My favorite Christmas story characters are very unusual but it is how Luke began his story. It is Zachariah and Elizabeth. I know some of you are asking who they are or how do they have anything to do with the story. They actually are a part of the preparation of the birth of Jesus and I am going to spend the next three days talking about them. Today lets start at the beginning like Luke did.
Zachariah and Elizabeth were honored people due to their family lineage. Zachariah was a priest. They loved and served God and they were what we would call ‘really good Christians’. They had a life struggle though. They did not have children. Elizabeth wasn’t able to get pregnant. In those days, that was a disgrace. The culture taught that if a couple didn’t have children they were cursed by God and God must have issues with them as He was withholding his blessing from them. Can you imagine being Elizabeth? She loved and served God but yet all she got in return was disgrace. They had lost all hope of having a child because they were old in age and Elizabeth was way beyond child bearing years. More than likely, all of her friends had children. She must have always felt out of place as they all had children. She lived with humiliation every day but never took her eyes off God. How many times do you think she poured her heart out to God asking Him for a child and questioning why He didn’t hear her? She probably wondered why He didn’t care, why she had to endure this shame. Many would become angry with God and turn away from serving Him. However, they stayed faithful. All priest took their turns going into the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices for the people. This extreme honor only happened once or twice in their lifetime. Zachariah went into the Holy of Holies and when He did God spoke to him. God told him that he and Elizabeth were going to have a child. They did have a son and named him John. After years of wondering if God heard their prayers and if He cared, they got what they prayed for. However, the answer was far more amazing than what they could have possibly imagined. Not only did they get a child, they got a son. Not only did they get a son, but they got a son that was going to prepare the way for the coming Messiah! The final blessing was that Jesus, the Messiah, said their son was the greatest born among men. What an answer to prayer!
Have you ever felt like God ignored your prayers? Does it seem that He will never answer you? Have you experienced disgrace and wondered why God didn’t deliver you? Have you gotten mad at God and walked away from him? Take heart in the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. God does care. God does hear you. He might not answer the way He did with Zechariah and Elizabeth, but He will do something amazing in His timing. Something you can’t imagine! Do not turn away from Him. There is nothing or no one else worthy to turn to. Keep your eyes on God and stay faithful in your walk. God has not and will not abandon you! In His perfect timing, in His perfect plan He will answer, and the answer will be far more perfect than you asked for or hoped for.
Zachariah and Elizabeth were honored people due to their family lineage. Zachariah was a priest. They loved and served God and they were what we would call ‘really good Christians’. They had a life struggle though. They did not have children. Elizabeth wasn’t able to get pregnant. In those days, that was a disgrace. The culture taught that if a couple didn’t have children they were cursed by God and God must have issues with them as He was withholding his blessing from them. Can you imagine being Elizabeth? She loved and served God but yet all she got in return was disgrace. They had lost all hope of having a child because they were old in age and Elizabeth was way beyond child bearing years. More than likely, all of her friends had children. She must have always felt out of place as they all had children. She lived with humiliation every day but never took her eyes off God. How many times do you think she poured her heart out to God asking Him for a child and questioning why He didn’t hear her? She probably wondered why He didn’t care, why she had to endure this shame. Many would become angry with God and turn away from serving Him. However, they stayed faithful. All priest took their turns going into the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices for the people. This extreme honor only happened once or twice in their lifetime. Zachariah went into the Holy of Holies and when He did God spoke to him. God told him that he and Elizabeth were going to have a child. They did have a son and named him John. After years of wondering if God heard their prayers and if He cared, they got what they prayed for. However, the answer was far more amazing than what they could have possibly imagined. Not only did they get a child, they got a son. Not only did they get a son, but they got a son that was going to prepare the way for the coming Messiah! The final blessing was that Jesus, the Messiah, said their son was the greatest born among men. What an answer to prayer!
Have you ever felt like God ignored your prayers? Does it seem that He will never answer you? Have you experienced disgrace and wondered why God didn’t deliver you? Have you gotten mad at God and walked away from him? Take heart in the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. God does care. God does hear you. He might not answer the way He did with Zechariah and Elizabeth, but He will do something amazing in His timing. Something you can’t imagine! Do not turn away from Him. There is nothing or no one else worthy to turn to. Keep your eyes on God and stay faithful in your walk. God has not and will not abandon you! In His perfect timing, in His perfect plan He will answer, and the answer will be far more perfect than you asked for or hoped for.
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
Luke 1: 5 - 11
I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.
Matthew 11:11
2 comments:
This is such a good story and reminder that God does listen and that our prayers do not fall on deaf ears. It is really hard to pray for something so hard and never get it. I just remind myself that God has a plan and He knows better than I do.
I still completely agree with my comment from last year. I get so impatient sometimes with my prayer but this should be a reminder that when we wait and continue to seek Him that His blessings will be more than we every imagined.
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