Study Desk

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.

But his mother replied, "No! He must be named John."

So they made signs to the baby's father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son.

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed.

Immediately Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.

For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,

He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant—

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

Everyone went to his own town to be registered.

Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,

Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected.

There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death.

But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,

And all who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously."

Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them.