Welcome to our special Advent edition of the Daily Devos. Advent means “the arrival.” It is a way to look back and celebrate the Son of God coming to earth to be born as a baby in a manger while we also look forward to His second coming when creation will be redeemed and restored. Through December, we invite you to experience Advent in your own story.

Each week, we will discover a theme or a promise seen in the birth of Jesus that carries us through the “already not yet” as we await the arrival of His eternal Kingdom. This week, join us as we look at the promise of HOPE!

Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Elizabeth gives birth to the child that was promised to her and Zechariah. Family and friends breathe a sigh of relief; Elizabeth’s pregnancy would most certainly be categorized as geriatric today and would come with heightened risks. They cut the cord, and everyone expects to see “Zechariah II, III, or IV” filled in on the birth certificate. NOPE. “John,” Elizabeth says. We know that biblical names are significant; let me give you a little background on why.

Names in biblical times could serve several purposes:

• Record some details of a person’s birth. For example, Jacob (“he grasps the heel”), Esau (“hairy” or “rough”), and Moses (“to draw out”).
  
• Express the parents’ reaction to the birth, like Isaac (“laughter”) or Sarah (“happy”)
  
• Signify lineage or family connections, like Barnabas (“son of the prophet”)
  
• Communicate God’s message, like Shear-jashub, the son of Isaiah (“a remnant shall return”)
• Establish an affiliation with God, like Daniel (“God my judge”) or Gabriel (“God is my strength”)
  
• Establish authority or mark a new beginning or change in direction in someone’s life. For example, Abraham (“Father of a great multitude”) or Peter (“Rock”).
  

This made me curious – what’s the meaning of “Zechariah” versus the meaning of “John?” Zechariah, or Zekaria in Hebrew, means “God remembered” or “Yahweh remembers,” while John, derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, means “graced by God.”

This might be a stretch, but what I see in the name “Zechariah” is a focus on the past; in the name “John,” however, I see grace and mercy for today. The big word God spoke to me through today’s passage is that only God (and obedience to God) can break generational patterns. We know a couple of names in Zechariah’s lineage, and Scripture doesn’t tell us what kind of lives they led; they could have been great people who loved the Lord. Scripture tells us that Zechariah and Elizabeth themselves were both “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.” But I still find encouragement in this name shift because of my own story. I don’t know about you, but there are some sin patterns in my family tree that I’m not super proud of. Knowing that one word – one new name – can break generational curses? That gives me hope for tomorrow.

There’s also a small nugget in verse 62 I want to point out. “Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.” Scripture tells us that Zechariah lost his ability to speak during the duration of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, but this verse indicates that he could have also been deaf. The fact that Elizabeth and Zechariah, unable to communicate with each other, both affirmed that their child was to be named “John,” confirming that this name choice could have only come from God.

My last observation (that will tee us up for tomorrow’s passage) is that the first thing Zechariah did after 9 months of being mute and likely deaf – was praise God. I feel like I would have spent that time coming up with a few choice words in response to what God had done to me – all because I uttered one small expression of doubt. But he didn’t feel punished or belittled by God’s display of power. Instead, he felt confident and hopeful that God was who He said He was and that His promise of a Savior would truly be fulfilled.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Look up the meaning of your name. Does it give you a standard to rise toward or a challenge to overcome?
  
• Think back on the last several generations in your family. Are you proud of what you see? If not, consider how your faith and obedience could change the course for generations to come.
  
• Prayer: God, thank You that You are Yahweh – “the great I AM;” Jehovah Nissi – “the Lord, my banner;” Jehovah Jireh – “the Lord will provide;” Jehovah Rapha – “the Lord that heals;” and Jehovah Shalom – “the Lord is peace.” Remind me of the power in Your name; I claim it over my life and my family today. Show me how I can love You even more than those who came before me, and remind me to give You praise in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
  
• Find more Advent tools and resources at venturechurch.org/advent.