The Tuesday after Gaudete Sunday, The Third Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 17, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 1:57-66 (NKJV)
1:57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”
61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
Devotion
Our text today opens with the conclusion of Mary’s song of praise, the Magnificat, and the birth of John. The birth of John the Baptizer was a significant event due to the advanced age of Zacharias and Elizabeth, especially after a lifetime of barrenness for Elizabeth. The Lord had given them a child at last, and this brings family and friends to join in the joy of the special event as they prepare for John’s rite of circumcision on the eighth day of his young life.
The entire reading centers around the amazing circumstances of John’s birth, and demonstrates the fulfillment of the angel Gabriel’s prophecy about this child. This is all highlighted by the unusual practice of not giving the child the name of his father, but instead “John”—a name which none of his relatives had used. This insistence of following the angel’s instructions regarding these things results in Zacharias recovering his ability to speak, and thus praising God. The crowd assembled for the circumcision is described as fearful and amazed by the events, and perplexed with the question of “What then will this child be?” Jesus provides the answer to this question some years later when He declares of John to the crowds, “More than a prophet I say!”
Collect: Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts, by Thy gracious visitation; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Advent
Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
