It is time for Elizabeth to give birth. Her neighbors were excited for her. Being a mother and bearing a child was the answer to her prayers. A cause that seemed impossible would now culminate in the birth of John, the one who would prepare the path for Jesus. Zechariah was still unable to speak because of the doubt he had in front of Gabriel.

The people wanted to name to child after his father. There was importance in the family name and they were confused that Elizabeth would call the child a name that had not been in the family. The persistence to name him something other than John reached the point that they wanted Zechariah to step in and make sense of it all. He asked for a tablet and told them that his name would indeed be John, a move that surprised everyone. Immediately his ability to speak returned and all were amazed.

Zechariah prophesied about the Lord and the role that John would play in God’s deliverance of his people. The promise to Abraham would come true in the form of Jesus Christ. He would bring about salvation and forgiveness of sins. It must have been special when the prophecy turned to John in verse 76. He will go before the Lord to prepare his way. John would grow in the spirit and remain in the wilderness until his time came to preach.

One interesting thing to consider about the events at the end of chapter 1 is what Zechariah had been thinking all those months that he was unable to speak. He certainly had time to consider what was coming and what had happened to him. Perhaps there is a lesson in his inability to speak that we can take away. Are there times when it would be good for us to be quiet and simply consider what God has done for us? When was the last time we stopped our busy life to acknowledge the blessings we have from God and just how amazing it is to be able to talk to him? Let’s take time to do just that.