Light of the WorldSýnishorn

Invite the Holy Spirit to show you something fresh while you read today’s passage.

The time is rapidly approaching for the arrival of our Savior King, the Creator, and Ruler of all, who chooses to re-introduce himself to us in the lowliest and most humble of ways. So why does God’s Word briefly redirect our gaze from the birth of the most important person who was ever born to what seems like a side story: the arrival of another promised son to an aging couple?

Why are there two babies in the Christmas story? Just as trumpet blasts, heralds, and fanfare announce the arrival of a royal baby in our world today, the same occurred at Jesus’ birth. But in order for that to happen, God would need to set everything in motion beforehand! In this case, He created the herald first, who would then, years later, announce the coming Royal King. God couldn’t just hire a trumpeter and a herald like common royalty would; He had to create one. He had to set the story in motion years before it played out.

Many of us know this story very well: a man and his wife were old—righteous and blameless before God—yet they still had no children. Then an angel showed up and said that God had heard their prayer and would bless them with a son! Does this sound familiar to you? If you thought “Abraham and Sarah,” you are right, but there are six more like it in God’s Word!

Barrenness always affects both marriage partners, though differently. Zechariah was first told, by an angel, no less, that his son “would be great before the Lord,” and that he would “operate in the spirit and power of Elijah.” What a promise to grab hold of!

As one of the Temple priests, Zechariah knew the Old Testament stories of women who were barren and finally conceived. He knew that the Lord visited Abraham by the oaks of Mamre (see Genesis 18). Surely Zechariah recognized this visitation as an angel, one who finally brought good news, a long-delayed answer to a prayer he had lost hope for. And the first words out of Zechariah’s mouth showed doubt and disbelief. He paid the price by losing his voice for the entirety of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.

Though we are never told of Elizabeth’s response to this good news, we know from today’s reading that when she knew she was pregnant, she then kept herself hidden for five months. Why? Verse 24 gives us a clue, where it says that she had been a “reproach among people.” The word reproach means to shame someone, to taunt them, to bring disgrace on them. Think of a little third-grader who is bullied on the playground by the biggest kid in class. It happens! Elizabeth had been treated this way, shamed for a pregnancy that was truly a blessing, an answer to prayer.

Unlike Zechariah’s response of doubt, Elizabeth chose to be thankful for God’s blessing, then she hid herself. Her act demonstrated a rare and remarkable depth of humility, honor, and patience.

Questions:
If you were in Elizabeth’s shoes, how would you respond to the crowd of shamers? Would you flaunt your blessing from God, rubbing their noses in it? Or would you choose humility and honor before the Lord God? If you were in Zechariah’s shoes, would your first response be doubt, or would it be worship?

Application:
Let today’s passage “read you,” which means to give the Holy Spirit permission to show you if there are any areas of your life that currently reflect doubt, disbelief, pride, or even a habit of shaming others for their misfortune. For example, have you gossiped about anyone within the last seven days? Also, let the Holy Spirit remind you of any wins in your life this week, any ways that you have honored Him in your words or actions. Whether He brings correction or blessing or both, worship and honor Him today!