A Tale of Two Mothers

Meet Elizabeth

Luke 1:5-7 informs us that Zacharias was a priest of the division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth, was a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous before God, they lived according to all the commandments and ordinances of God. the Bible says they were blameless. This does not mean that they were sinless and never made mistakes. God’s law makes gracious provisions of mercy for the sinner. By this, I mean that even though Zacharias and Elizabeth lived before the death of Jesus on the cross, through the sacrificial system it was possible for them to be righteous and blameless. I understand this to mean that they were not living in rebellion against God’s laws but rather faithfully followed God’s guidelines. This couple represents the best of Old Testament piety, they are a part of the faithful remnant of Israel.

If you were familiar with the Old Testament and Luke was your first introduction to the New Testament you would probably think that Luke just introduced the parents of the Messiah. Both parents are of priestly families, they are righteous and blameless, surely they must be the parents of the Savior of the world!

But there’s a problem

Luke 1:7 announces that Elizabeth and Zacharias do not have a child because Elizabeth is baren. Not only that, they are both “well advanced in years.” How could this be? These are good people. The Bible describes them as righteous before God, blameless in regards to the commandments and ordinances of the Lord (Luke 1:6). Why would good, faithful people suffer? Why would God keep such a wonderful couple from having kids? Would they not be great parents? Had they not done everything right? Why was Elizabeth barren?

Barren?

BARREN, BARRENNESS Term used to describe a woman who is unable to give birth to children: Sarai (Gen. 11:30), Rebekah (Gen. 25:21), Rachel (Gen. 29:31), Manoah’s wife (Judg. 13:2), Hannah (1 Sam. 1:5), and Elizabeth (Luke 1:7, 36). Barrenness was considered a curse from God (Gen. 16:2; 20:18; 1 Sam. 1:5). Elizabeth probably felt that she was a sinner and cursed by God as evidenced by her barrenness (Luke 1:25). The barrenness of Sarai, Rebekah, and Rachel (the mothers of the Israelite nation) is significant in that their ability finally to bear children is a sign of the grace and favor of God toward His elect people. (Chad Brand et al., eds., “Barren, Barrenness,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 173.)

Was Elizabeth a sinner cursed by God? The textual evidence does not point in this direction. We are also never told why she was barren. We could speculate, but I warn you to be careful with this type of speculation will shape your view of God.

What we do know is that Elizabeth’s barrenness was not due to her being a terrible sinner and deserving it in any way. We also know that both she and Zacharias are past the age of being physically able to have children. In other words, only a miracle from God would cause them to have a child.

Meet Zacharias

Zacharias belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. The service of the temple was divided into twenty-four divisions, and each provided for the needs of the temple service for a week at a time, twice a year. During the major religious festivals (Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles) all the divisions served. (Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 73.)

Since so many priests served the temple (about eighteen thousand), entering the holy place to clean the altar of incense and to offer fresh incense usually occurred only once in the lifetime of a priest. (ibid 74)

We know that Zacharias went into the temple at the time for the burning of incense, however, we are not told whether this was the morning or evening time. Luke does highlight the fact that at this time “the whole multitude of people was praying outside” (Luke 1:10)

Meet Gabriel

While Zacharias is in the Holy Place burning incense an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing on the right side of the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw the angel he behaved like most people would in that situation “he was troubled and fear fell upon him.” (Luke 1:12)

But the angel comforted him by saying to him “don’t be afraid” (Luke 1:30; 2:10; 8:50; Gen 15:1; Judg 6:23; Dan 10:12, 19).

Your prayer is heard

The angel not only tells Zacharias not to be afraid, but he also tells him that his prayer is heard!

Think through this with me. What prayer could the angel be talking about? Some believe that Zacharias had been praying for the Messiah, which is very likely, everyone in Israel was probably praying for the Messiah. But the angel is not there to talk to Zacharias about the birth of the Messiah, but rather about the birth John who will be the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth!

So let’s think about this together, do you think that Zacharias just now decided to pray, for the very first time for a son? Or that God only answers the prayers of priests who are in the Holy Place burning incense? As continue to read we find evidence that Zacharias does not even believe it is possible for him and Elizabeth to have a child at this point, so the evidence seems to indicate that Zacharias had not been praying for a son. So which prayer was heard?

Here’s what the angel told him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
- Luke 1:13-17 NKJV

Let’s break down the good news into a few sections and see what we learn from it.

I believe the angel is answering a prayer that Zacharias and Elizabeth prayed often ever since their wedding. I imagine them praying, fasting, perhaps praying together as tears ran down their cheeks. How many times had they wondered if God was upset with them, or perhaps wondered if it was because they were not good enough? I imagine them offering sacrifices, confessing every sin they thought they might have committed, only to feel abandoned by God. Yet, now we find out, all these years later that God had heard their prayer, and God was going to grant them a son and that this would not be just any son.

The angel goes on to tell Zacharias that he would have joy and gladness and that many would rejoice at the birth of his son. Zacharias and Elizabeth had waited a lifetime for the answer to this prayer, but the birth of their son would be a greater blessing than they could have imagined, many would rejoice at his birth but not only that, he would have a special mission.

He will be great

God had great plans for Elizabeth’s son, he was going to be great in the sight of the Lord and for that to take place God also had some special guidelines regarding his upbringing. John was to not drink ant wine or strong drink. Does this seem a little excessive to you? Would you have asked the angel about John being allowed to drink just a little bit at weddings, New Year celebrations, or special occasions? What about just to help him unwind after a long day?

Would you mind this child who was to be one of the greatest prophets to ever walk the earth to drink just a little bit, you know, in moderation, only on special occasions?

Maybe you think, certainly not! This is John the Baptist we are talking about here. Jesus said “I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John.” (Luke 7:27a NLT) His mission was too important for him to be drinking, for him to be placing anything into his body that might jeopardize his ability to think clearly. He was to prepare the way for Jesus! His mission was too important, we need him to be at the top of his game, we need John at peak performance, this is a matter of eternal consequences for the entire planet.

So why do you feel like it is okay for you to cloud your judgment with substances that you know affect your mind and well-being? Do you think that you don’t matter? Do you think that the Holy Spirit does not have a plan for your life? Are you not surrounded by people who need to be drawn closer to God?

But I digress, let us go back to our study of Luke 1.

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Zacharias was also told by the angel that his son would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. What do you think is the meaning of an unborn baby being filled with the Holy Spirit? Do you get the feeling that God values and recognizes the personhood of the baby before he is born?

Now, I feel it is important for me to pause and explain a few things. In every state I have worked I have had women come to me in tears concerned that abortion is the unpardonable sin. Though I am not a priest and people are not required to confess their sins to me I believe some find it helpful so I listen. The stories I have heard would make anyone cry. We live in a sinful world. I strongly believe that Jesus forgives what you did in the past, especially when you wandered away from Him. All the women that shared their stories with me were filled with unspeakable guilt, shame, and sadness, and wondered if anyone could ever love or accept them.

I assured all of them that God is able to forgive all sins.

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake;
And I will not remember your sins.
- Isaiah 43:25 NKJV

Beating ourselves up for past mistakes does not bring glory to God, it also makes for a miserable existence. How about thanking God for and trusting His forgiveness and living to serve Him in helping those around us?

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- 1 John 1:9 NKJV

To make ready a people prepared for the Lord

According to the angel, John the Baptist (as he will later be known) would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Not only that John would also go before Jesus in the power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. I am focusing on mothers for this message but there’s definitely something to this. The angel here is quoting a prophecy from Malachi 4:5-6, but there’s a reason why mothers’ day is exponentially more popular than father’s day. I won’t go any deeper into that now but fathers, please realize the treasure you have in your children and invest in them.

Ultimately John’s mission was to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus.

I would say that modern-day Christians have the same mission.

Are you sure?

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
- Luke 1:18 NKJV

Zacharias doubts the angel and explains to the angel how aging works. I imagine Zacharias saying “Look, I’m not sure how things work in heaven or with angels but we humans get older and once we hit a certain age we are no longer able to have children…”

Zecharias was a priest, he had more knowledge of God than the average person. Zacharias was also an experienced priest, not a newbie, so the angel does not appreciate his lack of faith.

And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
- Luke 1:19-20 NKJV

Zacharias had asked for a sign and he received a sign, he would remain speechless until his son was born. Once his days of service were completed Zacharias went home to his wife Elizabeth and she conceived, and her words are significant since they express how she felt.

“Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
- Luke 1:25 NKJV

Even though Elizabeth had done nothing wrong. Even though God had heard her prayer. Elizabeth felt reproached among her people. I do not know if she felt this way just because of her own internal struggles with her situation, or if her community contributed to her feeling that way.

Takeaway

Here’s what I take away from this story.

You can be doing everything right and not have your prayer answered right away. In this case, it turned out to be a blessing because Elizabeth and Zacharias did not get just any son but one of the greatest prophets of all time. God’s timing was the best timing. God’s plan was better than what they expected. However, it is also important to remember that God answers prayers with yes, no, and not yet. But regardless of the answer we get, we must trust that God loves us and give us the best answer possible (or even impossible). We have to trust that God has our best interest at heart even if He said to wait for many years, and especially if He says no. We may not understand it now, but we must trust Him and in His great love for us.

We ought to do what we can, and trust in God. Rebelling against Him does not help and only increases the pain we, and those around us, experience.

God hears our prayers, and He answers our prayers. Not only at the best possible time for us, but also for the benefit of those around us.

(This is part one, please keep an eye out for part 2)