And Mary stayed with her (Elizabeth) about three months; then she to her home.

Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.” Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.   Luke 1:56‭-‬66 CSB

Hearing that God had blessed them with a healthy baby boy, and that Elizabeth was doing well, relatives and friends came to see the new miracle baby and congratulate the proud parents.

When John was eight days old, he was taken to the temple to be circumcised, as the law prescribed. God had given circumcision to Abraham as an outward sign that they were in covenant with God (Gen 17). Anyone who was not circumcised was to be “cut off” from his people as a covenant breaker (v. 14).

When the time came to name the baby, it was assumed he would be named after his father, after the custom of the day. Or he would be named after someone at least in his family. They wanted confirmation from Zechariah after Elizabeth told them his name was John. With a metal stylus, John wrote on an erasable wax tablet that his name was John. That is when things got really interesting.

After many months of not being able to speak, John was suddenly able to, and speak he did! He had had months to think of what he wished he had said when the angel gave him the news about his son, and made up for lost time, praising God for this miracle birth!

God had gotten the attention of everyone around there, and their eyes were on John to see what God would do with him.