Day 12 – Birth and circumcision of John the Baptist

Study Luke 1:57-66

“His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” Luke 1: 60

The birth of this baby boy to previously barren parents is the first fulfilled miracle narrated by Luke. As per Israel’s custom, friends and neighbours would gather before the house when the woman went into labour. When it was announced that the baby was a boy, they would break out in spontaneous praise and worship, as each baby boy might be the awaited Messiah. Especially with this birth because of the miracle around Gabriel’s prophecy. If it were a girl, the crowd would leave silently.

As per their culture, the circumcision ceremony was on the eighth day after the birth. God divinely appointed the eighth day not because He felt like it, but because He knows exactly how he created us. Modern medical and physiological observations show that blood-clotting agents (like vitamin K and prothrombin) peak safely in newborns around their eighth day of life, meaning the wound would clot and heal faster.

Elizabeth knew that her son should be named John (Yochanan, which translates to “God is gracious”) because of Gabriel’s message to Zechariah. Customarily, women were not allowed to talk at these ceremonies, but Elizabeth took the brave step to talk when her husband couldn’t, but they still gestured to Zechariah – treating him like he was deaf and not mute. But as he wrote “His name is John” on the tablet, he acknowledged that Elizabeth spoke and spoke the truth.

Pray with me: Father, thank You for giving mothers the ability to speak up concerning their children. Help us to be brave to speak up for our children physically and in prayer, constantly bringing them before Your throne. Amen. ©

Love, Pastor Iriza