Gospel in Art: Zechariah wrote on a tablet 'His name is John'

Zechariah in the Temple, by Jan Lievens, 1640 © Wawel Castle, Kraków, Poland

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 23 December 2025
Luke 1:57-66

The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, 'No; he shall be called John.' And they said to her, 'None of your relatives is called by this name.' And they made signs to his father, enquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbours. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, 'What then will this child be?' For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Reflection on the painting

Before a child is born, parents reflect carefully on the name they will give their son or daughter. A name is not chosen lightly; it becomes part of a person's identity for life. Our baptismal liturgy recognises the importance of a name when the priest asks, "What name do you give your child?" In today's Gospel, we witness a moment just like this. Elizabeth, with calm conviction, announces that her son will be named John. Her choice astonishes the gathered relatives, since the name held no family precedent. Yes, different people will have different ideas about a good name for the child. Yet the name of John name is confirmed by Zechariah, who writes it boldly on a tablet. It is the name entrusted to them by the angel Gabriel. Hebrew names often carry deep theological meaning, and John means "God is gracious." The child born to Zechariah and Elizabeth would prepare the way for the Lord who ushers in a new age of grace.

This grace is exactly what we celebrate at Christmas. As the angels proclaimed to the shepherds, "Peace to those on whom God's favour rests." With the birth of Jesus, God's gracious favour rests not just on the Holy Family, but on all humanity. We, too, are "highly favoured" because of the One whose path John the Baptist prepared. At Christmas, we pause to treasure this grace. But this season invites us to do much more than simply receive God's favour; it calls us to share it! Having been touched by God's graciousness, we are sent to extend that same grace, through kindness, generosity, forgiveness, and love.

Jan Lievens' painting of Zechariah in the Temple is a remarkably simple and restrained painting. The palette is muted, dominated by warm browns, soft ochres, and gentle shadows, giving the whole canvas a contemplative stillness. There is no dramatic architectural backdrop, no flourish of colour. Only Zechariah is enveloped in a tender, subdued light, saying quietly his prayers by the altar. This simplicity is deeply reminiscent of Rembrandt, and not by accident: Lievens and Rembrandt were contemporaries, trained together in Leiden, influencing one another in their early years. The shared sensitivity to light and quiet dignity of their figures, all these echo their artistic kinship.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-1-57-66-2025/