Five-minute read.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Luke 1:13-25
Acknowledging Zechariah’s prayer, Gabriel answers him, naming the priest’s coming child, John, which indicates God’s sovereignty in choosing the child to serve the Lord. The angel tells Zechariah the details of John’s mission. The baby will bring joy and gladness to his parents and to many people as he shares the news of the coming Messiah. Filled with the Holy Spirit from birth, John helps people turn from their wicked ways back to the Lord, preparing them for Jesus’s arrival. Some people’s devotion to John will cause them to struggle following Jesus, but God’s servant points them to the Savior, not him.
When Gabriel says John will drink no wine, he doesn’t want the effects of alcohol to control God’s messenger more than the Holy Spirit. Worldly influences can derail our calling. Coming from the priestly line, servants of the Lord didn’t partake of strong drink; required to abstain from it. John fulfills the role God assigned to him, letting the Holy Spirit guide and direct his ministry.
Gabriel describes John’s ministry “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (v. 17), comparing it to the Old Testament prophet. Elijah’s prophecy pointed towards the future and end times. He appeared with Moses on the mountain when the transfiguration of Jesus occurred, and God declared Christ His Beloved Son. John’s role in promoting Jesus continues the prophecy of Elijah, turning hearts towards the Lord and eternal life with Him.
Zechariah’s question in verse 18 reveals his doubt in fulfilling Gabriel’s words. Unlike Mary’s question, “How can this be?” (Luke 1:34), which came from faith, not doubt. The priest questioned the truth of the angel’s words and suffered the consequences. As a priest, Zechariah didn’t respond in faith but in doubt and spent Elizabeth’s pregnancy in silence. The Gospel requires faith; we will never have all the answers on this side of heaven, but the Lord expects us to believe and trust Him. Doubting doesn’t cause God to stop loving us, but we may suffer consequences that build our faith in the long run.
As this scene closes, the people outside the temple understand Zechariah had a vision. No one needed to tell them; the priest’s lack of speech and his signs confirmed what the people already knew. God had moved in Zechariah’s life, and it would impact everyone. But, as in all things, they must wait for the Messiah to come. Faith journeys take time; not everything happens at once, and in His infinite wisdom, all things come to fruition in God’s perfect timing.
Preparing our hearts for the Savior means letting the Lord do His work in us. While Zechariah waited for the birth of his son and the ministry that would announce Jesus’s arrival, God continued to mold and shape the priest. The Lord does the same thing in us as we let Him guide and direct our steps, awaiting the return of His Son. One day, Jesus will call us home, and we will occupy the mansion He prepares for us. But until then, we journey with the Savior, one day at a time, allowing Him to mold us into His image.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the work You do in our lives through Jesus. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. Please help us respond in faith, not doubt. Let us turn our hearts towards You daily, listening for Your still small, whisper and fulfilling Your will for our lives. Help us honor and glorify You in all we do.
IJNIP. Amen
