RAP SHEET Luke 1:57-66

SERIES: Fulfilled – The Chosen King

SERMON: His Name Is John

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:57-66

REVIEW

In this week’s passage, we saw the dramatic moment where John the Baptist is born and, against all tradition, named not after his father Zechariah, but by the name given by God: John.

This was more than a naming decision. It was a moment of surrender and obedience that broke with everything expected in that culture. Naming in the ancient world carried deep meaning, and in this moment, we see four core elements overturned:

TRADITION – In a patriarchal society, the firstborn son was almost always named after his father or grandfather.

LINEAGE – Zechariah was a priest in the line of Aaron. Naming his son after himself would continue the priestly line and secure the family’s legacy.

IDENTITY – A name was tied to one’s role in society. To be “Zechariah Jr.” was to be marked as a priest-in-training.

EXPECTATION – Everyone assumed John would step into the priesthood. Instead, he would become a prophet calling people out of the system his father faithfully served.

When Zechariah wrote, “His name is John,” it wasn’t just a name—it was a declaration of surrender to the calling of God. It broke with culture, rewrote his family’s story, and aligned his son with the Kingdom of God. And as soon as he obeyed, his tongue was loosed and he praised God. The people responded not by asking who John would be, but what he would become, because something entirely new had been set in motion.

APPLY

This passage reminds us that the world often tries to name us. Sometimes we carry those names for years without even realizing it:

What names or descriptions have you accepted that were never spoken over you by God? (Lazy? Workaholic? Angry? Damaged? Insecure? Addict? Failure? Control freak? etc.)

What names have others assigned to you that have shaped how you see yourself?

What about the seemingly “nicer” names?

(Performer. Achiever. Golden child. Perfectionist. etc.)

Do those reflect God’s call on your life, or just what others expect from you?

In contrast, what has God said about you?

(Forgiven. Redeemed. New Creation. Chosen. Child of God. Called for a purpose. etc.)

What is one false name you need to release this week?

What is one true name from God’s Word that you need to embrace?

PRAY

Take time to listen—ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any name, label, or identity you’ve taken on that doesn’t align with the truth of who God says you are.

Ask God to help you release those old names.

Thank Him for the identity He gives you, not based on your past or your performance, but based on His purpose and grace.

Pray for the courage to walk in that new name, even when it breaks with what others expect from you.

Ask that your obedience—like Zechariah’s—would lead to praise and spark conversations that point others toward the grace and calling of God.