The Angels of Advent Series: Zechariah and the Angel
By: Dr. Gregory S. Neal
“How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” (Luke 1:18)
At first glance, this statement from Zechariah appears to be an innocent question, but it’s not. Zechariah is actually whining; it’s as if he’s saying: “Oh, yeah? Well, how? I’m old. My wife is old. How are we gonna have a kid!?”
It reminds me of the story of Abraham and Sarah from the Book of Genesis … remember them? God had long promised that they would have children, but after many years Abraham and Sarah had both grown old and they still didn't have any kids! And it’s then, with them in their advanced years, that God repeats the promise, saying: “you will have children like the stars up in the heavens and the sands by the seashore.” In the story, they laughed. It tells us that Sarah laughed in disbelief and said: “I can’t possibly have a kid!” God asked her: “Why did you laugh?” “I didn’t laugh” she replied, and God responds: “Oh, yes, you did laugh.”
Here we have a story about another elderly couple that’s childless. They had repeatedly tried to have children, but for whatever reason Elizabeth never conceived; and now, they’re old. Zechariah was an important person in the Jewish society of the time: he was a Temple priest, doing his job by offering a sacrifice of incense in the Holy of Holies, when next to the Table of Incense appeared an enormous Angel.
When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. (Luke 1:12-13)
Wait a moment! This angel is talking about someone named John? I thought we were in Advent, getting ready for our annual celebration of the incarnation and birth of Jesus, but instead we’re talking about the coming birth of some dude name John? Yep.
“You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:14-17)
Ah, hah! In Jewish Messianic expectation, the forerunner to the Messiah is expected to be the return of the prophet Elijah, who comes back to “prepare the way of the Lord.” That’s what this story is about! This is about the conception and birth of the man who will become known as John the Baptist.
“How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” (Luke 1:18)
To put it into perspective, this would be as if God had spoken to my parents during their late years, promising them another child. Fantastic. Impossible. Crazy. When I said something like this in a sermon many years ago, back when Dad was still alive, I remember Dad spoke up in the middle of the message and said: “I’d say no thank you, sir!” It was then that my Mom elbowed him and said: “You should have stayed quiet, like Zechariah!”
“The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.” (Luke 1:19-20)
In other words, don’t doubt the word of an angel … and especially not one who has the name that means: “God is my Strength” and who “stands in the presence of the God.” Usually, we fall flat on our faces in God’s presence, but not Gabriel … Gabriel stands in the presence of the Holy One.
Another way of looking at this is that all of our objections should be silenced when faced with the amazing reality of the real presence of God. Expect the unexpected, be open to the unlikely, be ready for the impossible. And yet, Zechariah questioned the Angel.
“How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.”
Zechariah came up with excuses for why it couldn't be so, or why it was not likely, or why he doubted that it could happen. We come up with our excuses, too: we’re too old, we’re too weak, we’re too poor, we’re too few … these kinds of excuses remind me of Moses at the burning bush; when God called him, he whined: “I can’t talk for you, God, I stutter!” That’s what Zechariah is doing, here. He’s whining. “Took ya long enough, God! How can this be … I’m old, she’s old … it’s impossible.” And, with his question, all of his doubts, questions, and whining came to an abrupt end.
“But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.” (Luke 1:20)
Zechariah, since you can’t speak with faith but will only whine and complain, you’ll not say anything at all. Likewise: our whining, our doubts, our complaints should come to an end when God, or God’s messengers, speak. Only … they don’t; we still find ways to whine and complain, don’t we? Well … I know I do.
Last week we heard about Joseph and the Angel. We heard about the coming birth of Jesus, who would be called “Emmanuel,” which means “God with Us.” And, we saw how Joseph didn’t argue with the Angel but rather obeyed the direction he received in his dream. Did you notice something interesting in that exchange? Jon Morehouse, who’s an actor, certainly noticed this: Joseph didn’t have a speaking part. We’re told what he did, how he responded in his actions, but through it all, never says a word. Indeed, Joseph – as important as he is as a character in the Biblical account – is never given a line of dialog. We are simply told what he does, and here that he wakes up from his dream and obeys.
And so should we. Indeed, we should be more like Elizabeth! What happened there? Well, Zechariah went home mute … and, soon after that, Elizabeth conceived a child! This was a miraculous conception, a wondrous gift from God, and exactly what the Angel said would happen. Yes, even in her old age, she gets pregnant.
Next Sunday we’ll hear about the Angel's visit to Mary in which she’s told that she's going to conceive a child. After that announcement, six months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy:
This is amazing. Zechariah’s words were ones of doubt and complaint; Elizabeth’s words were ones of faith and hope! This is an interesting element in the Gospels: we see it, repeatedly, in many stories from Jesus’ ministry but, also, here in the birth narratives and, later, in the resurrection accounts. Where the men often doubt and complain, the women believe and proclaim. Here, we discover that the first person to proclaim God’s presence through the newly incarnate Jesus was Elizabeth.“In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb.And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. (Luke 1:39-44)
All of this leaves us with this question: “What do you believe God is saying to you?” Will we doubt the message of God, or will we accept it? Elizabeth apparently accepted it and gave birth to the child who would become known as John the Baptist. Are we ready to accept God's word for us? Will we turn to face the Angels in our lives, and receive their message – the Good News of Jesus the Christ?
This week, I invite you to think some more about what you believe God is saying to you. What is God calling you to do? What is God calling you to change in your life? What new direction is God leading you to take? Advent is a time not just for waiting, it is a time of making ready, for preparing, and for receiving the one who will change everything about us. How is God calling you to make ready – now, and this Christmas?
© 2009 Dr. Gregory S. Neal
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As a popular teacher, preacher, and retreat leader, Dr. Neal is known for his ability to translate complex theological concepts into common, everyday terms. HIs preaching and teaching ministry is in demand around the world, and much of his work can be found on this website. He is the author of several books, including Grace Upon Grace: Sacramental Theology and the Christian Life, which is in its second edition, and Seeking the Shepherd's Arms: Reflections from the Pastoral Side of Life, a work of devotional literature. Both of these books are currently available from Amazon.com.