THE YOUNG JESUS
by Charlene & Friedhelm Dohmann

John the Baptist

Shortly after Mary returned from Nazareth, Elizabeth's son was born. According to Jewish law, he was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. Not only the Jews had their sons circumcised; also the Egyptians, Ammonites, Moabites and the Edomites did it in their tradition. The historians do not fully understand the exact meaning. The Jews however, counted it as an important sign for the alliance, God sealed with Abraham, and it served them as a seal when facing the Philistines, their old enemies. It also set them apart from the Babylonians, and later to Greeks and Romans.

Some scientists believe, circumcision was once an initiation rite, as the sacrifice of the foreskin was thought to secure the fertility of the man. Others hold the view, that the target was the initial increase in the reproduction capacity or a reduction of the sex drive. Hygienic reasons undoubtedly played only a subordinate role. But whatever the reason may have been for others, for the Jews, circumcision was the law of God. It was custom during the Circumcision Festivities that the name of the son would be disclosed.

When Elizabeth announced, their son should be called John, the relatives were disturbed. They wanted the child named after his father Zacharias. Never before had somebody been given the name John in the family. So it was left to Zacharias, who still could not speak, to make a final decision. He took a board and wrote on it: His name is John. The guests were amazed, and marvelled even more, as Zacharias now loudly offered the Lord his praise after months of silence.

With the account of Elizabeth and Zacharias, Luke prepared the way for an even greater event, the birth of Jesus. The apostle gives his central figures lots of room, explains their daily traits and their character, so that the event appears realistically. As author, Luke convinces the reader in that he effectively compares known human characteristics to the incomprehensible divine power.

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