GABRIEL VISITS ZACHARIAS

Luke 1:5-7 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

In the verses that precede the lesson text, Luke tells us that he knew many others had been witnesses of, and had personally served, the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that by inspiration of the Holy Spirit these personal acquaintances of Him had both written and/or taught the story of Jesus that perfectly fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. Luke states that he, too, had been lead by the Holy Spirit of God, and it seemed good to me to also tell the story of Jesus, in order that his friend, Theophilus, as well as you and I today, mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed (See Vss. 1-4). Throughout all ages, from days of Jesus Christ to the present, these verses assure us that we have the same inspired scriptures that lead to eternal life in Heaven as the church of Christ had during the first century.

Luke begins his record of the story of Jesus in the days of Herod, the king of Judea. At the time this story unfolds, Judea was a province of, and was ruled by, the Roman Empire. This particular Herod, known in history as "Herod the Great," had been appointed by the Roman emperor as governor of this province. He, as well as others that ruled in later times, were often referred to as the king of Judea. Although history tells us that Herod was a Jewish proselyte, he was not of Jewish heritage. This fact fulfills this Old Testament prophecy: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be (Gen. 49:10). It was not during the days of Jewish rule, but in the days of Roman rule that the earthly story of Jesus began. And in this accounting, Luke begins His story during these days with the birth of John the Baptist. There was a certain priest named Zacharias having a wife named Elizabeth. Both were descendents of Aaron, were righteous before God, and obediently followed His commandments and ordinances. However, they were childless and beyond the age of bearing children, but in God's plan of salvation through Christ Jesus, a child would be born that would usher in the birth of our Savior.

The verses following the lesson text tell us that as Zacharias was dutifully carrying out the responsibilities as priest in the temple, there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense (Vs. 11). The message from the angel was that Zacharias' prayer had been heard, and he was told that his wife Elisabeth would bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John (Vs. 13). Not only would he and his wife find joy in the birth of their son, John, but also many shall rejoice (Vs. 14), and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God (Vs. 16). The following verse 58 tells us that, at the birth of John, Elisabeth, her neighbors and her cousins ...rejoiced with her. More than these, every Christian rejoices in his birth and fulfilling his God-given mission on earth. Even our Lord and Savior told us that he was more than a prophet - he was a messenger of God sent to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist (See Matt. 11:9-11). For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15) - the Nazarite vow by which he was to be dedicated to the service of the God.

As a preacher of repentance and obediently turning to the Lord God for all things in life, John the Baptist, the yet unborn child of Zacharias and Elisabeth, was compared to Elijah the prophet with the responsibility of making ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17). This would fulfill the prophecy of Malachi, who wrote: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse (Mal 4:5-6).

Seemingly overwhelmed by Gabriel's prophetic words, Zacharias asked for a sign to assure him of the birth of a son. Gabriel responded telling Zacharias that, because he was doubtful of this taking place, that he would become dumb, and unable to speak until the birth of John and this prophecy had been fulfilled (Luke 1:18-20). After tarrying a long time in the temple, Zacharias ...came out. And when his family and others saw him and observed that he could not speak, they thought he had seen a vision in the temple. When Zacharias' period of temple duty was completed he departed to his own house (See Luke 1:21-23).

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men (Luke 1:24-25). Possibly the shame that might come upon her by those that recognized the unlikelihood of her bearing a child at her age; possibly for protection of her unborn child due to her fragile health at her age; or possibly to devote more time for thanksgiving and praise to God for dealing favorably with her, and taking away her reproach among men. To fully understand the reproach of a Jewish family for the inability to bear children, one only needs to read of the many references of God's promise of childbearing fruitfulness in Old Testament scriptures. One scripture is found in Leviticus 26:9, which cites this promise of God: For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish My covenant with you. What was once a disgrace to Zacharias and Elisabeth was now replaced by joy with Gabriel's God-given promise of a son, and thou shalt call his name John (Luke 1:13).