John is Born

When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

When the baby was eight days old, they all came to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. But his mother replied, "No! He shall be called John."

But they said to her, "None of your relatives have this name." So, they made signs to his father, asking what Zechariah wanted to name the child.

Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed. Immediately, Zechariah's mouth was open and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

All their neighbors were filled with fear and awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea talked about these events. And all who heard wondered in their hearts, "What then will this child become?" For the Lord's hand was on him.

Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us from the descendants of His servant David, as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember His holy covenant, to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember His holy covenant, the oath He swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life."

"And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for your will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feed into the path of peace."

And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

(See Luke 1:57-80)

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