Read Luke 1:1-55
Over four hundred years have passed since the days of Nehemiah and a lot has changed for the Hebrew people. They are now under the foreign rule of Rome and are subject to Caesar. Rome allowed countries under it’s control sometimes to live under vassal kinds and Herod was such a king who ruled over the people of Judah Rome also allowed the Jews to practice their religion. One of the priests who served in God’s temple at this time was Zacharias. He was married to Elizabeth and they were righteous people who were loyal to God. Unfortunately, they were elderly and the time for Elizabeth to have a child had long passed. Zacharias one day doing is priestly duties, burning incense in the temple (this was a symbol of prayer and we can see that this was a time for prayer in the temple). At this time, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias and told him his wife would have a child who would bring joy to Zacharias’ life, would become a prophet who would have the same spirit of Elijah and turn people towards God and prepare them for the coming of the Lord. Zachariah didn’t believe that this could happen because he and his wife were elderly people. The angel, who is Gabriel, scolds him for not believing in a messenger who stands in the presence of the Lord. Therefore, Zacharias is stricken dumb by Gabriel, unable to speak for the entire pregnancy! The people at the temple were wondering why Zacharias was in the temple so long and they marveled that when he came out he was unable to talk. They figured he had seen a vision and he went home after his duties were done at the temple. Soon after that Elizabeth became pregnant and she hid herself for five months, thanking God for ending her barren life.
Six months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Gabriel shows up to Mary and tells her she is highly favored she in the eyes of God. She is confused not knowing the reason for Gabriel’s visit. He then tells her again that she is favored in the eyes of God and that the son she will have will be named Jesus who will be the Son of God. He will fulfill the prophecy God told to David centuries ago, reigning on David’s throne over all Israel in a kingdom that will never end. Mary wonders how this can happen since she is a virgin. Gabriel tells her basically that the Holy Spirit will be the one to get her pregnant! He also tells her that her barren cousin is six months pregnant! He reminds her that with God nothing is impossible. An excited Mary hastily makes her way to Elizabeth’s home and when she gets there the baby in her cousin’s womb jumps in her womb and as she is filled with the Holy Spirit she speaks how blessed Mary is. She tells Mary that her baby leaped in her womb when Mary near her. She says Mary will be blessed because Mary believed in God’s word. Mary goes into her own praise report. She praises God for his thoughtfulness toward a woman of her lowly stature. Mary professes about God’s power, His mercy, His justice, his care for His people Israel and His prophetic word that was spoken to Abraham.
Food for thought: It had been for over four hundred years since the prophetic word had been manifested amongst the Jews. For the Jews it would seem to them that God had been unusually silent. He had always given them the presence of a prophet among them. What seemed to be going on? This concern would be magnified considering they were under the iron rule of Rome and desperately wanted to be free from their rule. But God had His own time for when the Savior would be born and now it is going to happen. But He also would first bring forth a prophet who in the same spirit of Elijah would conduct a powerful ministry that would pave the way for the Messiah by spiritually preparing the people of God. Sometimes it seems to us that God is taking too long to act, like He is dragging his feet on fulfilling His promises. I would gather it seems like that for Christians today regarding his second coming! We want him to come soon and come now but he has seemingly delayed it. We have to remember that God doesn’t operate as we do because He’s not constrained by time like we are. But in His Word we read that God acts when He needs to for our best interest at the right time! Praise God for that!
Up next: The priest finally speaks again…..
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