Luke, Part 2: The angel visits Zacharias

Text: Luke 1: 5-25

The first incident that Luke relates is the angel’s visitation of Zacharias and the subsequent birth of John the Baptist.  This section demonstrates Luke’s inclination to describe events in careful detail and the emphasis he places on people as individuals.

Zacharias, we see, was a priest who was married to the daughter of a priest.  From this, he would expect to be the recipient of a double blessing, according to the Jewish tradition.  Zacharias and his wife were both faithful and righteous before God.  Although they had no children, they continued on faithfully worshipping and loving God.  They had no idea what blessings He had in store for them, but they pressed on regardless.

Judea had fallen into a state of deep decline, as had been detailed in the book of Malachi, written 400 years before Christ.  In the silent years after Malachi, the decline surely became deeper.  Judea was being ruled by a horrible, evil king, Herod.  Things couldn’t seem to get any darker for those who followed God truly.  Yet it was in this dark time that God sent His Redeemer.  Likewise, we today should not be discouraged by the state of the world around us – God is able to break through in any situation!

Zacharias had been chosen, by lot, to enter the temple and burn incense.  This was the highest position of service that a regular priest could perform.  He stood next to the Holy of Holies and offered incense that flowed over the whole temple – and into the Holy of Holies as well.  The position of presenting the incense was so highly regarded that each priest was allowed to perform it only once in his life.  It was during this service that the angel came to Zacharias.

The angel came to Zacharias and spoke ten different things to him:

1. Their prayer had been answered!  What prayer?  Both their prayer for a Redeemer, who was to come, and…
2. They would have a son.
3. His name would be “John” (a gift from God), meaning he was to be the gift of God and filled with the grace of God.
4. He would be greatly used by God.
5. He would drink no strong drink.
6. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.
7. He would turn many to God.
8. This son was the one prophesied who would be coming in the spirit of Elijah.
9. He would reconcile families.
10. He would prepare a people for the Lord.

John’s ministry would be like ours – we cannot save anyone, but we can lead men to  Him who can.  We can cry out against sin in the world and point to the Redeemer.

Sadly, Zacharias’s response was one of unbelief.  He was hearing a word directly from an angel, but it was not sufficient for him.  He was staggered by the thought that God would use him and his wife to bring this great prophet.  But God, then as today, does use ordinary people to do his work.  Why do we doubt that God will use us to work out His promises?

Because Zacharias spoke his unbelief, he was struck dumb for a time.  Yet God was merciful and later restored his ability to speak.  May God forgive us for doubting His ability to use us to accomplish all He has for us to do!