Luke 1:1-80
Dedicated to the friend of God or the those who love God. That sounds like us. We see a priest of the Lord in the Temple, Zechariah. Zechariah is alone in the Holy of Holies (remember how scary this was for those who didn't belong there; they sent Aaron or his sons so they wouldn't have to go-and because they couldn't go.)
What happens to Zechariah? He sees someone and is afraid. No wonder, given the circumstances. No one should be there but him. But this 'person' says do not be afraid. We heard the Lord say this to Joshua-do not be afraid, only be courageous and do what I give you to do, neither adding to it or taking away from it.
What does Zechariah say? What-who-me? How do I know this is true? (Like someone appearing before him in the Holy of Holies, wasn't a clue?) The angel of the Lord does not reckon this as righteousness to Zechariah, as it was reckoned to Abram, or Noah. So even though Zechariah had been walking in righteousness he didn't know when the messenger of the Lord came to visit him. He forgot the lesson of Samuel who said 'speak, for your servant listens.' He forgot the lesson of Sarah who had a son at an advanced age; Sarah who had been barren. Sarah who questioned God, but hadn't any lesson to know the possibilities. Zechariah, a priest of the Lord had these lessons-but he forgot to pay attention. Do we think they don't apply to us? Do we, like Zechariah, think they happened to other people and wouldn't be possible for us?
This son will be filled with the Holy Spirit-the Spirit of the Lord, and many will rejoice at his birth. He will draw many to remember the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. Seems he started with Zechariah.
When the people who had been waiting for Zechariah saw his face, they could see that he had had a vision in the Temple...like the face of Moses, was Zechariah's face shining? Did he look dazed and confused? Oh wait, he couldn't even speak. Zechariah went home to wait, speechless. His wife Elizabeth conceived, and waited.
How did she know what was going to happen? Zechariah couldn't tell her, but Elizabeth knew this was a gift from the Lord. She waited, I can only guess at her joy. New life brings joy. This son would be filled with the Spirit of the Lord from inside the womb. I read about that in Jeremiah; "before the Lord formed you in the womb, he knew you," said Jeremiah. This is like that.
Will we be like Elizabeth, and Abram? Will we believe the Lord? Will we be a people prepared? Or will we be like Zechariah and Sarah who need to have proof before they follow? I pray the lessons will remain with us, and we are ready when the messenger of the Lord shows up and says do not be afraid.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
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