Zacharias Hears from God

December 4, 2022 Background Scripture: Luke 1:5 - 23 Lesson Passage: Luke 1:8 - 20 Luke began his account of the gospel by explaining the reason he wrote the account. It is worth noting that Luke did not write that God had inspired him to write the account. Luke wrote that he took it upon himself to write an orderly account of what happened because he perfectly understood all things from the beginning. However, I believe anyone who seriously reads Luke's account will be convinced that he was inspired of God to write it. Luke began the narrative of the events by sharing Zacharias' experience of hearing from God. Zacharias was an aged priest who was married to an aged woman who descended from Israel's first high priest, Aaron. They were both considered pious, or spiritual people, by others. The couple was childless because the wife was barren. Zaharias was in the temple burning incense while a multitude were outside praying. Because there were several priests at the time, each was assigned a time to serve in the Temple. It was Zacharias' time to serve by burning incense while the people prayed outside. The altar of incense was in the Holy Place in the temple. God established that the priest was to burn incense on the altar of incense twice each day; once in the morning and again in the evening. As Zacharias discharged his duties, an angel appeared beside the altar of incense. The presence of the angel frightened Zacharias. Two of Aaron's sons were destroyed by God for offering improper offerings by using fire that was not authorized by God. Zacharias understood that a misstep in burning incense before God could cost him his life. He must have thought: Why is this angel here? Fortunately for him, this was not the angel of death but rather a messenger sent from God. (God spoke directly to some, and for others He dispatched an angel with a message.) The angel brought a message to Zacharias from God. Zacharias was informed that his prayer had been heard and his wife would bear him a son. His son was to be named John and he was to be raised as a Nazarene. John was destined for greatness in the Lord's sight. Zacharias was told what John's life purpose would be before John was conceived. Now, back to the announcement. The messenger brought an answer to Zacharias' prayer. When did Zacharias pray to God for a son? At the time of his encounter with the angel, Zacharias and his wife were both aged people. It was not reasonable, or likely, that Zacharias would ask God for a son at an advanced age. Maybe that was a prayer Zacharias prayed when they were younger, and God was finally sending the answer when it would be clear that the answer was a miracle from God! Afterall, everything about the conception and birth of John was miraculous. None of us knows how long Zacharias waited to receive this answer to his prayer. Without Luke's account of the gospel, we would not know about this. Luke brought to the forefront many people who were in the margins in their society—yet they were used by God. Zacharias was not the high priest; he was just one of several priests. But Luke informs us that God heard and answered Zacharias' prayer. And the one who was the answer to Zacharias' prayer became instrumental in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah. Before Luke wrote about the events involving the Messiah, he introduced his reader to other individuals who were inextricably connected to the Messiah's ministry. John's public preaching ministry began before Jesus' ministry so that he could prepare the hearts of the people to receive Jesus. And this was preceded by Zacharias' prayer; and God heard Zacharias' prayer and Zacharias heard from God. Robert C. Hudson November 17, 2022