Candles by Candlelight

The Angel’s Announcement

Jewish priest’s had two primary responsibilities:

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Functions

1. to keep the people faithful to God by acting as intermediaries, as demonstrated in Exod 28:12, 29–30

2. to help the people make atonement for their sins in light of their apostasy, as demonstrated in Leviticus (Lev 4:20–6:7; 8:34; 17:11; 19:22; 10:10–11; Fretheim, Pentateuch, 123).

During the first century there were so many Jewish priests that each priest was only needed at the temple for a couple of weeks annually. Of course, the fesitvals like Passover and Pentecost required all priests that were available.

Zechariah’s group was fulfilling their annual 2 week assignment. The various responsibilities were assigned by the ‘lot’ a die cast that would indicate which priest would fulfill a specific assignment for that day.

Zechariah had been assigned the task of making sure the Altar of Incense - that represented the prayers of God’s people - was properly prepared.

As he was praying an angelic encounter startled him -

Luke 1:11–12 HCSB

An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear.

The promise of a son was for both parents the fulfillment of a dream! Mothers, particularly those married to priests recognized their responsibility to bear sons who could take their father’s place.

Dad’s wanted to be able to pass on the tasks and assignments of the priesthood.

Having no children was regarded as a sign off failure, perhaps even an indication that God was punishing a family for some secret sin.

Both Zechariah and Elizabeth would be overjoyed with the angelic promise (see Luke 1:24-25).

Though Zechariah was overwhelmed with the promise, what the angel said next must have caused some frustration.

Luke 1:14 HCSB

There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Well, that’s not su frsustrating.

Luke 1:15 HCSB

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.

This ‘son’ is not going to be like other children

‘he will be great in the sight of the Lord…’

John’s gospel (not by John the Baptist but by John the disciple) indicated that Jesus’ greatness differs from John’s in one important respect:

Jesus’ greatness is linked to the fact God is His father; John’s greatness is defined by his faithfulness to the task given by God.

‘will never drink wine or beer’

In our culture this sounds, well, normal. In the era of John’s birth, though, water was normally not the drink of choice.

Here the connection is between the effects of the wine and beer and the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul will make this abundantly clear in Ephesians 5:18

Ephesians 5:18 HCSB

And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:

Luke 1:16 HCSB

He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.

Hmm. Wouldn’t God’s people already by living life toward God?

The people had a taste of freedom some 150 years previously, but had fallen under the control of Rome.

Some remained faithful, but many drifted into a meaningless ritual approach to Judaism.

Luke 1:17 HCSB

And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

By now Zechariah is beginning to question the angel’s promise and he and his wife’s own abilities tom raise such a son!

‘to make ready for the Lord a prepared people…

Apparently God is up to something. Just what could God be doing?

Zechariah’s Pronouncement

Zechariah struggled with the angel’s announcement. It cost him 9 months of silence!

After John’s birth, Zechariah’s ability to speak was restored and, he uncorked a doozy!

Read Luke 1:68-79.

With John’s birth a new era has dawned. A new way of God’s activity has begun.

This new way was based on promises the Jewish faithful had lived on for thousands of years.

Though living under the constant awareness of Roman influence, God’s new way of acting will allow all who chose