“Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.” Luke 1:13
John the Baptist was a miracle child, but then again, all children are miracles. However, that which is peculiar to John the Baptist before he was born was that God named him. Why? The answer lies in the distinguishing ministry to which he was called by God. Zecharias, his father, would declare of him, soon after his birth, “…And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.” (Luke 1:76) Zacharias goes on to specifically describe his mission, and God’s purpose for his life: “…to give knowledge of salvation…,” “…to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (vs. 77,79) There have been many young boys and older men who have been called John. But this John, the son of Zacharias, was distinguised by the fact that he baptized men in the Jordan river, for the washing away of their sins. He was also the proclaimer of the marvelous blessing of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In other words, God gave to John, the son of Zacharias, his name because it was associated with the monumental mission to which he was called, to prepare the ways of the Lord. He would be the preparer of the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus. There is another distinguishing factor that separates John from all men, and it is that the Lord spoke to him very specifically, finding in John’s heart, a total receptivity to His word. The beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist began with the words, “…the word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” (3:2) The distinguished name of John was given to this man, because he was set apart by God for a specific purpose, which he fulfilled according to, and by, the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
But, what about the rest of God’s children? Are their names important? The answer is found in John’s gospel, when Jesus said, speaking of Himself as the Shepherd of the sheep: “To Him the porter openeth and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep BY NAME, and leadeth them out.” (10:3) The same God who called John, filled him with the Spirit, and led him into a singular ministry for God’s glory, calls every believer today. In the book of Isaiah, we find written: “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.” (49:16) The Lord is speaking of Jerusalem here, but in Jerusalem are individuals, each with a name. Their names were written upon the palms of Jesus’ hands, and so are the names of all believers to this day.
In the Old Testament, the Lord spoke to a child, Samuel by name. At the time, Samuel did not recognize that it was the Lord who was speaking to him. But it would be as the Lord continued to speak to him, calling him by name, that Samuel understood that the Lord was addressing him specifically and individually. In the first chapter of the book of Jeremiah, we find where the Lord specifically speaks to Jeremiah, calling him by name, then asking him what he saw. The fact that God called him by his name is significant, for it indicates God’s specific dealing with him. When Saul of Tarsus met the Lord on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by the light, and led into the city. There the Lord spoke to a certain Ananias in a vision, calling him also by his name. Ananias recognized that it was the Lord, and responded by going to Saul. Saul’s sight returned to him by God working through His obedient disciple. God knows the names we have, and Jesus tells us that He calls us by those names. Each name distinguishes the believer among all.
Dear Father, Lead us forth today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.