His Name Is John: Happy Birthday, John the Baptist!

When the time  arrived for Elizabeth  to have her child
she gave birth to  a son.
Her neighbors and  relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced  with her.
When they came on  the eighth day to circumcise the child,

they were going to  call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother  said in reply,
“No. He will be  called John.”
But they answered  her,
“There is no one  among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made  signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a  tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were  amazed.
Immediately his  mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke  blessing God.