The Power of Naming

Luke 1:57-66 - 23 December

From the Gospel according to Luke

The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, ‘No; he shall be called John.’ And they said to her, ‘None of your relatives is called by this name.’ And they made signs to his father, enquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbours. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, ‘What then will this child be?’ For the hand of the Lord was with him.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage is unique to Luke's Gospel. Luke's account demonstrates his careful attention to historical detail and his emphasis on the role of women, as evidenced by Elizabeth's prominent role in the naming ceremony.

While Matthew's Gospel mentions John the Baptist's ministry, Luke provides a detailed narrative of John's birth. The passage demonstrates a carefully constructed parallel structure with Jesus' birth narrative (also found in Luke), highlighting the divine purpose underlying both births. Of particular significance is the theme of naming, which carries substantial theological weight throughout the passage, clearly demonstrating divine intervention in human affairs. This intentional parallel structure reinforces the interconnected roles of John and Jesus in God's salvation plan.

Reflection: