December 22 Power in the Name

Kuke 1:59-61 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.”

WHAT’S in a name? What does it matter which name this little boy has? Yes, God through his messenger Gabriel told dad Zechariah to name him John. And obviously Zechariah had written it down for his Elizabeth to know. But what does it matter?

     The matter of the right name indicates something about God. This is something we need to know: God has it all planned - even the “small” details. Names in the Hebrew culture meant a great deal. To us, “John” doesn’t seem that special. To Zechariah, Elizabeth, the Hebrew nation and to God “John” meant a great deal.

     “John” in Hebrew is written Jehochanan or Yªhowchanan. The name means the grace or mercy of Yahweh. John is so named because he was to go before and proclaim the God of all grace was about to step into the world to demonstrate his mercy to a lost world.

     Powerful, isn’t it? Each time his parents, relatives and friends would say “John”, they would be reminded that God had a very special plan for his life. John is the great Announcer, the final Old Testament prophet. He is the one who would actually see and baptize the Son of God, the one awaited since the ancient times of Abraham. John would literally point to the one who would save the world from the death of sin.

     Yes, God loves you so much he worked out all the details of your salvation. All Scripture testifies to God’s enormous love for you.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you have planned and fulfilled the details of eternal life in Jesus. Amen.