Hope for the Hopeless as God’s Spirit Returns
December 4, 2024
Hark the Herald: An Advent & Christmas Series
As we approach and celebrate Christmas, we will look together at the presence of Angels (Messengers of God) throughout the Christmas Story. Each of these Herald Angels comes with a message, and each of these messages brings up questions about how God interacts with His People and the World.
Today, we start at the very beginning of the Christmas Story with a man named Zachariah and his wife, Elizabeth.
The Christmas Story Begins; the God Story Continues
During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.
It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.
But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He’ll achieve great stature with God.
“He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.”
Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”
But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”
Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.
When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!” she said.
(Luke 1:5-25, MSG)
Commentary
This is where Luke begins his Jesus story. After a traditional greek introduction, he starts off telling us about a priest named Zachariah and his wife, Elizabeth.
Zachariah and Elizabeth exude traditional Old Testament Jewish piety. Zachariah is a priest in the Temple in Jerusalem, the central worship place for the Jewish faith and a symbol of unity for Jewish people throughout the world, and Elizabeth is a descendant of Aaron, Moses’ older brother (Numbers 26:59), the man from whom all priests descended. Between this lineage and their clear consciences, their piety is undeniable.
Then Zachariah gets his once-in-a-life time chance to enter the Sanctuary of God – the innermost part of the temple, where God’s spirit once dwelled, at the perfect moment. He enters, and God’s Herald Angel appears to tell him that he and Elizabeth are about to join a long line of elderly, barren couples who have a miracle baby in service to God’s story – think of Sarah and Abraham (Genesis 18-21), Rachel and Jacob (Genesis 37), Hannah and Elkanah (1 Samuel 1).
As the Angel of the Lord tells Zachariah about his unborn son, he makes it clear that John will have a special purpose in God’s plan, then the angel tells Zachariah that John will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.
This may not seem like a big deal to us, but it was a huge claim to make to a Jewish person at this time. Many common strands of Second Temple Judaism (the Judaism of the time) taught that while God’s Holy Spirit had once dwelled with us on the earth, the world was currently devoid of God’s Spirit. And that the Spirit of God would return when the prophecies were being fulfilled and God was coming to dwell on earth.
As this Angel of the Lord tells Zachariah that his son will be filled with the Holy Spirit, he is not simply saying that John will be spiritual, but that the birth of John heralds the fulfillment of God’s promises to the jewish people.
No wonder Zechariah struggled to believe it!
Luke starts here to communicate to his readers, including us, that this is a continuation of the story the Jewish people have already been telling about God.
This Angel sent from God tells Zachariah that God is finally coming to fulfill his promises; then Zachariah must play charades to tell people what has been revealed to him until John is born and God’s spirit has arrived.
Today’s Questions
Do you believe God still communicates with us today? If so, how do you think God “talks” to people now? Have you ever felt like God – or some other divine energy – was communicating with you? How did you respond?
The Angel tells Zachariah that his prayers are being answered – that Elizabeth will bear his child. Have you ever had a positive answer to an unlikely prayer? What impact did it have? In what ways do you see God use answered prayers to further his plan and create his Kingdom?
The Angel tells Zachariah that God’s Holy Spirit will return to the world through his son, who will be filled with the Spirit from birth. What have you learned about the Holy Spirit? What do you believe about God’s spirit? Where do you see the Spirit active and alive in the world today?
A Blessing for Your Week
When God shows up or sends a Herald angel,
May you be brave enough to listen – even if you’re paralyzed in fear
When God says that the unbelievable is going to happen,
May God give you faith to believe and act on His promises to you
And when the True and Awesome Glory of God leaves you speechless,
May those around you trust you and may you trust yourself
To follow God’s lead
To let your actions speak
To become part of the story
Amen.
Rev. Kelsey Sherazi 