Why am I so favoured?

Context

Elizabeth, a Jewish priest’s wife, has become pregnant in her old age after a lifetime of barrenness. Mary, her cousin, has been promised to bear a son, not by human means but through the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth’s son will be named John and Mary’s child will be named Jesus. The former will prepare the world for the coming of the latter. Jesus will be the promised king of Israel whose throne will endure forever.

When Elizabeth became pregnant, she began to live in seclusion and five months later, Mary was given her news from God. While Elizabeth’s husband doubted the new he received from God, Mary submitted to the news and believed that God would do it.

Observation

Structure

• 39-45 Elizabeth’s song
• 46-56 Mary’s song

39-45 Elizabeth’s song

“…got ready and hurried…” Mary travelled to Elizabeth and Zechariah’s home as quickly as she could. She was told by the angel Gabriel that Elizabeth was also carrying a miraculous child and so who better to visit than an older female relative who can give her comfort and guidance and zero grief. If Mary was in any doubt about the news, she may have gone nowhere and waited to see results. But she rushed to see Elizabeth without a hint of being pregnant. Did she rush because of the news of her own child or because of the news that Elizabeth was pregnant? This is unclear but Elizabeth makes it clear that she is the one privileged to have Mary visit her and not the other way around.

“…Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb…” It’s clear from the context (see verse 44) that it was John who leaped in the womb rather than Jesus. Gabriel told Zechariah that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even in the womb. Here we have the evidence that the Spirit of God was igniting the emotions of the baby to be in the very presence of Jesus’ mother. We don’t have the details of Mary’s greeting but it need not have contained any details of Mary’s encounter with Gabriel for the rest of the story to make sense since the Holy Spirit drives the knowledge of John and Elizabeth.

“…Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” One of the primary gifts of the Holy Spirit is the blessing of insight, revelation, enlightenment and such. The prophets only knew what they knew by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is implied that John leaped for joy because of the Holy Spirit in him. It doesn’t take a genius, a doctor, a minister of religion to know and respond to God. It takes the Holy Spirit to see.

“In a loud voice she exclaimed…” The ESV reads, “she exclaimed with a loud cry…” We must register the volume of Elizabeth in her joy! What follows is no monotone statement!

“…the child you will bear!” The NIV implies a future child and would make it possible that Mary is yet to conceive. While it’s not necessary for Jesus to be present or not for the contexts to make sense (since the praise goes to the Lord blessing Mary), the ESV reads better, “blessed is the fruit of your womb”.

“…why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” This reminds me of what John will say in his adult ministry, “…one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie” (Luke 3:16). Elizabeth feels unworthy to have even the mother of Jesus stand before her. Or perhaps more accurately, she cannot believe that she has seen the day when the Lord has come.

“Blessed are you among women…Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” We see here that Elizabeth is beside herself because she is witnessing the promises of God being fulfilled in her presence. Mary is to be blessed among women because of the amazing privilege to be the mother of God’s Messiah. Whether it was every Jewish girl’s prayer to be the mother of the Messiah or not, I do not know and shouldn’t be romanticized.

46-56 Mary’s song

Traditionally, this song is known as the Magnificat (because of the first word in the Latin translation meaning ‘magnifies’). There are four hymns in Luke’s birth narratives and this is the first. It follows the style and themes of Hannah’s song of praise in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.

“And Mary said…” It’s not important to know if Mary said this right there and then or not. Luke has recorded words that came from Mary.

“My soul glorifies the Lord…my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour…” This poetic form gives two parallel statements. The Lord equals God who is the Saviour. Mary’s soul equals her spirit. She glorifies the Lord God by rejoicing and this will translate into expressions of what God has done later in the song. The point here is that glorifying God is about expressing what he has done. The word for glory is the same for the word magnify. Mary doesn’t aim to make God bigger by inventing amazing truths about him. She is stirred up in her inmost being to praise him for what he has done. God is already big and Mary can’t help but sing about him.

“…for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” God’s glory is not that he stands with the strong but that he is merciful to the lowly. Like Hannah’s song of 1 Samuel 2, Mary boasts how God flips people’s situations around. See verses 50 to 54 where it is the humble that are raised and the poor who are filled.

“…all generations will call me blessed.” Mary is the receiver of blessings, not the giver. All generations ought to take note.

“…for the Mighty One has done great things…” Verses 46 to 49 make up the introduction to Mary’s song which introduce glory and praise to the Lord because he is great and has done great things. Mary is his humble servant. The rest of the song declare what God has done for people such as Mary.

“His mercy…” Glory goes to God because he is merciful and that is credited to him from generation to generation. God is unchanging in that we can be sure about him. He doesn’t reward the great and powerful in their own eyes but rather he shows mercy to those who revere him.

“He has performed mighty deeds…” AKA His deeds are great and can squash the high and mighty. He knows the inmost thoughts of a person and if there is no fear of the Lord in them, they do not receive mercy.

“…brought down…lifted up…” The humble revere the Lord and are lifted up. Rulers may be in power briefly, but they do not stay there. In God’s economy, the powerful are shown to be weak and the weak are shown mercy.

“…filled…empty.” Mary was a poor girl with nothing worldly to offer and yet God has blessed her with the honour of carrying Jesus to birth. He is not interested in wealth or power but in the humble and reverential heart.

“…remembering to be merciful to Abraham…just as he promised…” The theme of promise and fulfillment has been constant in Luke from the very beginning of the chapter. He is writing of all that had been fulfilled in his lifetime. All the promises of a forever king were being fulfilled in Jesus’ birth. Mary is now reminding us that this has been the hope of the Jewish people since the time of Abraham. Israel is described as a single person – a servant of God – who is now being helped, lifted up, filled and shown mercy by the God who keeps his word. God promised Abraham’s descendants in Genesis 12, 15 and 17 that Israel would be great and the world would be blessed through them. A humble nation with nothing to offer, has been shown mercy by God to be able to carry the saviour of the world.

“Mary stayed…three months and then returned home.” This section ends with the small detail that just before Elizabeth was about to give birth, Mary leaves. More of Mary’s story is to continue but it won’t be with Elizabeth. This verse acts as a transition from the song and the two mothers to their separate stories.

Meaning

Who are we that we should be shown favour by God? There are no riches, or gifts, power or promises big enough to obtain the generosity and blessings of God. Mary received grace to be blessed with the saviour. Elizabeth was blessed to be in the presence of the Saviour. Israel, was blessed to be the recipients of the child of God. All Christians who fear the Lord and humble themselves before God receive grace through the promises of God fulfilled in Jesus. Blessed are those who have believed that God will and has fulfilled his promises.

Application

• Pray through Mary’s song by taking each phrase and speaking to God about them in your own words.
• The relationship we have with God runs deep. It is our spirit or inmost thoughts which God reads and it is our spirit that yearns to know him and be pleased with him. Mary glorified the Lord with her spirit by reflecting on all that God has done. Be mindful of all that God has done for you, your group, your Christian community and for the salvation of all Christians. Sharing stories of God’s goodness to you personally can help one another rejoice in him.
• Although Mary didn’t sing this song (I don’t think), it might help to think about the songs we sing as a Christian community since they are our poetic expression of God’s word sung together. Perhaps discuss which songs you particularly like and why. Also, do we need to cultivate our singing more?

Prayer of the Week

Father, we praise you for all that you have done and ask that you would create in us a spirit of thankfulness. Amen.

For no word from God will ever fail.

Context

Luke has opened his well investigated and thought out history book with the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth being visited by the angel Gabriel and told that they will have a baby in there old age. Elizabeth lived in seclusion for the first five months of her pregnancy.

This story commences in her sixth month.

Further biblical context includes the fact that Elizabeth is an Israelite and therefore of the nation that received promises from the God of the universe. In Genesis 3:15 he we are promised a child of Eve who would crush Satan’s head. Genesis 49:10 promised that someone from the line of Judah would someday come to rule over all the nations. Likewise, 2 Samuel 7 declared that the throne of David (and his offspring) would be established forever. Finally, Isaiah 7:14 predicts that the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’).

The scene is set and the history predicted but will God fulfill his promises? Instead of childbirth we have seen evidence of barrenness. Instead of the strong line of Judah and the unstoppable heirs of David, Israel has a foreign king named Herod. And as for the virgin? A search through the Old Testament shows us that the virgin is actually Israel (Isaiah 37:22; Jeremiah 14:17; 18:13) and one of the final prophets declared ‘Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again’ (Amos 5:2).

Observation

This is another narrative and so can be broken up like Luke 1:5-25 with a beginning, problem, quest, solution, ending. It is a smaller story to the previous one and the bulk of it is of Gabriel speaking. Because of this, we can use the dialogue to divide the passage up like this…

Structure

• 26-28 God sends his messenger to a virgin
• 29-33 God’s message to the virgin
• 34-37 God assures the virgin
• 38 God’s word will be fulfilled

26-28 God sends his messenger to a virgin

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy…” Luke segues from the previous story to this one by placing this new story on the timeline of the pregnancy. We later learn that Elizabeth is literally related to the main character in this story (verse 36). Gabriel will also link the previous story to this one.

“God sent the angel Gabriel…” While Mary and Gabriel will speak to one another in this story, we see right from the beginning that God is acting – Gabriel is just a messenger and Mary is just God’s servant (verse 38). Note the frequency that God is referenced in this story and the abundant information we get about him (verses 26, 28, 30, 32, 35!, 37).

“…to Nazareth, a town in Galilee…” Luke simply supplies geographical detail here.

“…to a virgin pledged to be married…” This was like an engagement which could only be broken through divorce.

“…to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.” Luke has zoned in to Nazareth of Galillee, to a virgin pledged to be married, to a man named Joseph, who is a descendant of David. Up until this last statement, we are given potentially trivial points. The virgin will become important but at the moment, descendant of David is significant. The previous story came to a descendant of Aaron – a priest. Now we have someone in the kingly line.

“The virgin’s name was Mary.” Again, the word virgin is used. Becoming a bit more important now that it has been repeated.

“…you who are highly favoured!” This ought to be read as an act of grace rather than a point of praise for Mary. She is favoured because the Lord bestows favour on her. Rather than portraying how amazed the Lord is with Mary, we need to see that the greeting opens with three positive and reassuring statements: 1) Greetings, 2) you have received God’s grace, 3) the Lord is with you. Mary is the recipient of grace and not the giver of it.

So the scene is set and the characters are in play and the message being delivered from God looks to be a good one. But what will the details of the message be?

29-33 God’s message to the virgin

“Mary was greatly troubled…” Despite the clear opening sentences of peace, Mary is troubled and unsure. I suppose that this would be normal reaction to an out-of-this-world messenger!

“…you have found favour with God.” The word for favour here is more or less the root of the word for favour in verse 28 but is more often translated ‘grace’. The reason Mary ought not be afraid is because you have found grace with God.

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” Before we recall how this story ends, we need to remember that childbirth is a fairly natural thing for females. Not that it is without complications – there are mountains of complications – but no miracle is being announced just yet. The big news is that his name will be Jesus which means saviour.

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” OK, now it is getting interesting. Mary’s son will also be the Son of God! ‘Most High’ is a way of saying God without naming him.

“…will give him the throne of his father David…” Now this child is announced to be a descendant of David. So Joseph was a descendant of David. Who is actually going to be this kid’s dad? One this is for sure, he will inherit the throne of David which was promised to last forever (2 Samuel 7).

“…he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever…” Here is an echo back to the Genesis 49:10 promise.

“…his kingdom will never end.” So, the theme of this promise is clearly that Mary’s son will be the king of Israel and that there will be no end to this kingdom. This is not unique to Jesus since David was promised the same thing. In terms of Biblical Theology, we are hearing the fulfillment of the promise made to David.

The question remains, who will father this child?

34-36 God assures the virgin

“How will this be…since I am a virgin?” Is this an odd question? I mean, she is betrothed and there’s no finality in virginity. But the question does help to move the story along to some amazing statements about the incarnation. I’m reminded also that Abraham and Sarah received the promise of a child and took it on themselves to make it happen. Here, we hear Mary, God’s humble servant, wanting to hear how God plans to fulfil this.

“The Holy Spirit…the Most High…the Son of God.” The Spirit of God and the Most High (whom Jesus will teach us to call Father but he is not the Father of Gabriel) will bring into human existence the Son of God. The word ‘incarnate’ means in the flesh and here we have the incarnation of the Son of God by the Spirit and the Father. Jesus did not come on his own. The Spirit did not send Jesus on his own. And the Father and the Son did not act in seclusion of the Spirit. This is God in action – three person no in unity. You may wish to compare a few translation to notice some trickiness with this verse but the differences have little impact.

“So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” NIV

“therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God” ESV

“Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God” NET

“Even Elizabeth…” Here is where Elizabeth’s link with Mary is made known and reading between the lines we see that Gabriel is offering Mary some human company to support one another in this miracle.

“…she who was said to be unable to conceive…” Mary will conceive even while still a virgin and even Elizabeth is going to conceive in her old age. People had concluded that Elizabeth was unable to conceive – that it was impossible and she had no hope. But God can work miracles.

“For no word from God will ever fail.” Many obstacles were against God providing an eternal kingdom descended from David and Judah but here we see God promising children to two ladies who should not have them. God’s word, his promises, never fail.

37-38 God’s word will be fulfilled

“I am the Lord’s servant…” Mary’s response is a model for us. God speaks and we listen and obey. God gives words of hope and salvation and peace and reign and justice and we respond in faith.

“May your word to me be fulfilled.” Again, we conclude a story with the words that show us it’s meaning. God is bringing his word to fulfilment and we can only thank God and pray that it happens.

Meaning

God’s promises are sure. He has shown grace on us by sending his Son whom he promised from ages past. As the song goes, this is his only plan. All of scripture speaks of the coming of Jesus. It wasn’t til after he came that the pieces were seen in the light. The virgin predicted in Isaiah was no more than a metaphor for the nation of Israel, but we see that it was also a promise of a young girl in Nazareth to give birth to Jesus, the saviour of the world.

Application

• List the promises of God which you hold dearly. Share how you reflect on them to grow your faith. Are there any of those which you struggle to believe?
• Knowing our place before God is an essential element to the Christian Faith. Are there ways you struggle to see yourself as God’s humble servant? Do you treat Jesus as your King? How does or should this be evident in your life?
• Pray through the passage, bringing to mind all the ways God has blessed this world and promises to in the future.

Prayer of the Week

Lord God, may you look on us with favour, generous grace, and love. May we respond in faith, love and obedience. Amen.

The Lord has done this for me!

Context

Luke has declared his intentions for writing in verses 1-4. He has researched carefully and is determined to write a trustworthy account of all that had been fulfilled in his time. The reader, namely Theophilus, is poised ready to hear about God fulfilling his word. The beginning of Luke’s orderly account opens up now with an elderly priest being promised a child. This sounds like the right place to begin the story of the Messiah! A priest of course! And elderly like Abraham! What a great way to introduce the story of Jesus and his special birth! But these are not the parents of Jesus. Luke’s detailed account begins with the birth of John the Baptist – another special birth.

Observation

This section is a narrative and so ought to be treated as such. Stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. Beneath the surface of the story there is a theme and lessons to be learned. It is quite often the speech of a narrative which delivers the purpose for the story.

Structure

• 5-6 Introducing Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth
  • 7 The problem is they are old without children
    • 8-10 Zechariah chosen to enter the temple while the people remain outside
      • 11-17 A message from the Lord
        • 18 Zechariah’s doubt
      • 19-20 The messenger assures and rebukes Zechariah
    • 21-22 Zechariah returns to the people waiting outside
  • 23-24 Now they are old and pregnant
• 25 Concluding with the words of Zechariah’s pregnant wife Elizabeth

 

The structure above follows the formula of a typical narrative with a beginning, middle and end. The problem in verse 7 is officially resolved in verses 23-24. The bulk of the story is in the journey toward the resolution which is the dialogue between the angel Gabriel and Zechariah. Verse 18 stands out as the turning point of the narrative. The story was always going to end with Elizabeth pregnant but Zechariah’s response could have gone either way – rejoicing or doubting. Both the familiarity of a miracle birth like this (Abraham and Sarah) and the final statement of Elizabeth help us to see the bigger picture of this story – that God is doing something amazing, that it is for his people and that it will take away disgrace. What Elizabeth says of her personal blessing hints at the greater blessing about to occur for all of humanity.

 

5-6 Introducing Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth

“In the time of Herod king of Judea” – we see Luke placing this story in the context of human history. Note that Herod was the king of Judea but he was not a Jew – a foreign king reigned over the Jews.

“…the priestly division of Abijah” – See 1 Chronicles 24. Zechariah was a descendant of Aaron the priest as was his wife Elizabeth. Nobody of particular note but the reader, if familiar with the Old Testament, might reminisce over a time when the descendants of Aaron were grouped according to family (the eighth division was Abijah) under direct supervision by King David himself. Here we have the priesthood functioning but where is the descendant of David? In our present story, Gabriel will announce that God is sending a child to “bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.” And the story will conclude with the celebration of God showing favour. These are loose threads which together paint a bigger picture.

“Both of them were righteous in the sight of God” – the rest of that sentence expands on the meaning of this righteousness – “observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” We need not confuse this with our language of “without sin” but that Zechariah and Elizabeth trusted and obeyed God displayed in their commitment to Him and His commands. They are not without sin but they do love God – Zechariah is not a priest in word only but in deed. J.C. Ryle writes,

“Suffice it for us to know that Zacharias and Elizabeth had grace when grace was very rare, and kept all the burdensome observances of the ceremonial law with devout conscientiousness, when few Israelites cared for them, excepting in name and form.” (Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke, p8)

7 The problem is they are old without children

“But they were childless…unable to conceive…very old” – Isn’t it interesting how often God uses a miraculous birth to highlight his salvation plans? Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 21:2) are clearly a comparable couple because of the barrenness, the age and the lengthy description of Abraham being a man of God. Moses too was a child who lived even though he should have died. Samuel was a child of promise to the barren Hannah. Esau and Jacob had a memorable birth story. All of these stories hark back to the promise from God that a child of Eve will crush the serpent who invited sin into the world (Genesis 3:15). We now have another clue that a miraculous birth is about to take place – a sign that God is fulfilling his promises.

It must be said that we are presented with these two statements about Zechariah and Elizabeth a) they were righteous in the sight of God and b) they were childless. What a burden God put upon them both. But we know that God was not ignorant of their sorrows. Christians who live in faith and obedience will still suffer many things and often they are private pain. We may not see it clearly now but when the dawn comes and relief is here, we will see how God had brought good from it all.

8-10 Zechariah chosen to enter the temple while the people remain outside

“…Zechariah’s division…chosen by lot…” As mentioned earlier, Zechariah was of the eight division of the priestly line of Aaron (1 Chronicles 24). Each of the 24 divisions took sequential turns to be on duty and Zechariah’s divsion was on at this point. The casting of lot and choosing was to do with who in the division would burn the incense before the LORD. It came down to the sovereign hand of God to decide who would enter. While people often compare this with gambling, the issue is not about whether God is sovereign over the dice or not but why the dice is being rolled to begin with. There is no issue here.

“…into the temple of the Lord…” What is supposed here is that Zechariah is entering the most holy part of the temple where the incense is burned before the Lord. Exodus 30:1-10 provide a description of the altar being placed in front of the curtain with fragrant offerings twice a day but the atonement offering once a year. Hebrews 9:1-10, however, provide some further detail into the ongoing practice of worship which placed the altar of incense in the most inner room called the Most Holy Place. So, Zechariah didn’t just go to the temple, but he went to the Holy of Holy places inside the temple, curtained off except for the moment when the priest chosen by lot/God would enter for the burning of incense.

This duty appears to be one of the daily entries to the temple as opposed to the annual special occasion.

11-17 A message from the Lord

“…an angel of the Lord appeared…he was startled and gripped with fear.” The word for angel is the same as the word for messenger. We find out in verse 19 that this messenger has a name, Gabriel. What we must learn to do is divorce our minds from the manmade traditions of what an angel is or looks like and just listen to the story. The Lord sent a messenger named Gabriel to give a message to Zechariah. He was visible and Zechariah was not only surprised to find someone else in the temple area with him, unexpectedly, but that he was gripped with fear. When the realms of heaven are made visible to us, we will know that earth is smothered in sin and we are in danger.

Like the child-birth stories should tell us that God is working out his promises, so too, the appearance of an angel should tell us that God is at work and about to do something amazing.

“…your prayer has been heard…” Just a little insight into two things: a) this childlessness has been in Zechariah’s prayers for personal intervention from God and b) God has listened. It would be understandable for Zechariah’s prayers to have changed over the years from ‘please bless us with children’ when he and his wife were younger, to ‘please help us to bare with childlessness and help us to understand your wisdom’ as they got older. But God heard their prayers and has waited this long to answer ‘yes’. The common answer of ‘not yet’ feels awfully like a no at the time.

“…will bear you a son…call him John…He will…he will…He will…he will…” Gabriel hasn’t come to simply comfort Zechariah’s faith but to give good news of what is going to happen. The details of this baby’s life are set. His name is set. His salvation is set. His calling to prepare the hearts of the people for the Lord is all set. Zechariah has been given the good news and all he needs to do now is believe. (see his response in verse 18).

“…never to take wine…” This, along with the dedication to the Lord from birth (see next point) are similar to the Nazarite office of Numbers 6. The bottom line is that John has been dedicated to the Lord like a Nazarite at God’s own calling and will.

“…filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born…” The very least we can say about this is that John will not be a great man because of his own charisma or strength or will but because even from the beginning he will be lead by the Holy Spirit. The general grace of God which falls on all humanity is that the Holy Spirit is at work in the world to hold back rebellion. But when the Holy Spirit is described as filling someone, this is bible talk for someone chosen by God to perform a special task. John’s task which he needs the Holy Spirit to drive him in is described immediately after. We move from some generic ideas about John who will bring joy to specifics of how the Holy Spirit will use him.

“…bring back many…turn the hearts…to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Jesus would begin his ministry where John takes it – repent and believe for the kingdom of God is at hand. This is the way that God works in the history of mankind as well as the single life cycle of a person – he stirs up the desire for repentance and then reveals how salvation can be found. For example, this is the very beginning of the Exodus story – God orchestrates for the people to be bound in chains and crying for help when he then acts to save. Again, the repetitive cycle in Judges shows that God stirs up the people to cry out in order for his Spirit driven leaders to save. And again, in Zechariah’s book (definitely a different Zechariah but is it a coincidence?) we read these famous words, “‘Return to me’, declares the LORD, ‘and I will return to you.’” (Zechariah (1:6).

The point: God does not bring salvation without clearly teaching and preparing his people to receive it! No Christian is saved without coming to grips with their own need for a saviour!

“…in the spirit and power of Elijah…” John will not literally be Elijah (see John 1:21) but he will be figuratively (see Matthew 11:13, 14; 17:12; Mark 9:12, 13). He will carry with him the same message and conviction as Elijah and he will be the one who fulfills part of Malachi 4.

“…turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous…” This is simply a statement of a family reunited by their shared repentance. Jesus is still able to testify later that families can and will turn against one another. This is not a contradiction but two outcomes of the gospel being preached. Those who believe will be united in wisdom and righteousness while those who oppose will create conflict.

18 Zechariah’s doubt

While Zechariah’s response needs no explanation, it plays a crutial role in the purpose of the story. Even though salvation is coming (not through John but through Jesus), will people respond with joy or doubt?

Abraham had a similar response in Genesis 17:17 although difference could be observed.

Zechariah was seeking some assurance since the circumstances were against the good news. Compared with Mary in Luke 1:34 who was seeking an explanation and further insight.

It’s not our place to judge between Zechariah and Mary but to see the outcome in the story and let the narrative instruct us. The angel gave Zechariah clear details of what was to come and Zechariah was seeking confidence and faith. Doubting the good news is the direction this is taking us since Gabriel identifies Zechariah’s problem as unbelief (verse 20).

19-20 The messenger assures and rebukes Zechariah

“I am Gabriel.” Again, no details seem confusing in this small answer by the angel except perhaps the angel’s name. Gabriel appears at one other moment in scripture. Daniel 8 and 9 contain visions from heaven for Daniel to understand and Gabriel, who looks like a man, is ordered to explain them to Daniel. The second vision and appearance of Gabriel, in Daniel 9, occurs while Daniel is in special intercessory prayer for the people of Israel. This features a parallel with Zechariah performing his intercessory duties in the temple. On one level, the reader can enjoy this link to Daniel and be reminded of God’s promise to act in a distant future. Daniel 9 and Malachi 4 have been brought into our minds as we read this story. Both describe ‘the appointed time of the end’ (Daniel 9:19) or the ‘day of the Lord’ (Malachi 4:5) which begins with the first coming of Christ and will conclude with his second coming.

But let’s also have the context show us why this angel is named. He states a few pieces of fact, firstly, his name is Gabriel, secondly, he stands in the presence of God, thirdly, God has sent him to speak, fourthly, what he speaks is good news. In short, Gabriel could very well be saying, “For heaven’s sake! An angel is standing here and telling you something amazing and you want to question it!!? You are not hallucinating or breathing in the incense here brother!”

This is the end of the dialogue in this story. Speeches and conversations draw our attention to the purpose of the message. Good news has been delivered and the response has been disappointing.

21-22 Zechariah returns to the people waiting outside

“…the people were waiting…” In terms of the narrative flow, this section is landing the story where verse 10 had left us. People were outside as they watched Zechariah go through the curtain and not return for a while. There’s no indication that they heard what was going on in there. They just perceived that Zechariah was taking longer than the usual time needed.

“…they realized…for he…” This is a little picture of what Luke is doing with his orderly account and perhaps what we are to do in response to this story and the gospel. There were many who were not eyewitnesses to the events inside the Most Holy Place but were well aware that something was taking place because clues are left behind. What happened behind the curtain was only witnessed by Zechariah. But his story of what actually happened would hold true, not simply because he said it was true, but because the evidence is there. He was gone for an unusual amount of time but the right amount of time to fit the story. He also returned a changed man – unable to speak but only make hand gestures. Over 9 months, he would be able to write out his story and maintain his silence and then to miraculously speak once John was born. Of course, the whole thing could have been an elaborate lie and yet, the evidence is all there – especially the birth of a son!

This is how we come to believe the good news! We let the evidence speak! The tomb was sealed with a dead body of Jesus placed inside. Then the tomb was empty and many saw and believed!

23-24 Now they are old and pregnant

Quite simply, the word of God came true and both Zechariah and Elizabeth knew it. The problem in the story is resolve. They are still old! But they are now with child!

25 Concluding with the words of Zechariah’s pregnant wife Elizabeth

The final statement of the story is profoundly prophetic. The Lord has acted in favour toward humanity, answering prayer, at the right time, showing favour to the disgraced. Being without child was seen as a disgrace (Genesis 30:23 and Isaiah 4:1) and on a simple reading, Elizabeth is praising God for his clear graciousness to her. But in the context of a story where good news is given and then not believed, it ends with hope that salvation is indeed here.

“In these days…” This is a phrase reminiscent of God’s timeliness. We are now in the days of God’s active grace.

 

Meaning

When the good news is proclaimed, who will believe? Will people see the evidence and realise what has happened? Or will God perform such great signs and wonders and yet still people not believe. The day of the Lord is arriving and the time is now to return to the Lord.

Application

• Learn how to read a biblical narrative and learn what the key message is. The bulk of the bible is made up of stories written down for a purpose. Many approaches have been taken in the church history to understand the meaning and interpretation but skillful analysis can easily reveal what the author always intended for his account.
• God’s timing in everything is crucial and our part is to pray and trust. Zechariah was a great prayer but he was slow to believe. What can we do to help ourselves and one another to be patient with God and to stop doubting? Hint, remembering what it is we believe and why we believe it.
• Bringing people back to God. We can continue to live in the power and spirit of Elijah by prompting our circle of influence to reconsider God and his justice and mercy. Salvation comes to those who put their trust in Jesus. Trust comes after the danger is spoken about and the solution offered. While this passage doesn’t explicitly tell us to be John the Baptists, we know the good news and we have the Holy Spirit within and we have been charged by Jesus to go and make disciples.

Prayer of the Week

Heavenly Father, hear us as we pray and help us to believe that you have sent your Son into the world to save sinners. Thank you for the good news, for the Holy Spirit, and for your great love for us. Help us to bear witness to this world so that more may believe. Amen.