MONDAY December 18, 2022

A God of Great Mercy

And Mary remained with her [Elizabeth] about three months, and returned to her house. Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
Luke 1:56-58

Mary had a refuge in her cousin’s home for three months, and then she returned home. Soon after, Elizabeth delivered her baby boy. She had chosen to remain in seclusion, but now as her neighbors and relatives heard the good news of her baby’s birth, they rejoiced with her. Elizabeth experienced God’s great mercy. He had taken away her reproach for not having a child. Now she cradled the impossible––John, her son.

It was customary in Israel for a son to be named after his father. On the eighth day, when the child was to be circumcised, he would have received his father’s name, Zacharias. However, Elizabeth spoke up; her baby’s name was to be John (Luke 1:59-60). Everyone must have looked confused. Her relatives and neighbors questioned in their minds, Why the name John? They asked Zacharias for confirmation (Luke 1:61-62).

Zacharias still could not speak, so he motioned for a writing tablet. To everyone’s amazement, he wrote the child’s name––John (Luke 1:63). Immediately, his tongue was loosed, and he could speak, just as the angel Gabriel had said: “…behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time” (Luke 1:20).

Zacharias was filled with joy––he had a son! He obeyed God and called his newborn son John. Instead of words of unbelief, Zacharias’ first words were words of faith. After such a long time of not being able to say anything, he opened his mouth with praise to his God (Luke 1:64).

God has shown all of us His mercy. The word mercy means “not getting what you deserve.” We all deserve punishment for our sin, but God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)... (Ephesians 2:4-5).

This is the meaning of Christmas. Oh, that God would waken your heart to your deep need for mercy as a sinner!
~John Piper~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!