It is the eighth day, time for the Jewish circumcision of the son of the priest Zachariah. This same priest, won his time with God in His Sanctuary, as was the custom, to come and pray before God, behind the curtain, where no one else was allowed. When told his past bearing years wife would become with child, he didn’t believe at first…so the angel closed down his ability to speak. Imagine a preacher not able to speak! Remember? Another monumental surprise occurs at this child’s ceremony of dedication…and it is awesome! Read on..

The Birth of John
57-58 When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her.

59-60 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. But his mother intervened: “No. He is to be called John.”

61-62 “But,” they said, “no one in your family is named that.” They used sign language to ask Zachariah what he wanted him named.

63-64 Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, “His name is to be John.” That took everyone by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zachariah’s mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!

65-66 A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, “What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this.”

67-79 Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he came and set his people free.
He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,
and in the very house of David his servant,
Just as he promised long ago
through the preaching of his holy prophets:
Deliverance from our enemies
and every hateful hand;
Mercy to our fathers,
as he remembers to do what he said he’d do,
What he swore to our father Abraham—
a clean rescue from the enemy camp,
So we can worship him without a care in the world,
made holy before him as long as we live.
And you, my child, “Prophet of the Highest,”
will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways,
Present the offer of salvation to his people,
the forgiveness of their sins.
Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
God’s Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
those sitting in the shadow of death,
Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
down the path of peace.

80 The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.

After months of no words coming from his mouth, Zachariah explodes with praises for God and what He will do for God’s people. Zachariah will not doubt God again! God has let Zachariah know the mission of his newborn son through the overwhelming words of the Holy Spirit through him! He speaks directly to his son…”And you, my child, ‘Prophet of the Highest’, will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways, present the offer of salvation to his people, the forgiveness of their sins.” What a child dedication sermon!

After six to eight hundred years of darkness, of not hearing from God, no angels coming to speak His Word to his people, until now, Zachariah proclaims, “God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.”

Yes, Amen. What a message!

Dear Heavenly Father, We know your message does not stop here, for this is only the first step in the saga of our salvation from You. You have shown us more mercy and grace than we deserve. You still love us unconditionally. You are God and we are not. We cannot save ourselves, but you can save us from ourselves and our own arrogance. Thank you for saving our souls. Continue to be with us as we live our lives to show our love for You in ways others will come running to You, too.

In Jesus Name, Amen!