“You Can’t Name Him That!”

“And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” Luke 1:61, NASB

Tradition can be a powerful force to face. When it was time to circumcise Elizabeth’s new born son, “they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father (Luke 1:59).” After all, that was the tradition. “But his mother answered and said, ‘No indeed; but he shall be called John (60).’” She recalled God’s word to her husband Zacharius months earlier: “your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John (Luke 1:13).”

Of course her relatives were confused by this change. That was not the way things were done. They turn to Zacharius who was rendered mute months ago for doubting God (1:20). “And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all astonished (1:63).” He chose obedience to God over tradition.

There may be times when we must choose to follow Jesus over traditions or even long-standing ways of doing things. Relatives and friends may not understand, but your obedience to God, your life in Christ, will show them a different path to true life.

Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. – Luke 1:65, NASB