His Name is John!

For Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Luke 1:63 NLT: “Zechariah motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, ‘His name is John.’”

Zechariah had been rendered mute after questioning the angel’s ability to bring God’s miracle of a son to fruition. And now they find themselves at the eight-day circumcision, and we need a name for that baby boy. Elizabeth, the mom, said to call him “John.” There was no relative in their family named John, and children were traditionally named in honor of an ancestor. So the mohel demanded verification from the dad. Zechariah wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately, Zechariah’s ability to speak returned.

Their friends and neighbors were in awe! First, the miracle of childbirth. Elizabeth had been barren throughout her life, and Zechariah was well past the age of fathering children. Then an encounter with an angel, a promise from God that came true, and Zechariah losing his voice and regaining it immediately after following the angel’s instructions for naming! With his newly found speaking voice, he began praising God!

Nowadays we have newspapers, radio, TV and the internet. But back then, word-of-mouth was the only way to spread the news. All throughout the Judean hills, word moved quickly. The names Zechariah, Elizabeth and John were on the tips of everyone’s tongues. It was obvious that God’s hand was on this special family. Everyone asked, “What will this child turn out to be?”

We know this child as John the Baptist, the one who would prepare the way for Jesus, God’s only Son! And Jesus is God’s gift to mankind!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Obedient and Thankful!

For Sunday, November 30, 2025:

Luke 1:46-47 NLT: Mary responded: “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”

Mary was both obedient and thankful. This young woman finds herself with child, never having been with a man. Strange situation! She is about to marry Joseph. How’s that going to look to all the neighborhood gossips? God would have to send his messenger angel again to explain the situation to Joseph!

Gabriel had told her that the child would be known as the Son of God. That convinces Mary that this is a good thing. She’s awestruck at being chosen by the Lord. This simple woman has been given a huge honor! May those gossiping shut their mouths! Mary could get away, perhaps visit her cousin Elizabeth for a while. Elizabeth had been visited by an angel too, and was pregnant with John the Baptist.

Thankfulness flowed out of Mary as she prayed the Magnificat, her song of praise for being honored by God. (Luke 1:46-55) The Lord has a unique task for each of us, and we should all get ready to serve. We should be obedient, and – just like Mary – we should be filled with gratitude for what we have been given.

God is good!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

John Leapt!

For Friday, November 24, 2025:

Luke 1:41 NLT: “At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

When we last talked about Mary, she wasn’t sure what was transpiring. She was about to become pregnant, although she had never been with a man. But she was obedient: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Miracles occur when the Holy Spirit is present. Those who understood what was happening were the babies! Elizabeth was carrying John the Baptist, while Mary’s womb was hosting Jesus, Son of the Most High! When Mary entered Elizabeth’s house, John the Baptist leapt for joy! Even as an unborn baby, he was excited by the presence of his Savior!

This isn’t a big theological point. It’s not a redeeming ordinance. It’s just fun trivia, and I’m glad Luke included the event for all our enjoyment. Remembering the interaction of these two babies puts a smile on our faces!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Obedience!

November 24, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 1:38 NLT: Mary responded to the angel Gabriel: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

God was about to visit his people on earth. He would come as the second form of the Trinity, Jesus-the-Son. This IS God who can do anything. He could have appeared in any form before any people on earth. But what he chose to do was become a part of a typical family. He wouldn’t have a special title or be royalty. He wanted people to watch, see and discern for themselves that he was in fact the Son of God. He hand-selected his mother, who would go through a normal gestation period. He would be born into humble surroundings. And as he grew and matured, Jesus would be living the ways and customs of God’s people, and he would be known by them. I know this wouldn’t have been my first guess, but God’s way is always the best way. It’s a story that we all now love!

Notice Mary’s obedience. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Despite being a virgin and not understanding how this was all going to work, Mary did not question the Lord. “Whatever God’s plan is, count me in!” We could all take a lesson in obedience from Mary!

Remember, Mary and Joseph had not yet consummated their marriage. So Mary went to the hill country near Judea to visit her relatives Zechariah and Elizabeth. As Mary approached Elizabeth, 6 months pregnant, the baby within her jumped for joy! Her son, John-the-Baptist, would prepare the way for Mary’s baby Jesus.

The world would never be the same!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Miracle Babies!

For Saturday, November 22, 2025:

Luke 1:26 NLT: “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary.”

God was about to deliver a son to Zechariah and Elizabeth, a most unlikely situation. He openly admits that he’s quite old, and she’s well past childbearing years. Only God! As Gabriel instructed, they’ll name him John. We know him as John-the-Baptist.

In a separate, seemingly unrelated event, Gabriel is sent to visit Mary in Nazareth. Yes, our Mary! She was married to Joseph, but marriage was different back then. The husband would leave to arrange a place to live and find a job or start a business. The wife would begin gathering (or making) domestic things the new family would need: clothing, cooking supplies, household items. When everything was in order, the husband would return for his wife, and the two would begin their new life together. Mary and Joseph were still in that “prep” stage; they had not yet come together.

As usual, the angel says, “Be not afraid! You are favored by God!” He further explains, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asks, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God!”

Then Gabriel drops this bombshell, which ties the events together: “Your cousin Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. The word of God will never fail!”

Remember, Mary’s husband wasn’t living with her yet. So she decided to stay with her relative for a time. They could help each other through their pregnancies and share dreams for their new babies, both under God’s watchful eye!

Some of the most eventful times in Christian history are about to unfold. Christmas is coming!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Angel

For Friday, November 21, 2025:

Luke 1:11 NLT: “While Zechariah was in the Temple sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar.”

Luke is setting us up for Advent, preparing us for the arrival of the Messiah Jesus. Z-man was burning incense in tribute to God, when an angel appeared. Friends, angels aren’t like those little statuettes you see at Hallmark. In reality, angels are called Heaven’s Angel-Armies, big, strong and ferocious. Scary.

When someone sees an angel, the first thing they do is tremble with fear. The first thing the angel says is, “Be not afraid!”

The angel brings a message from the Lord: “God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. He will bring you great joy and gladness!” John? No one in our family is named ‘John!’

Notice that God’s gift to Z & E will also meet the Lord’s needs. “John will be great in the eyes of the Lord, never touching alcohol. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. He will turn many Israelites to the Lord. John will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” We could use a dose of that nowadays!

Zechariah, like many of us, is quite confused and a little short on faith. “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

The angel seems a little put out with all the queries. I think he’s unaccustomed to his word being questioned. “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” Gabriel’s faith is flawless. He fully expects God to deliver what he promised!

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them! Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. And soon afterward his wife became pregnant, just like God said. She went into seclusion for five months. “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” Back then, women were (unfairly) expected to bring children into the family, and Elizabeth’s burden had been lifted by God.

So we pray, God, please give us more patience than Zechariah. Give us faith like Gabriel. And let us show the gratitude of Elizabeth for all God does for us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Dr. Luke!

For Thursday, November 20, 2025:

Luke 1:3-4 NLT: “Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.”

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, followed by Advent and then Christmas. So I thought is would be a good time to review Luke from the beginning. Luke was never a major disciple of Jesus, but rather a once-removed disciple of Paul, who the risen Jesus personally converted on the road to Damascus. There are records of Luke traveling with Paul and evangelizing alongside him.

Luke was also known as a healer, a physician, so we would expect him to have above-average intelligence. As Luke authored his Gospel, he quoted eyewitnesses who had seen and heard the Savior speak; eyewitnesses who had personally seen miracles play out! I look at Luke as an investigative reporter who interviewed countless people and condensed their stories into an accurate biography of Jesus’ life. He’s writing to “Theophilus,” which means, “Lover of God.” We don’t know if Theophilus is a person, a group of God lovers, or all those who love the Lord nowadays. Perhaps, “All of the above!” Luke stresses the accuracy and truthfulness of his Jesus biography. So listen up and take good notes!

So that we know our location on the timeline of history, Luke tells us that Herod was the king, and Zechariah was serving as a Temple priest. Z’s wife Elizabeth was barren, so they were without children. And Luke tells us, “They were both very old.” Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations, and yet, childless.

The odds were against anyone serving in the Temple sanctuary. It was the day for Z’s group to serve, but they chose by lot which individual would receive the honored call. Much happened while Z was serving, which we’ll cover next time. See how this plays out in God’s vast eternal plan! Hint: Elizabeth was a cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Faith!

For Friday, December 23, 2022:

Luke 1:45 NLT: “You (Mary) are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

It’s a common scenario. God promises something, and then the question becomes one of our faith. Do we believe that God could or would do what he said?

Still a virgin, Mary was told that she would have a son, Jesus. That’s hard to believe! Then she was told that the baby would be known as the Son of God! That’s another stretch of faith! But Mary responds with The Magnificat, her Song of Praise, confirming her belief in everything that Gabriel had told her.

As we live our lives, we need that same kind of faith in our creator. The name “Jesus” means “Savior,” and we are saved by grace through our faith in him. Shepherds came to witness the scene with their own two eyes, and they reported that everything happened just as they had been told!

In fact, our trustworthy God did everything just as he said he would, and faith in that puts us in a good place when we knock on heaven’s door!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

John-the-Baptist!

For Sunday, December 11, 2022:

Luke 1:17 NLT, the angel Gabriel speaking to Zechariah in the Temple: “He (John-the-Baptist) will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

Having children was important in the Jewish culture. They thought it was a sign of the Lord showing favor to the couple. Even though Zechariah and Elizabeth were well past child-bearing years, God promised them a son. They were to name him John. We know him as John-the-Baptist. Elizabeth was a cousin of Mary who would be bringing Jesus into this world. Mary visited Elizabeth and both rejoiced over their miraculous pregnancies.

God had a purpose for each of these babies. We all know that Jesus was the Son of God, the Spirit of the Lord coming to earth in a human body. John’s purpose was to prepare the people prior to the Lord’s arrival. “Repent and return to the Lord; the kingdom of God is at hand!”

Jesus would ultimately take the sins of the world to the place of the dead. He alone would be responsible for our redemption and salvation. We are to share this wisdom with our children, and also with the rebellious ones among us.

Following the Lord is a testimony to our wisdom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship