When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John." But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name." So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. (Lk 1:57-66)
Naming the child is important. Name reveals the character of the individual. Name reveals the mission of the individual. In fact, the biblical people believed that name was everything for the person. To know the name of a person is to have control over the person. The biblical people prayed through the name of God to receive favours.
Name also showed the link with the past. The Israelites gave a name that had some link with the past. This was to show that he belongs to a family to the tribe etc. Name made an individual, historical, social and not just an individual hanging in the air. A person has to belong to someone or somewhere.
When the child was named John all the people wondered at it. As soon as the name of the child was written on a tablet a miracle takes place. This reveals that the name had some divine element attached to it. So they wondered “what this child would be”. For the child had something to do with God or God had done something for this child. For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
