Unexpected: Excited and Exclaiming

Scene 3: Luke 1:57-66

Lizzy was pregnant with child and Zeke was pregnant with prophecy.  From the seed of truth sown by Gabriel nine months prior, a Word from the Lord was growing in his heart; he could hardly contain himself.  He silently wondered when he would be able to speak again.  

The day finally arrived for Lizzy to give birth.  Anticipation filled the air as all of their family and friends came to wait for the child to breathe his first breath.  They loved Lizzy and Zeke more than they could express.  They knew the heartache and disappointment that had been their companion all these childless years and now they were standing ready to join in the celebration of this new life.

After several hours of waiting and listening to the sounds of birth, the midwife emerged from the home with a gleam in her eye and Zeke by her side to declare that a son had been born and with the words barely out of her mouth the crowd erupted with cheers and praises for the Lord.  He had indeed done as he would say he would do! 

Mary, three months into her own pregnancy sat pensively on a stool at the edge of the birthing room looking into the eyes of the only other woman who had the slightest understanding of the magnitude of what was taking place.   They exchanged knowing glances and Mary’s quiet resolve and faith grew stronger.

Eight days later Zeke and Lizzy took their son to be circumcised as a symbol of their dedication to raise him to love the Lord with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength.  They would wholeheartedly embrace Moses’ teaching in Deuteronomy 6:5.  It was on this day that the couple would also go public with the name of their son.  Most assumed that the couple would name him after his father and call him Zeke, Jr. but Lizzy stood resolutely before the crowd at the altar and declared:   “He will be called John.”

The dedication was not following standard procedure.  A confused priest turned to Zeke to see his response to what Lizzy had just said.  Zeke motioned for his writing pad and to everyone’s astonishment wrote, “His name is John.”  And when he had turned the tablet for everyone to see his tongue was loosed and he began to speak, praising God and prophesying that this boy would prepare the way for the Most High, the Messiah.

News of this dedication spread quickly around the town and the region.  People couldn’t stop talking about it for years and wondered aloud the future of this child.