UBF Daily Bread

THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Passage: Luke 1:57~80

Key verse: 77

The Birth of John the Baptist

⁵⁷When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

⁵⁹On the eighth day they came to circumcise^(A) the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, ⁶⁰but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”^(B)

⁶¹They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

⁶²Then they made signs^(C) to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. ⁶³He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”^(D) ⁶⁴Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak,^(E) praising God. ⁶⁵All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea^(F) people were talking about all these things. ⁶⁶Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.^(G)

Zechariah’s Song

⁶⁷His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit^(H) and prophesied:^(I)

⁶⁸“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,^(J)
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.^(K)
⁶⁹He has raised up a horn^[a]^(L) of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David^(M)
⁷⁰(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),^(N)
⁷¹salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
⁷²to show mercy to our ancestors^(O)
    and to remember his holy covenant,^(P)
⁷³    the oath he swore to our father Abraham:^(Q)
⁷⁴to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him^(R) without fear^(S)
⁷⁵    in holiness and righteousness^(T) before him all our days.

⁷⁶And you, my child, will be called a prophet^(U) of the Most High;^(V)
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,^(W)
⁷⁷to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,^(X)
⁷⁸because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun^(Y) will come to us from heaven
⁷⁹to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,^(Z)
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”^(AA)

⁸⁰And the child grew and became strong in spirit^[b];^(AB) and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

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Footnotes

Luke 1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king.
Luke 1:80 Or in the Spirit

1. His name is John (57-66)

Elizabeth and Zechariah's baby boy was born! It was the Lord's great mercy to them. Close friends shared their joy. At his circumcision, everyone expected him to be called Zechariah junior. But both Elizabeth and Zechariah followed God's will and named him John: "gift of God" (1:13). Then Zechariah could speak again.

2. Salvation has come (67-80)

By the Holy Spirit, Zechariah's first words were praises to God. His song emphasizes the fulfillment of God's covenant promises to David and Abraham. Twice he mentioned God's mercy and salvation. John was born to prepare the way for the Lord, who brings salvation, forgiveness of sin, light and peace.

Prayer: Praise you, Father, for fulfilling all your promises through Jesus Christ our Lord. May our lives and words draw attention to your mercy and salvation in him.

One Word: Praise God for his mercy and salvation through Christ

Daily Bread

THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Passage: Luke 1:57~80

Key verse: 77

The Birth of John the Baptist

Zechariah’s Song

Footnotes

Cross references

Daily Bread Data Base

Bible Resource Data Base

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