Luke 1:62-63 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
Again today’s scripture talks about upending expectations. Babies were named after fathers or families, but both Elizabeth and Zechariah were insistent that this child would be named John. It seems a small thing, but this birth, the babe that would prepare the way for Christ, had been upending expectations since before conception.
Luke 1:64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
Zechariah, too, is upending expectations. He was struck mute back before Elizabeth even conceived–ostensibly because he questioned the angel, but maybe that muteness was so that he would be able to think about the miracle God was working in his life, in his marriage? Because when he was able to speak again, he praised God immediately.
Luke 1:65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.
Precious Savior, I am often way too sensitive to expectations of this world. I am also much too reliant on what I think is expected of me–behaviors, attitudes, etc. Thank You for these examples of the beauty that can come from upended expectations. Help me live according to You alone. Amen.
Luke 1:66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Have a blessed day.