The anticipation grows. Elizabeth had become pregnant, as foretold in v.13; now she finds out that the baby is indeed a boy. The angel had told Zechariah that the boy’s name was to be John (“Yahweh has shown favour”), and in spite of the objections of the neighbours and relatives, that is the name which his parents gave him.
Read More joy, favour
Society often places a high value on people being nice. That’s certainly true in Canadian culture. We try hard to get along with one another, be kind, show goodwill, be tolerant, and do good deeds. But when being nice is equated with being liked and being liked is at the expense of not telling others about the need for repentance …
Read More salvation, favour, a witness for Christ