Setting the Stage for a Miracle

“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”  Luke 1:5-6

The last Old Testament prophet was Malachi who prophesied approximately 430 years before the birth of Christ.  Thus, the people of Israel who lived after his day until the next prophet, John the Baptist, had arrived had not heard from God for all those years.  Imagine if God withdrew Himself from our world today.  We think our world is in turmoil now but imagine if the gospel was not heard at all, and that every person was doing what he or she thought was right in his or her own eyes with no restraining factor from the Holy Spirit who resides within those who are born again.  Of course, I don’t know exactly what things were like during those 400 plus years, but I would guess that there were few men and women who were honoring God and His word.  We know there were some because God always has His remnant of people who are loyal to Him.

Malachi prophesied that God would send a prophet who would be courageous like the prophet Elijah and who would prepare the way for Jesus’ introduction to the world (Malachi 3:1; 4:5).  This would necessitate one who would be born into this position.  Remember that most folks in Israel were not that devoted to God.  Herod was the king, and the Romans ruled over the people of Israel.  Herod was a very hateful, but I think fearful man likely always looking over his shoulder for the one who would try to usurp his throne.  Unger’s Bible Dictionary describes him as half Jewish, but “a heathen in practice and a monster in character”.  Thus was the world in which the new prophet of God would be born.

Zacharias was a priest whose task it was to burn incense when he went into the temple.  It was likely an ordinary day on this particular day when he went into the temple.  Outside were many folks praying.  An angel of the Lord appeared to him and greatly frightened him.  So much for an ordinary day.  Zacharias and his wife, Elisabeth, had not been able to have children, and they had earnestly prayed for a baby.  The angel told Zacharias to not be afraid because God had heard their prayer, and Elisabeth would bear a son whom they would name John.  He would be a servant of God, and because of his preaching, many would turn to the Lord.  He would also prepare the way for the Messiah.  Zacharias stood in disbelief because both he and his wife were past the childbearing stage of life.  The angel, who was Gabriel, told Zacharias that because he did not believe the word of the Lord, he would be unable to speak until John was born.

The people who were outside the temple wondered what was taking Zacharias so long.  When he did appear to them, he tried to speak but could only motion with his hands.  That must have been frustrating to have such good news and not be able to tell anyone.  After he finished his duties in the temple, Zacharias went home to Elisabeth, and she did conceive.  Nine months later, Elisabeth had a beautiful baby boy and named him John just as the angel had instructed Zacharias.  Their friends and neighbors assumed that he would be named after his father and couldn’t understand why they were calling the baby John.  They tried to use sign language to ask Zacharias, and he signaled for something to write on.  He wrote, “His name is John”, and they all marveled.  As soon as that happened, he was able to speak and praised God.  A sense of fear and wonder came over the visitors and they said, “What manner of child shall this be!”

The manner of man that John came to be as an adult was the forerunner of Jesus Christ.  He was a witness to bear witness of the Light, Jesus Christ, that all people through Him might believe on the true Light which brings light to all who will repent and place their faith in Him (John 1:6-9).  I believe that God has a purpose for every life, but not everyone fulfills his or her God-given destiny.  Since the world began, God has had a plan whereby all who will come to Him can have eternal life.  The entire history of Israel, God’s people, led up to the time when the Savior of the world would come.  John was one of many who helped to fulfill God’s purpose in bringing salvation to men and women.  There are still many people today who have a purpose in God’s plan of redemption for His creation.  He is not through with us yet.  Those of us who are believers still have a destiny to fulfill to help God’s kingdom upon this earth to grow for His glory.  John was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord'” just as another prophet, Isaiah, cried out in ancient Israel (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3).  That message has not changed.  It is just as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago, even more so because the time is growing short.  “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11).