Christmas Overture
Good News for Women
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)
Elizabeth Names Her SonLuke 1:57-62,
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60, but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be called John." 61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who has that name." 62 Then they made signs to his father to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment, he wrote, "His name is John." 64 Immediately, his mouth was opened, and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea, people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him.
For Reflection
Strict class distinctions organized the Jew cultures. There was slight confusion about one's role in society. Women usually lived their lives under the shadow of men. Women were rarely consulted about family decisions. Husband's ranked higher than their wives. And yet, when the men declared her son's name, Elizabeth, perhaps emboldened by the angel, broke rank, "No! He is to be called John." Despite the objections of all the others, Zechariah supported her decision and praised God.
The power balance between husband and wife was anointed, and the people were amazed!
Pray Praise God for the gift of Jesus. Praise God for blending the relationships between men and women. Praise God for freeing us from the burdens of living.
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