(credit: Varsha Salome)
His name is John
There are several instances in the Bible of God dictating the names of new- borns. Obviously when He does that, it is clear that He has a purpose and plan for that person; sometimes He also designates them to be signs. This of course does not mean that the rest of us, whose names were thought up by parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles have no role in God’s Kingdom – examples are too numerous to cite. The only ones specially named in advance of their birth in the New Testament (to my knowledge) are Jesus and John.
The name John, scholars tell us, means ‘Jehovah has been gracious’. Indeed He has been, for both Elizabeth and Zechariah were very old.
What’s your name, son?
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6 Nov. setting 1 January as Day 1