Gender reveals are a big thing in these days. You know, where folks who are expecting a child come up with some very creative way to tell family and friends the gender of their expected child – boy or girl. When Tony and I were expecting, there were no creative ways to reveal our baby’s gender. Had we known before she was born, our reveal probably would have been a little lower key. No cell call, email, text, Facebook, or Instagram message. At most, it would have been a phone call to family and friends on a two foot cordless phone with a six foot antenna.
Upon delivery Dr.Wanger said: “A girl it is!” Had Olivia not been a girl, he would have said: “A boy it is!” That was it! Tony ran to the waiting room and told our family and friends: “It’s a girl!!!” That was our big reveal. No balloons, no exploding cake, no blue or pinksmoke bombs.
Guess what? There were a couple of pretty significant gender reveals in the Bible. Yep. Before gender reveals were trendy. Check this out:
But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John.” Luke 1:13
Top that gender reveal, folks. Wild. How appropo that a messenger from God,Gabriel, would announce the birth of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son. The messenger’s message about themessenger? There was no sonogram orultrasound. No diagnostic testing. It was a spiritual revelation. A revelation by God’s Messenger, an Angel,Gabriel in fact. The most spectaculargender reveal ever. Well, almost… Even more fantastic, Gabriel told them whatto name this messenger. John. Named by God. A name that speaks right to the heart of Zechariah and Elizabeth. John — the Lord is gracious. Gracious. Merciful. Compassionate. John, the messenger with a message.
“And he will persuade many Israelites to turn to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah, the prophet of old. He will precede the coming of the Lord, preparing the people for his arrival. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will change disobedient minds to accept godly wisdom.” Luke 1:16-7
There was another more significant gender reveal shortly afterward, right?
“You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Luke 1:31-33
John came to make an announcement, to tell the world about the baby involved in the most significant gender reveal ever. John came to tell people to turn. Go the other way. Turn to God and away from sin. Prepare. Get ready. The Messiah is coming! The Messiah is coming! The message is the same today. Who are we persuading, preparing, telling — The Messiah is coming!