When I read this passage, three words immediately came to mind - joy, obedience and praise.

JOY
When a new baby is born it is an extremely joyful time in a couple’s life. Friends and relatives descend on you with presents and advice. It was no different when Elizabeth’s baby was born. Verse 58 tells us that her friends and relatives shared her joy. It must have been particularly poignant as Elizabeth had waited so long for a child.

OBEDIENCE
In Jewish tradition children were named after family members. I can imagine the sharp intakes of breath when Elizabeth said her son was to be named John. Her family checked with Zechariah, obviously thinking that he would follow tradition, but no, he confirmed the baby’s name was to be John, as he had been told in the temple. Immediately after Zechariah did this, his silence was broken – a sign of his obedience to God.

PRAISE
You would expect that the first thing a new father would do would be kiss his wife, or hold his child; Zechariah praises God. What God had foretold through Gabriel in the temple had come to pass, and Zechariah was showing his thankfulness for the great gift God had given him and Elizabeth. I wonder if they had any idea of what was to come.

In this Advent season, may we share the joy we have in God, be obedient to God and praise God as wholeheartedly as Zechariah.

Kit Law