Saturday, December 11, 2021

Readings:
Isaiah 12:2-6
Amos 9:8-15

Luke 1:57-66
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. 

So, I was always told I had a “look” as a kid. It was a look of me thinking.  My family would always laugh and say… “Charles must be up to something.” I wonder what look Elizabeth had in her eyes. There was something very special about this baby. She knew it. If I were a betting man, I’d bet her eyes were fixed on him.  She was overhearing the whispers of what his name should be and I think she let out a firm spoken word. Ok, that’s a nice way of saying, she let her mom voice out. Those of you who are mothers, you know that voice. You fathers know it, too. Your ears perk up just as much as your kids, I’m sure. 

“No! He is to be called John.” Now, this is a different time. Rights weren’t the same as they are, today. This wasn’t a request. This was not a plea. This was a spoken proclamation. This was one of the first most powerful statements in the whole Christmas story. Thank you, Elizabeth! “No!” She says, and I say, way to go Elizabeth!  Zechariah is asked the same question…he says, basically, DIDN’T YOU JUST HEAR HIS MOTHER?!?!  He affirms, her. 

“His name is John”, which in Hebrew means, graced by God. This is truly a beautiful story of a mom knowing. She knew her child before she even heard a word from him. The old saying, “a mother knows.” I think that’s true. Thank you, Elizabeth. Thank you for your strength. Guys don’t be dismayed. I’m thankful that Zechariah affirmed his wife’s conviction, also.

Let’s see the grace of God in others.  

Charles Morrow
Director of Music Ministries, Huntersville UMC
14005 Stumptown Rd.
Huntersville, NC 28078
(704) 875-1156
3910 North Highway 16
Denver, NC 28037