country of Judea the people talked about these events. All who heard of it, pondered in their minds, and wondered, “What will this child be?” For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.
Reflections
“His name is John.”Luke the evangelist presents his interpretation of the birth of John the Baptist. Through the rejoicing of Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives, Luke considers the birth as God’s intervention. God has done a big favor to Elizabeth who once was sterile and already too old for childbearing.There is additional excite ment at the naming of the child. Nobody in the neighborhood expected the child to be named John, but Zechariah who was muted for his initial disbelief, insisted that John should be his name. As he wrote his name, Zechariah could speak again, to the surprise of those following the events happening to the cou ple. Luke records the contents of his praises in the“Benedictus.”Now the excitement is not only limited to the neighborhood in Ain Kerem, but to the people living throughout the province of Judea. People collectively reflect on the meaning of John’s birth.Luke makes his last interpre tation looking at the birth and the reaction of the people. God’s power is with him.John must be very special in the eyes of God. The next child to be born will be more special. It was previously announced that John will prepare for the coming of the Messiah.
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