“But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.... Now Elisabeth’s full time came... and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marveled all” (Luke 1:13, 57-6313But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. (Luke 1:13)
57Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. (Luke 1:57‑63)).
Zacharias and Elisabeth were presented with a choice that in its moral application constantly presents itself to believers today. The angel of the Lord told Zacharias that his son’s name was to be John. When he was born, the neighbors and cousins (“kinsfolk,” JND) called his name “Zacharias” after his father. Who was to have the final say? Would this dear couple obey God or man? Happily they stood together and remained of “one mind” in obedience to God. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:33Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)).
But it was not an easy stand to make. Though they clearly understood the Word of God and knew exactly what God’s mind was in the case of the son He had given to them, the pressure of family and friends to pursue a course opposite His mind was very strong. Notice that these folks didn’t have premeditated plans to turn this dear couple aside from the mind of God. “They rejoiced” with dear Elisabeth at the birth of her son. They too followed God’s mind in seeing that the child was circumcised on the eighth day according to Scripture. However, in deciding the child’s name, these relatives usurped that place of authority and responsibility which God had given to Zacharias and Elisabeth. They thought to give the child a name according to what was naturally right in their eyes. But in seeking to do this they subtly undermined the parents’ God-given responsibility for its guidance and direction. If they could name the child, they could also determine what he was to do with his life.
The parents must oppose this if they were to remain obedient to God’s will. But it was difficult, for they did not face a wicked enemy such as Herod. This opposition came from loving and religious friends and relatives perhaps the most difficult pressure of all for believers to withstand!
Nor were these “friendly relatives” easily turned aside from their intentions when Elisabeth said “no” to them. Perhaps they reasoned: “But Elisabeth, it is only natural that the child should be named after his father. That’s the way things have always been done in our family.”
Further, they subtly tried to divide the unity of mind existing between the parents by questioning Zacharias, assuming that he would oppose his wife and agree with them. But if Zacharias cannot speak, he can act. And so he writes, “His name is John.” No more questions now. It was a wonderful confirmation of their united faith.
How often do we feel those pressures that would turn us aside from the path of faith. We have the precious Word of God, and we have the Spirit of God who will give guidance and understanding to the heart which is willing to submit to that divine revelation. But then, we too have the world standing ready to oppose us in this path of faith. And often we find, as this dear couple did, that the strongest opposition comes from those nearest and dearest: our family and our friends.
Let us morally apply the principle, seen here in Zacharias and Elisabeth, to all of the circumstances of our Christian life. May God grant each to be faithful to Himself in following His precious Word in simple dependence and obedience, though it may, at times, mean that we are misunderstood by those who by nature know us and love us. When God’s mind for us is questioned thus, let us in faith say with Elisabeth, “Not so; but he shall be called John,” and in faith write with Zacharias, “His name is John.”
Ed.