeth's neighbors and cousins heard how the Lord had been merciful to her, they rejoiced with her. (verse 38)
• On the eighth day, a baby boy was to be circumcised (Lev. 12:3) and named. (My thinking is they did this in the Temple, but not sure.) 
• The baby's name would be announced to the community of friends and family gathered for the baby dedication to witness its initiation into God's covenant with Abraham. (Gen. 17:10-11)
• All attending expected the baby to be named after its father Zacharias.
• However it was not so this time. Elisabeth had strict instructions to name him John, in obedience to the Lord's command.
• The family was surprised since no one was named John in their family. They expected Zacharias Jr. to be his name.
• Zacharias wrote on a tablet His name is John.  (verse 63)
• All marveled.

What things have happened to cause you to marvel at God's working?

LET IT GROW

Immediately Zacharias able to speak and name the baby John. What did he do? Zacharias praised God. It had been a long period of silence for the man. People spread the news of Zach's testimony throughout Judea. They wondered What manner of child shall this be!  (verse 66)

Also, they recognized that the hand of the Lord was with him. 

John's name means, God is gracious. 

Although Zacharias had lacked faith when Gabriel told him what was going to happen, he must have had great faith by the time the baby was born. At any rate, the father rejoiced in his God. in fact, he praised God in singing a solo.

Are we rejoicing and praising God whenever He answers our prayers?

God blessed a priest named Zacharias by answering his prayers. God had been gracious to His people by sending a prophet after 400 years of silence to Israel.

LET IT GO

Let go of doubt, insecurity, depression. 

With God nothing is impossible.

Thank You Father for our children. What a blessing they are!