Zacharias Speaks

December Il, 2022 Background Scripture: Luke 1 :57 - 80 Lesson Passage: Luke 1:57 - 66, 76 - 79 In our previous lesson, Zacharias heard from God through the angel, Gabriel. Zacharias was interrupted by Gabriel as he went about his assigned duties as a priest in the Holy Place. At an advanced age, Zaharias was informed that God had heard his prayer and he would become a father. Gabriel's message was so amazing it was difficult for Zacharias to believe it. He wanted it to be true. Zacharias asked Gabriel how he could be certain that the message was the truth. Gabriel informed Zacharias that he would be given a sign to assure him that the message was from God. The sign was Zacharias was made mute until after the birth of his promised son. There were people outside the Holy Place praying during Zacharias' conversation with the angel. When Zacharias came out of the Holy Place, he was unable to speak and used hand gestures. The people outside recognized that Zacharias had seen a vision while he was in the Holy Place, When Elizabeth's pregnancy was fulfilled, she gave birth to the promised son. The public naming of the baby was scheduled for the eighth day when he was to be circumcised according to the Law. Some who attended the circumcision wanted the baby to be named Zacharias after his father. Elizabeth objected and told them, "No, he shall be called John." They were confused by her decision to name the baby John. There was no one in their family named John. They used hand gestures to ask Zacharias for his input concerning the baby's name. Zacharias signaled for a tablet and wrote on it: His name is John. His speech returned to him immediately after that. This amazed those who were gathered at the circumcision. The miracle of his speech returning made the people question what manner of person this baby would become. They were sure that there was a direct connection between God and the baby. Then, the Holy Ghost filled Zacharias and he began to prophesy. He prophesied about the salvation God was going to send to His people, Israel. God was going to fulfill His promise to Abraham, the progenitor of the Jews. Abraham's offspring were going to be delivered from the oversight and bondage of their enemy. This baby would be instrumental in God's plan. John was born to be God's prophet. John would prepare the hearts of God's people to receive the Lord. He would teach them about the salvation God was sending. John was a mere eight days old, and yet his father prophesied into the hearing of the people John's life purpose as a servant of God. In the previous lesson Zacharias heard from God, but in this lesson, Zacharias spoke for God. There is nothing like being in the right place at the right time. Who, among that crowd, knew that attending a baby boy' s circumcision would cause such a stir among them. Perhaps it was that stir that prompted his parents to move him away from town and into the rural area. There they could raise him as a normal boy without the overbearing expectations of the town's people. They needed to train him in the way he should go as a member of Jewish society. It was not their responsibility to train him to fulfill his life's purpose; only God could do that. In isolation, John grew to become a young man who was filled with the Spirit of God. He remained isolated until his public ministry was set to begin. The Jews knew that John's ministry would be something special because under the anointing of God, his father, Zacharias, had spoken it. Robert C. Hudson November 21, 2022