What is the meaning of Luke 1:63? Zechariah asked for a tablet - Because Zechariah had been rendered mute for doubting Gabriel’s announcement (Luke 1:20), he needed another way to communicate at the crucial moment of naming his newborn son. - The relatives “made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child” (Luke 1:62). Their gestures hint that Zechariah may have also lost his hearing, intensifying his dependence on written words. - Requesting a writing tablet shows practical faith at work. After nine months of silent reflection, Zechariah now moves decisively in obedience. Like Habakkuk, who was told to “write the vision and make it plain” (Habakkuk 2:2), Zechariah employs writing to proclaim God’s revealed will. - The tablet becomes more than a communication aid; it becomes a witness to God’s faithfulness. Just as Moses’ tablets bore God’s law (Exodus 24:12), Zechariah’s tablet bears God’s promise fulfilled. and wrote, “His name is John.” - The wording is immediate and emphatic. Zechariah doesn’t say, “We will call him John,” but records the name as an established fact: “His name IS John,” exactly matching Gabriel’s directive (Luke 1:13). • Heaven had already settled the matter; Zechariah simply affirms it. • The pattern echoes God naming Isaac before his birth (Genesis 17:19) and Jesus before His conception (Matthew 1:21). - By aligning with the angel’s words, Zechariah publicly repents of earlier unbelief. His writing displays submission to God’s sovereign choice, just as Psalm 33:11 declares, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever.” - “John” (Yôḥanan, “the LORD is gracious”) encapsulates the gospel theme: God’s gracious initiative to prepare people for Christ (Luke 1:76-77). Naming the child rightly honors God’s character, much like Isaiah 42:8 underscores God protecting His glory. And they were all amazed. - The onlookers marveled because they expected the child to carry a family name (Luke 1:59). Breaking tradition signaled divine intervention. - Their amazement blossoms into holy fear: “All who heard these things laid them up in their hearts, saying, ‘What then will this child become?’” (Luke 1:65-66). - Throughout Luke, amazement marks encounters with God’s power (Luke 5:26; 8:56). Here it prepares hearts for the coming ministry of both John and Jesus. - Acts 3:10 notes a similar reaction after a miracle, showing that wonder often precedes wider witness. The crowd’s amazement thus becomes part of God’s plan to spread news of His work. summary Zechariah’s silent obedience, bold inscription, and the crowd’s astonishment together reveal how faithfully God keeps His word. A once-doubting priest now affirms heaven’s decree, naming his son exactly as directed. Through a simple tablet, God showcases His grace, sparks communal awe, and sets the stage for the forerunner who will “prepare the way for the Lord” (Luke 3:4). When God speaks, wise hearts respond as Zechariah did—believing, obeying, and watching others stand amazed at His faithfulness. |
    |