And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. (Luke 1:59-62)
Don't people drive you crazy sometimes? Elizabeth told them what the baby's name was, but that wasn't good enough; they tried to go over her head by asking Zechariah. Surely he would set his wife straight!
I imagine they were deeply disappointed when Zechariah took the tablet and wrote, "His name is John." Why that name?
John means "God is gracious," and that was surely a good name for a miracle baby given by a gracious Lord. But it's even better in this case, because John came into this world to prepare the way for Jesus, our gracious Lord Himself! Because God is gracious, Jesus became our Savior, living and dying and rising again for us. Now we who trust in Him are forgiven, accepted by God, and made new.
WE PRAY: Gracious Lord, thank You for coming to save us. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Do you ever get into conflict with your relatives or neighbors?
* What does it mean to be gracious?
* Tell about a time when God has been gracious to you.
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 79-80 Revelation 7
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