Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 7: Read Luke 1:18-25

Zechariah and Elizabeth

Luke 1:18-25 finishes the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The angel appeared to Zechariah and told him that he would have a son, but Zechariah was skeptical. He questioned the angel because his wife and him were too old to have children. The angel tells him that he is Gabriel, an angel that stands before God, and that God has sent him to tell Zechariah the good news. Zechariah's unbelief can't go unpunished and so the angel tells him that he won't be able to speak until his son is born. The people of Israel were waiting outside the temple and they were surprised Zechariah was so long in the temple. When he returned he was unable to speak and then the people knew he had seen a vision from the Lord. Zechariah finished his service in the temple and then he returned home. Later Elizabeth become pregnant and did not leave her house for 5 months. Elizabeth exclaimed, "Look what the Lord has done for me! My people were ashamed of me, but now the Lord has taken away the shame."

This passage is interesting. Zechariah is told incredulous news by a stranger, news that gives answer to his prayers, but he doesn't believe it. I don't blame him for not believing at first. He was very old and so was his wife, but more than that he is given this news unexpectedly. Elizabeth and him had probably already given up on having children when this angel arrives to tell them they will have a son. The arrival of the angel had to then be unexpected and baffling to Zechariah. His unbelief isn't exactly rebuked and yet he still faces consequences for not believing. God doesn't take away the answer to his prayer because he doesn't believe, but He does punish Zechariah by making him mute for the duration of his wife's pregnancy. Being mute is an annoyance, but doesn't actually hurt Zechariah. This passage reveals that God will answer our prayers, but He expects us to believe when He tells us our prayers are being answered.

Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 6: Luke 1:11-17

Zechariah and Elizabeth

Luke 1:11-17 continues the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah was at this time serving in the temple, he was selected by throwing lots to burn incense for God, and it is here that an angel appears to him. He is afraid, but the angel tells him not to be afraid that God has heard his prayer. God has heard Zechariah's prayer and He is going to give them a son. The angel tells Zechariah that he will name his son John. John will bring his parents joy and make many people happy. He will be a great man for the Lord. John will never drink alcohol and even from birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will help many people return to the Lord and he will go forward in the spirit of the Lord to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

John was not just the answer to his parents' prayers, but the person a God had chosen to prepare His people for His coming. Before John was born God had a plan for him. He knew his personality, he knew his faithfulness to abstain from alcohol, and he knew what John's life would mean to other people. John would bring happiness and restoration. God knew all of this before John was even born and He revealed this plan to his parents. God had heard their prayers and was going to bless them beyond their dreams. In this passage of Luke, God has revealed to Zechariah that He had a plan that far surpassed Zechariah's. 

The life of John stood out from others because he was filled with the spirit of the Lord and he abstained from activities that would dilute the spirit in him. Since John stood out from others, he was able to guide people back to the Lord and make people happy. The story of John the Baptist is helpful for modern day Christians because we too have been set apart. Like John we have the potential to guide people to the Lord and to prepare them for the coming of the Lord. That is going to look different for each of us, but God has set us apart. An angel might not have told our parents that their prayers were going to be answered, but God still knew His purpose for our lives and the personality we would have. This December, remember we are each called like John to prepare the way for Jesus. In just a few weeks we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus. What better gift could we give to Him than to bring Him another lost person?

Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 5: Read Luke 1:5-10

Zechariah and Elizabeth 

Luke 1:5-10 describes Zechariah as a good man, who served as a priest and his wife, who was a good woman. Scripture states that this couple followed the law and feared the Lord. They were without fault, but they were unable to have a son. It says that Elizabeth was unable to have a child and that she was very old. Then one day Zechariah was burning incense in the temple and an angel appeared to him. 

In Zechariah's time it was thought that people who followed the law would be blessed. If the Lord didn't find any fault with them they would be healthy, prosperous, and have many children to leave a legacy for them. Luke 1:5-10 reveals that this isn't necessarily the case. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were good people, who followed the law and were without fault, yet it says that they didn't have a son. The birth of a son is important in their time because a son represents prosperity. A son will take care of his parents and he will continue on the legacy of the family. 

It is important to understand that Zechariah and Elizabeth were good people, who followed God, and yet they still had unanswered prayers because it sets the stage for something miraculous. God didn't ignore the reality that this couple wanted a child, but He had a much larger plan for the child than becoming a priest. Luke 1 goes on to state that an angel visited the couple and told them Elizabeth would give birth to a son. This was preposterous because of her age, yet God made it happen. There was some unbelief and this caused Zechariah to be punished, he was unable to speak until his son was born, but his son was still born. That son was named John and it was he who prepared the way for Jesus. 

I think the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is important to remember at this time of year because there are a lot of unanswered prayers and there is this tendency to think it impossible. Perhaps, when thought of in human standards, it is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible. God took these good people and answered their prayers in such a way that they will be remembered always. Zechariah and Elizabeth not only received the gift of their son, but they also were able to witness their son pave the way for the Messiah. That had to be so much more than they could have realistically hoped for. Whatever it is that you are worried about or afraid won't be answered this Christmas, have faith, because God can do anything. He sent John to Elizabeth and Jesus to Mary and through them the good news of salvation was spread. Just imagine the ways He can answer your prayers and use that answer to spread good news to so many more people.