CONNECTING POINT: Nine Months of Silence

The birth of a child is a life-changing experience and a positive event for most people. Some people dream of having children but are unable due to

medical, health, or unknown reasons. Others encounter health complications either with the mother or child during the pregnancy. I have consoled couples and individuals in some difficult times, so I recognize that there is some pain. In fact, I recall a new father calling me on a dark, wintery late night as he traveled to see his wife and premature son whose little life was in the balance. Tears made driving in the storm challenging for this loving father. Sadly, the baby boy’s condition worsened, and he passed away.

While each pregnancy is different, most are nine months. As the expected

arrival of the baby approaches there is often preparation and celebration. John the Baptist’s birth is recorded in Luke chapter one, “When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and

relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, ‘No! He is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘There is no one among your relatives who has that name.’ Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a

writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.’ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and

throughout the hill country of Judea, people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’ For the Lord’s hand was with him,” (Luke

1:61-66). Keep in mind the fact that Zachariah and Elizabeth were

having a baby was unusual, even miraculous in the later years of their lives. Cultural childbirth practices differ and here are some of those differences tied to John’s birth.

First-century Jewish custom included a magistral group with family and friends as the birth drew close, when the baby was born, they would

celebrate with jubilee when a son was born. However, if a daughter was born the celebration quietly ended and everyone disbanded. Much of this was tied to lineage and the father’s name being passed on from generation to generation. Obviously, this cultural implication is not a principle that crosses over to our culture. Any time a child is born we should have reason to celebrate and thank God.

On the eighth day, another Jewish custom included circumcision, this is both a cultural and medical procedure adopted today in many countries. In Zachariah’s and Elizabeth’s case, this was the period to name their new son, they went against tradition. Rather than keeping with the father’s name, they both followed the angel’s instruction to name him John. First Elizabeth was questioned, then Zachariah who had been mute for the

pregnancy was questioned and wrote on a tablet, “His name is John.” At that moment he could speak again. Take note, he didn’t complain but he sang out praises and even prophesied after those months of silence. Maybe silence can be good?