The grace of God develops gradually in the life of the elect, and nobody can stop it. John, who was filled with the Spirit, was born of a barren mother. In this manner the forerunner of Christ who prepared the way of his Lord was found, and the greatest among those born of women appeared. The relatives and neighbors rejoiced deeply at the mercy of God who granted the mute priest an offspring to succeed him. They glorified God and rejoiced at his favor. Then the boy was duly received in his nation through the accustomed rites of circumcising and naming the newborn child. Those present marveled when the mother asked, on behalf of her mute husband, that her child be called John, instead of Zacharias, contrary their customs. Why would that woman break the rule of her people? Zacharias was a nice name meaning "God has remembered us". The neighbors were very upset and asked the mute father to speak or to express his opinion in signs. The poor father had been mute for nine months in the school of the Holy Spirit keeping his secrets into his heart. However, from the beginning of his muteness, he wrote to his wife in brief on a writing tablet what the angel told him to do. Both Zacharias and his wife were pleased when the mother became pregnant. Thus John, before his birth, became his father’s preacher of repentance. The blessing became a reproach. Zacharias penetrated deeply into the scriptures and prayed continuously, knowing that his disease signified a punishment from God for his unbelief.
Zacharias also knew that the impediment of his tongue would be loosed when his child, given by God, is born. Yet, when the child was born and his tongue remained unloosed, he doubted: Could his faith be untrue, and his prayers unanswered? But the child was brought to express the work of grace. The father decided, according to the angel’s order, to avoid all human opinions, and to place his hope completely on grace. So he wrote on the tablet that the name of his firstborn child should be John as an emblem of the age of grace to come.
Having held fast to God’s promises and command, Zacharias passed the last exam of faith and the impediment of his tongue was loosed. His imprisoned words dashed out easily and gracefully praising the Lord from the innermost recesses of his heart. Zacharias glorified God, revealed the secrets of his child’s birth, told those present about the angel and his words, and showed them how God interfered in his life.
Thereupon, the people became afraid for they knew from their own history that God created children in strange ways before making radical changes in the course of their nation’s life, the same as he had created Isaac, Moses, and Samuel. Whereas the motto of the angel’s revelation was the coming of Christ whose way should be prepared by John, the religious and politicians became frightened at the designs of God about to happen. Some of them wished repentance, renewal, justice, and raising of the dead in their nation when Christ came. Others rejoiced in themselves and hoped they would be delivered from the yoke of occupation. They did not realize at all that Christ does not build his kingdom on weapons and armies but through the pouring of the Holy Spirit who created repentance, conversion, and renewal of hearts by his grace.
The birth of the Baptist resulted in a deep movement in the holy land before he began to speak the words of his message.