I found it important to note Luke's opening in verses 1-4. First he addressed other written accounts of the events surrounding Jesus, saying they were taken from eyewitness accounts. Meaning what they taught and shared what were the accounts given by persons who had actually been eyewitnesses and also that those eyewitness accounts had been circulating among them since the early disciples.
Luke went on to say he carefully investigated those accounts and other matters to prepare a carefully studied and carefully written account of those events. Those comments allude to the fact he didn't simply rely on what he had heard but researched to create an accurate as possible account. Also remember, as you recently saw in Acts, Luke was an eyewitness for some things in Scripture.
Verse 8 struck a note with me. It starts with "One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple..." I feel sometimes we get caught up in serving each other or being served to the point we forget we are here to serve God. Zechariah was not in the Temple to serve the people outside praying, he was there to serve God. We are not in our churches to serve leaders or attendees but to serve God. I believe that in the process of serving God attendees and leaders will get what they need. Sometimes we might get too caught up in serving those around us that we miss the fact we are there to serve God.
Verse 9 tells us Zechariah was in the sanctuary burning incense, then in verse 10 we read while he was doing that, there was a "great" crowd outside praying. I love this. The priest was doing his priestly duties but was supported by the crowd in prayer. This was not a dozen people but a great crowd which had gathered to pray. I believe the amount off time we as groups of believers pray together is greatly undervalued. At a time, the Korean church was the largest and fastest growing church in the world. They would gather on meeting days, numbering in the thousands, and spend hours in prayer and God blessed their numbers. I think the idea of this kind of attention to prayer is important.
Verse 14 and 15 tell us of the child promised to Zechariah and Elizabeth. Verse 15 "for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks." I winder why is that important? Could it be that partaking in alcoholic drinks gets in the way of our being great for the Lord? Perhaps it clouds our minds, makes it more difficult to communicate with God or in someway dulls our ability to sense the leading of the Spirit? The child, John was to be filled with the Spirit which is written right after the comment about alcohol. Does that lead us to consider the Spirit might not function well in a person who uses such beverages?
Still in verse 15 speaking of John, the child to be born, "He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth." We never hear of the Holy Spirit ever filling anyone prior to their birth. We have to take note how special this really is. John is set aside and prepared to foretell Christ's coming before he even understands the meaning of a single word. The fact that he will be filled with the Holy Spirit before his birth I believe, is supported by verse 41 when Mary went to visit Elizabeth. We read that when Mary entered and greeted Elizabeth, "Elizabeth's child leaped within her and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." I think it may have been at that time John was filled with the Spirit. If he was in her womb and she was filled, then it seems reasonable to me to think John was filled as well.
The second half of verse 17, "He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly." This described what John would do, however, when I read it I was struck with a strong impression that this is what we should be doing as well. In our day and time, how much is this needed. How many fathers have abandoned their children? How many rebellious people need to accept the wisdom of the godly rather than mock it. Our world is like a free for all, doing whatever any individual deems is "good or right" in his/her own eyes. We often question what the will of God is, perhaps this can be an answer to that question for some of us.
As we head into verse 19 and on, I did not notice any place Zechariah or Elizabeth complained or blamed God for their not having a son. They seemed to accept it while they still wished they could have one. There is no record of grumbling, poor me nor
any negative feelings toward God in their circumstances. He eventually honored them with a son who was one of the most influential persons of all time, perhaps in part because of their acceptance of the lack of their dream coming true.
Verses 19 and 20 tell of Zechariah's lack of faith when he was told he would have a son. As a result of his doubt, he lost his ability to speak. This led me to consider what repercussions there might be to our doubt or lack of faith in God. Could it be when we doubt the promises of God we lose blessings somewhere? Zechariah did not lose the son he was promised but lost his voice. He paid a price someplace for his doubt and perhaps we do as well. Could our doubt cost us blessings in other areas? Could our doubt bring us pain? Maybe that is something to consider.
Notice the contrast between Zechariah who doubted and lost his voice and Elizabeth who rejoiced praising God for "taking away my disgrace of having no children." She did not whine about it taking so long. She did not doubt. She never complained that, it was about time. She rejoiced. Their story here gave me an image of how we should consider responding to our situations.
Verse 26-38 gives us the account of the angel, Gabriel, giving Mary the good news that she will have son, Jesus. Gabriel was given the honor of carrying great news from God. He was the angel who also told Zechariah of his soon to come son. Gabriel describes himself to Zechariah in verse 19 as, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God."
There are many angels but only a couple who stand in God's presence. Gabriel is one of the highest ranking angels there is. Some name him as the angel who will blow the trumpet at the end of time announcing the final judgement.
in verses 34-38, Mary asked Gabriel how she could have a baby because she was still a virgin. Gabriel told her the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and the baby will be called the Son of God. He also told her that Elizabeth has already been pregnant for 6 months and she was a women many considered barren, never being able to have a child. Gabriel makes a statement we all should have etched in our minds and hearts. That statement is verse 37. It is not part of another verse, it is a single verse carrying a powerful fact, "For nothing is impossible with God."
Verse 38 gives us the opportunity to compare Mary's response to Zechariah's and Elizabeth's. Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." That is a statement of a person who is willing to go where directed by God. This is the statement of a person who is wholly given to following God. This is an example for us as well. Time for a heart check? Are we willing to say to God, "I am your servant, may all that you ask of me come true?" How long will proclaimers of Christ be nothing more than Sunday, game day, fans? When will we stop being fans and become followers like Mary? Mary followed Christ everywhere, ending up at His feet at the bottom of the cross. She took a life long journey with Him not knowing where it would lead but giving her all in obedience and love to her Savior and God. Again, we debate the will of God when accounts such as this seem to clearly indicate what His will is.
Verse 45 gave me more insight. Mary has come to visit Elizabeth and Elizabeth speaks to Mary telling her she has been blessed by God above all women. She asks why she is so honored to be visited by the mother of the Lord. She told Mary when she greeted her, the baby, John, leaped for joy inside her. Now to verse 45, Elizabeth speaks to Mary saying, "You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said." This caused me to wonder how blessed we could be if we believed more that the Lord will do what he said. While these encounters with Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary teach us about the coming of Christ and John, they are also lessons about faith in God. They tell me it is possible that great things can be done in me but only if I believe.
Because of Zechariah's doubt he was unable to speak until after John was born. Verse 64 is when his voice returned, "Instantly Zechariah could speak again," Notice what happens when his voice came back... "and he began praising God." Another lesson for us. How good are we at "praising" God when good things happen. This is the Creator of the Universe, of mankind, of all things. This is God who takes the time to listen to us, watch over us and bless us , yet, are we truly good recipients of His blessings? Easy question and one that is easy to answer via another question. Do we praise Him?
After naming his baby John, Zechariah prophesied by the Holy Spirit. That prophesy is found in verses 68-79. It was to be the work John would dedicate his life to. It is the work John was sent to do. Again, I speak to how many of us search for the "will " of God in our lives. I think things such as the prophesy of Zechariah is the will of God for our lives. I will post the latter part of that prophesy here. I ask you read it with the eyes, heart and mind of a true follower of Christ viewing it as His will for your life and mine.
(Starting at verse 74) Bold and underlined emphasis mine indicating what could be our mission and God's will for us.
74 We have been rescued from our enemies SO we can SERVE GOD without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness FOR AS LONG AS WE LIVE.
76 And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High because YOU WILL PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD.
(For us to prepare others for His second coming)
77 You will TELL HIS PEOPLE HOW TO FIND SALVATION through FORGIVENESS OF THEIR SINS
78 Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us (Christ's and His redeeming light)
79 TO GIVE LIGHT TO THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH, AND TO GUIDE US IN THE PATH OF PEACE.
(For us, Christ's light has already come and now we are given the mission to tell others who sit in darkness of the light of Christ)
Likewise, we have been rescued from our enemies, the powers of darkness, so we can serve God for as long as we live. We are here to prepare the way for the Lord's second coming by telling others how they can find salvation through the forgiveness of their sins through faith in Christ, the one who brought about our forgiveness by His life, death and resurrection. By sharing the Good News of Christ, we are sharing he light of Christ with all those who are living in darkness far from Christ and the salvation He offers.
The prophesy of Zechariah is not meant to tell us of our mission but when I read it, it struck my spirit as it being the same mission for us and for all believers.