Advent: 23 Days to Go

Our adventure of Christmas continues with the announcement of the coming of God’s witness--the one who would prepare the way for the Christ...

5 THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 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.

16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
--Luke 1:5-17 KJV Bible

Zacharias was a priest in the temple in Jerusalem, working in the division lead by the priest Abijah. Zacharias was married to Elizabeth. Like Zacharias, Elizabeth was a member of a priestly family, descended from Aaron, Moses’ brother. Zacharias and Elizabeth lived in a godless age, but they lived godly lives that were fully pleasing to God. And yet, thought they had prayed to God for many years, the couple had no children of their own.

Zacharias and Elizabeth lived during the reign of King Herod the Great. Herod’s family was nominally Jewish, though in reality they were Edomite--descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother. Herod ruled Judaea under the iron hand of the Roman Empire. With the help of Rome, Herod built the temple in Jerusalem what was known in the time of Christ.

On one of the occasions to burn incense in the temple, Zacharias was chosen by lot to perform the duty. This was a great privilege for Zacharias because a priest was permitted this honor only once in his lifetime.

While burning the incense, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and told him that God would answer the prayers of Zacharias and Elizabeth. God would give the couple a son. They were to name him John. He would be great in the eyes of God. John would preach in the same spirit and power as the prophet Elijah, who rebuked the idolatrous King Ahab (1 Kings 21:17-24). Like Elijah, John would preach repentance and turn many hearts back to God, as foretold by the prophet Malachi (Malachi 4:5-6). John would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

Next time, we will learn Zacharias’ response to this great news...

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