Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Luke 1:64-66 NIV
Birth of John the Baptist
Sandwich First Baptist Church is in the Sandwich neighbourhood of Windsor, Ontario. The church, now over 180 years old, is still active and was part of the Underground Railroad network. But the church’s history, as we know it, started before its 1851 build date as a little log cabin where Black people could practice religion. Because of segregation laws in Canada, Black people couldn’t go to church with white people. As the congregation began to grow, so too did the number of Black people arriving in Sandwich.
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Jesus isn’t the only baby that plays an important role in the Advent story. All the while Mary was pregnant with the pre-born Jesus, her cousin Elizabeth was expecting the baby who would be named John and would be known as the Baptist. He was the fulfillment of the ancient promise of God that one would come to prepare the way for the Messiah Jesus. We read about the arrival of John in Luke 1:57-66. His father Zechariah had been mute since hearing what was going to happen. After writing down that his son would be named John, his vocal chords were loosed and he began to speak. We read this in verses 64-66: “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbours were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’ For the Lord’s hand was with him.” The Lord’s hand is with you too, follower of Jesus.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley