57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zechariah's Prophecy
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. Luke 1: 57-80 ESV
Luke 1: 57-80 Birth of a Baptist
The Lord had shown great mercy to her - Like Sarah, she had never had children and was now old, so this was quite an unexpected celebration.
On the eighth day - This was the time of circumcision for infant boys. Circumcision was a sign of putting away the filth of the flesh, a sign of separation from the rule of sin, a covenant commitment to repentance. Outsiders knew of it, but this is a people called to modesty as well, so it was only outward to the circumcised individual. Being a private matter also makes it a sign of obedience to God, one which the wife of Moses did not agree with, and Moses following his wife's lead on this almost died. Circumcision does not save and it was part of that dispensation of the OT, towards Israel and its proselytes then, and people coming in to the new covenant under Christ no longer need to be circumcised.
…11You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner— even those who are not your offspring. 13Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant.… Genesis 17: 11-13
…24Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. 25But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. 26So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)… Exodus 4: 24-26
Bob Utley on circumcision - This was practiced by all of Israel’s neighbors except the Philistines (Greek Aegean people). For most cultures it was usually a rite of passage into manhood, but not for Israel (it was instead an initiation rite into the covenant People). It was a sign of a special faith relationship with YHWH (Ge. 17:9–14). Each Patriarch circumcised his own sons (i.e. acted as priest for his own family). Robert Girdlestone, Synonyms of the Old Testament, p. 214, says the rite of circumcision connected the rite of blood-shedding with the act of circumcision. Blood was connected to covenant forming (cf. Ge. 15:17), covenant breaking (cf. Gen. 2:17), and covenant redemption (cf. Isa. 53). (Luke 1 ) - Precept Austin
…28A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God. Romans 2: 28-29
1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. 2Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.… Galatians 5: 1-3
His name is John - It's funny that they made signs to him for he was only made mute, not deaf.
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied - He didn't get to give the benediction which he had before prepared when he had carried the incense, but now his tongue is loosed to praise God and say what the Spirit has for him to tell.
28And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.… Joel 2: 28-29
Has raised up a horn of salvation for us - This is Messianic in nature. It is about Christ as the Redeemer. A horn back then represented power, rule, and Christ is being born to buy back from the justice of God the remnant or elect of God for His kingdom. He will do this by way of a life that men did not lead, holy and acceptable before God, and by the cross as the only spotless sacrifice, for He was without sin. Kings and rulers are represented by horns, and the antichrist will also be represented by a horn as a sign of power and rule, but Christ will eventually be the only One left standing. All else will be brought into submission to Him.
John MacArthur agrees commenting on Isaiah 63:4 "The Messiah's future reckoning with the wicked will coincide with His redemption of Israel (Isa 61:2+t)." (MacArthur Study Bible) Now compare Isaiah 61:2 (see commentary) where "To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD" was quoted by Jesus in Lk 4:19+ and stated by Him to be a fulfilled prophecy in Lk 4:20+. Jesus did not say "the day of vengeance of our God" was fulfilled at His first coming, but it will be fulfilled at His Second Coming as Isaiah 63:4+ describes! J Vernon McGee commenting on Isaiah 63:4 says "He (MESSIAH) has come to save forever His redeemed ones from their vicious oppressors. This (Second Coming) is His judgment upon the earth, and it is defined as the day of vengeance." (Thru the Bible) John Martin also agrees writing "Though that day (Second Coming) will bring doom to the Lord's enemies, it will mean deliverance (redemption and salvation, Isa 63:4-5+) for those of His covenant people who turn to Him (ED: 1/3 of Israel = Zech 13:8-9+). (Bible Knowledge Commentary) - Precept Austin
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old - This, in all of it's language draws upon the promises of Messiah in the OT. God never says anything just to hear Himself; it always comes with action and in the time that He has set.
…9Instead, they will serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10As for you, O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid, declares the LORD, and do not be dismayed, O Israel. For I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return to quiet and ease, with no one to make him afraid. 11For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have scattered you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.”… Jeremiah 30: 9-11
The oath that He swore to our father Abraham - People seem to forget that this was a unilateral covenant, God walking between the carcasses as Abraham slept. There is a teaching today where Israel is in forfeit for refusing the Messiah, but this was always known to God and part of His plan. I don't agree with replacement theology; God initiated this covenant with Abraham, and is the One Who carries it out. It is not the blood of bulls and goats, not the blood of the ram that replaced Isaac on Mt. Moriah, but the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, this was promised even before Abraham. The Lamb comes before the Lion.
This oath is repeated several times. God will not go back on what he has sworn. In the context that follows the oppression of the Gentiles is on the mind of Zacharias. Israel might be oppressed, but the oath God made will endure! Even when there was no literal nation of Israel for almost 1900 years, God's oath to Abraham the father of the Jews was still valid. God had not forgotten His covenant promises (cf Lk 1:72), including the promise of land to Abraham. And then along comes World War II, the horrible extermination of 6 million Jews which stirred global sympathy and resulted in the establishment of the sovereign nation of Israel in May, 1948. This was in a sense, a partial fulfillment of the oath God swore to Abraham their father, but the best is yet to come at the end of this age, when Messiah returns and fulfills the promises to the nation of Israel (and Gentile believers will be beneficiaries of this fulfillment!). - Precept Austin
And you, child - Zechariah has praised God, has spoken of the Christ and now shifts to his son, John.
Will be called the prophet of the Most High - The Father has called John to go before God the Son and prepare the way, preaching and baptizing unto repentance.
1“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple— the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight— see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts. 2But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.… Malachi 3: 1-2
To give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins - Many are convinced that they have no sin, or that anything they like or can manage to either ignore or acclimate themselves to is not sin. The call to repentance is hard since men do not like to confess their state, no one hardly ever volunteers themselves as guilty, but God came to die for sinners, and so this is the confession of those who want to be saved. Salvation is not for the self righteous, and John is not going to make friends with the powerful with his message.
…29Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”… Acts 16: 29-31
…8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.… 1 John 1: 8-10
Because of the tender mercy of our God - The reasons for salvation cannot be found in the saved, but in the mercy and love of the God who saves them.
…18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. 20And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.… Romans 7: 18-20
…15For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”… Romans 9: 15-17
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