Elizabeth and Zachariah Part 3

Overview

Luke 1:21-25 “And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”

Time to Go Home

You can picture Zachariah on his way home. He is wondering how am I going to explain this to Elizabeth. I was going to brag about being chosen to burn then incense. I was going to tell her everything the angel told me. “Tell her. I can’t even speak!” After making all the guy kneel in prayer all the time I was in the temple talking to the angel I’m sure they will never speak to me again.

After Those Days

Luke 1:24-25 “And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”

Why did she isolate herself for 5 months?

You would have thought, her being an old woman, she would be walking around in her pregnancy gown, letting everyone know her shame has been taken away. Isn’t it inquisitive how some expecting mother don’t want anyone to know they are pregnant to the very last minute. Others within the first week after told every one after just a few weeks of gestational age that they are expecting. Like Zachariah, just focusing on his old age, some women would say, “Now you know I’m expecting!”

Infertility rates in many developing nations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are higher than they are in the West. While the infertility rates in the United States among women ages 20 to 44 hovers at approximately 10 percent, in the Central African Republic, it is almost 30 percent; in Lesotho, 27 percent; and in Cameroon, 25 percent. These are troubling numbers: nearly a third of women in some countries are unable to bear children.

Luke 1:57–66 (ESV)

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

His Name is John

What’s about to take place is not that unusual for the arrival of a baby. The anticipation, the excitement, who will the baby look like and most importantly, especially in biblical times, what will the parents name the baby.

What was the significance of naming Zachariah’s and Elizabeths baby?

The Jews named babies upon their birth, while, later on, on the eighth day after their birth. This naming on the eighth day was later associated with circumcision. The Jews took this act from the Egyptians and Ethiopians who practiced it during the antiquity.

Circumcision is a religious act ordered by God Himself to be the apparent sign of anyone belonging to God as well as of the will concluded between God and Abraham. The connection of Jewish circumcision with the giving of a name shows perhaps the great importance that the Jews attributed to the name and its significance for man's life.

I love this scene because it’s so common; even unto today.

Nosey neighbors naming the baby

Elizabeth naming the baby

Zachariah naming the baby

Verse 58, neighbors and relatives can be a good thing. Note: they rejoiced with her.

They went from rejoicing to meddling. See the text: “they would have called him Zachariah after his father...” Notice how Elizabeth immediately and with a bit of tone in her response: “No;” you don’t have to guess here what she is thinking, his name will be John.

Remember John is deaf and mute. He’s clueless about the whole thing. I can see the faces of the neighbors and relatives now. Making sour looking faces after Elizabeth’s response. One probably thinking to herself, “We’ll see about that! Can you believe it? John, what kind of name is that? After all this family has a high standing. What kind of name is that for a son of a temple priest? I know, let’s ask Zachariah. Well, not ask him, poor thing is deaf and mute. Wasn’t it enough 9 months ago to have that happen and now his wife has flipped a wig trying to name this baby John.

61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.”61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.”

John has been deaf and mute since Gabriel rebuked him for his unbelief. What do you believe is running through his mind right now? The angel had told him 9 months earlier, “the baby’s name will be John. That was the best and worst experience he has ever had. He may even now be looking around to see if Gabriel was standing around somewhere, maybe hidden in a corner to see what Zachariah was going to do. Zachariah was a smart man, he wasn’t going to make that mistake twice! Once was enough!

And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Notice John does not have a pity party talking about how difficult it was not able to hear or speak for 9 months. He doesn’t make this about him. The angel had made that crystal clear.

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

What then will this child be?

Zacharias speaks, not only of what God had already done, but also of what he was about to do, in order to save a lost world.

Luke 1:67-80

Luke 1:67–80 ESV

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

God remains faithful to God’s promises (Elizabeth)

God’s way is salvation (Joshua or Jesus)

God’s path is peace. Psalms 119:105 (ESV) Nun. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

God did not give you are new name. But He does give you a new heart.

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Christ doesn’t suddenly remove your problems when you ask him to be Lord of your life. He will give you a new heart and spirit so you will no longer view your problems in the same light.

Problems that many stress over are inextricable because the problem is beyond their control. Over 90% of the things people stress over, they are incapable to solving due to their lack of position or authority.

Giving your life over or surrendering your desires for His is handing over your problems to the one who has all power, authority, and sovereignty over the universe.