Scripture: St. Luke 1:1-25 (NKJV)
1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those
things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the
beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3
it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from
the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,
4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named
Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking
in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no
child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his
division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn
incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of
the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, 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 to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your
prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall
call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will
rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and
shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy
Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children
of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also 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 a people prepared for
the Lord.”
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old
man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered and said
to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak
to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and
not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not
believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long
in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they
perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and
remained speechless. 23 And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were
completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife
Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord
has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach
among people.”
Devotion
In distinction from how the angel will appear to Mary in tomorrow’s reading, he
appears to Zacharias spouting all the promises of whom John the Baptist would
be, and firmly rooting them in the prophecy of Malachi. Zacharias was married,
so other than his and his wife’s advanced age—which was no problem for God in
dealing with Abram and Sarai!—there was no reason for him to question what the
angel said. He could go home from his service at the Temple and what Gabriel
said would happen would, indeed, happen.
Zacharias, though, asks the question how it was that he would experience this
joy, since he and Elizabeth were old. That is, he wasn’t looking for evidence
of how he would know that these words were true, but was openly discounting
them. Because of this, and since there was no sign like Mary would be given
that would be available—her conceiving while remaining a virgin and having her
elderly kinswoman also being pregnant—Gabriel told Zacharias that his tongue
that had just confessed unbelief would not be loosed until he would confess
that God’s promise was true, not only that the birth that had taken place was
prophesied by Gabriel, but that the time had come for repentance for all,
because John would be the forerunner of the Christ, and through the Christ
forgiveness of sins would be won for all.
“O Lord, open Thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.” Apart
from your Word giving me faith, I have nothing worth saying; grant, therefore,
that I may never speak from unbelief, but have my lips opened only by the
Gospel of Christ in which You cause me to trust. Amen.
The Lutheran Herald is a publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of
North America. These daily devotions are authored by the bishop, pastors, and
deacons of the diocese. Daily posts are provided by The Reverend Jeffrey A.
Ahonen.
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