SolLuna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

12/20/21

Luke 1:1-25

Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him.

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years."

The angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur."

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, "This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people."

I like surprises, at least the good ones.

I don't like making a Christmas list. I want to be surprised and I want to surprise the people to whom I give.

God is a master of surprise.

Elizabeth and Zechariah are in a succession of biblical characters who have experienced parenthood in their older years – Abraham and Sarah, Elkana and Hannah, and now, these two.

As Gomer Pyle would say, "Surprise, surprise, surprise, you are going to have a baby!"

We know people who have longed for children, but have not been able to conceive or bear them. There is great pain and loneliness. What is not is our setting today is the culture of disgrace. Beyond that, we now know that fertility is not just a mother's issue.

There are so many trails one might follow in this passage. So we must choose just one. There is also more than one miracle nd I will focus on just one of those.

Gabriel, on behalf of God, shuts Zechariah's mouth.

It is no time for negativity or for unbelief. God is about to do something mighty in the world and he does not need for those he is using to be speaking against it or openly doubting it.

So, he silences Zechariah and Elizabeth secludes herself and there is a five month preparation for a big surpirse. It is actually more, but Elizabeth emerges very pregnant after five.

God is the God of great surprises.

In the context of the larger surprise is the miracle of shutting Zechariah's mouth and opening it again. In fact, before he can say a word, it is Elizabeth who utters the praises of God for his redemption.

She, who was considered barren, gets to deliver the first sermon in the family on this matter.

Now that is a pleasant surprise.