(Full disclosure: this message is based on a sermon preached at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO on 12-01-2024. This is not an exact transcription.)
Introduction: It’s hard to believe, we’re now in December! There are only 20 or so shopping days until Christmas Day and, we shouldn’t be surprised, we’ll get notified of this any number of times via TV, radio, or any other form of media!
But maybe we need to step back and think about the First Christmas, and some of the people who were part of that story. Today we’ll look at a kind of unlikely “first Christmas people”, the priest Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth.
The text this morning comes from Luke’s gospel, chapter 1, starting at verse 5:
Text: Luke 1:5-23, KJV: 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. 23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
<Opening prayer>
1 His Dilemma, verses 5-7
Text: Luke 1:5-7, KJV: 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
As incredible as it may seem, these days a number of women (and, I suppose, a number of men as well) have decided to be childless. There are numerous excuses—ah, reasons—why they have made that decision such as “the planet can’t sustain more people” to “we just don’t want kids” as well as those who have genuine medical problems which prevent a would-be mother to conceive and bear a child.
But in the days of the Bible, being childless was considered a serious example that God was not pleased with the couple. Again, there could be medical problems but there were two instances where a couple was guaranteed to be childless. According to Leviticus 20:20-21, (20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. 21 And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.) if a man had marital relations with his aunt, or if he did the same thing with his sister-in-law (while his brother was still alive, implied), either of those offenses would cause a couple to be childless.
To be sure, if a man’s brother died and had no children, the surviving brother was supposed to (later, required to) marry his widowed sister-in-law and at least attempt to have a child with her so the dead brother’s line wouldn’t die out. Examples include Judah’s three sons in Genesis 38 and the story of Ruth (chapter 4) when Boaz came in to “save the day” for Naomi, we could say.
Even worse, both Zacharias and Elisabeth were “well stricken in years” which at least implies the days of having a child were gone. As Zacharias was a priest, he could retire from active priestly duties at age 50 (compare Numbers 4:3 with Num. 8:26) but since he was still serving, he may not have yet reached that age. For Elisabeth, as with all women, she had only a limited amount of time where she could conceive and bear a child. Sadly, for Elisabeth, that clock had run out, as it will for all women, eventually.
Regardless, Zacharias performed his duties as a priest faithfully—there is no indication in Scripture that he had done anything wrong to be disqualified as a priest. The only burden he bore was that he and his wife had no child. One can only imagine the insults or other “digs” at him and his wife because they had no child. He wasn’t discouraged, though; he kept on praying and hoped the Lord would answer his prayers.
More importantly, he kept up with his duties. Let’s take a brief look at these:
2 His duties, verses 8-10
Text, Luke 1:8-10, KJV: 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
During these days priests like Zacharias and Levites were leaders in worship at the Temple. Even years later, Peter and John came to the Temple to pray at one of the hours of prayer (9 am and 3 pm per numerous commentators) according to Acts 3:1 Here, Zacharias was one of three priests who were chosen to perform the “incense duty”.
According to Jamiesson, Faucett, and Brown’s commentary, one priest would remove the old (dead?) ashes from the altar of incense (implied); another would bring hot coals from the “altar of burnt offering” and the third would sprinkle the incense over these new, hot coals (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb/luke/1.htm). This part of the commentary has a reference to Dr. Lightfoot which I’m not able to access.
As an aside, there was a special recipe or formula for the perfumers (“apothecaries” in the KJV) when and how to make incense, and it’s found in Exodus 30. Frankincense was considered a resin or sap from a certain tree—and was still used in the days of Jesus! One of the gifts of the Magi or “Wise Men” was frankincense plus gold and myrrh (Matthew 2:9-11)!
The other three elements or ingredients (stacte, onycha, and galbanum) are not clearly identified but some think they were additional resins or saps; except for onycha which some think was part of a mollusk (https://biblehub.com/text/exodus/30-34.htm). Whatever they were, when they were all combined together made something “most holy”. When the people smelled the incense, they knew it was time for prayer.
Now, not only was the incense “most holy”, it was burned on the altar of incense (dimensions found in Exodus 30:1-3) which in itself was as close to the holy of holies as any priest could get. Only the high priest could enter the holy of holies, and only once a year for the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). Anyone else who entered would die (Lev. 16:2)!
So Zacharias had finished his duty in offering the incense for that service. We don’t know how many other times he might be chosen or scheduled to do this, but he knew that this had to be a joyous time. He had served the Lord, and taken part in a very special ministry, but he didn’t know what was going to happen next.
3 The discourse of the angel, verses 11-17
Text, Luke 1:11-17, KJV: 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.
I don’t remember ever being told what a priest did after he finished his assignment of the day. There were 24 “courses” or groups of priests and each course worked in the Temple on an eight-day rotation (see "Of the course of Abia" by Dr. Kitto in the on-line commentary available at https://biblehub.com/commentaries/illustrator/luke/1.htm and “The Inauguration of the Dispensation of Grace” by R. M. Edgar at “Pulpit Commentary Homiletics”, also available online at https://biblehub.com/commentaries/homiletics/luke/1.htm). Chances are each priest would have at least a moment to rest, maybe reflect, but surely to praise God for an opportunity to serve in a capacity like this!
Something Zacharias probably had no way of expecting, though, was to see “an angel of the Lord” standing close to him! This angel stood by the right side of the altar of incense—which, apparently, Zacharias had just used—and gave him a message that Zacharias may not have expected to ever hear in his lifetime!
But first, Zacharias had to get over his fear. Now, I don’t know if any of us have ever, knowingly, seen an actual angel. We do know that every time one appeared, the angel/s looked like humans; they spoke in the language of the person they spoke to; they refused worship; and at times caused the human/s seeing them to fear! Just between you and me, if any angel were to stand here, out of the blue, most of us would be following me as we “beat feet” out of here as fast as we could! We’re not used to seeing these spiritual beings in our presence!
And the same was true of Zacharias. No doubt he was “troubled” and full of fear—I mean, who wouldn’t be, when someone appears out of thin air, as we might say? The angel immediately said, “Stop being afraid” and “your prayer is heard”!
Not many people have had that kind of experience, have they? I mean, an angel coming from Heaven and giving a verbal “Your prayer’s been answered!—that didn’t happen often. Yet there was more: the angel told Zacharias, “Your wife will bear you a son and you will call his name John”. There was more to the message, namely what the baby’s future would be. What could be better, than to know your own son would be chosen for a ministry like this?
But Zacharias didn’t believe it! And he had something to say to the angel, too.
4 The angel’s declaration, verses 18-20
Text, Luke 1:18-20, KJV: 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Zacharias, for reasons only he could understand, promptly replied, “How will I know this? I’m an old man, and my wife is ‘well stricken in years’—implying, “she’s old, too”. Clearly he’s voicing an objection, though some my say he was only stating a fact. Again, we don’t know why he said what he did to the angel.
The angel, though, had a few declarations for Zacharias! First, he said, “I am Gabriel”, one of only two angels whose names are recorded in the canonical books of the Old Testament. Zacharias might well have begun to tremble in his boots, so to speak, because Gabriel was the angel who had explained to Daniel the vision of the 70 weeks (of years—Daniel 9). Now, one of God’s select messengers had come to bring good news—but got rebuked instead.
That wasn’t the only declaration, either. Gabriel proceeded with more: he then told Zacharias, “you’re going to be mute (unable to speak) until the day these things take place (paraphrased)”, which would last for at least nine more months.
The final declaration? In so many words, Gabriel said “you brought this on yourself because you didn’t believe my words.” How many times have we—that includes me—missed out on some of our Lord’s best because we didn’t really believe Him.
Well, Zacharias had performed his duty (at least for that day or session) but had lost his ability to speak. What would now happen to him?
5 His dismissal and departure
Text, Luke 1:21-23, KJV: 21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. 23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
Apparently the people were used to relatively brief times of Temple worship services because Luke says they “marveled” that Zacharias had stayed so long in the Temple (not the holy of holies, but the holy place where the altar of incense was located).
The people may well have been even more surprised when Zacharias appeared but couldn’t say a single word to them! They perceived he had seen a vision (and more than a vision, we could say) because he “’beckoned’ unto them (kept on making signs to them, per Dr. A. T. Robertson’s “Word Pictures in the Greek New Testament, https://godrules.net/library/robert/robertluk1.htm)
Zacharias, then, continued his time as a priest or “shift” then returned home. Dismissed by Gabriel, who had the power to take away his speech; then departing for home, he probably had much to ponder as he traveled. One thing that I’m sure crossed his mind was, “how can I tell Elisabeth about all this?”
He’d be able to do so, once he got back home. She was waiting for him.
6 A Word about Elisabeth
Text: Luke 1:24-25, 39-45, KJV: 24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Admittedly, most of this story is about Zacharias, the priest who would become the father of the man known as John the Baptist, the one who would announce, “Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! (John 1:29, KJV). We’ve seen how Zacharias received discipline from the Lord because he didn’t believe the message, “You’re going to have a son”. The last few verses of this chapter describe how that when the baby was born, Zacharias promptly wrote “His name is John” and immediately regained his speech! He capped it off by speaking some of the most wonderful words in the Bible.
But let’s not forget Elisabeth and her role in all this. We’re not told how she took care of Zacharias, unable to speak for months, and how she eventually did conceive—just like the Lord had promised! Elisabeth, though, hid herself for five months but again we don’t know why. We do know she absolutely rejoiced because, now, her reproach was gone! She was going to be a mother, finally!
And further, let’s not forget Elisabeth’s song of praise when Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to visit. What a study: contrasting a woman who was past childbearing age, but now a mother, to a virgin, a young woman who had never had relations with any man. Elisabeth was married to a priest, a direct descendant of Aaron; Mary’s soon-to-be husband was a carpenter or a man skilled in working with wood, stone, or other materials (https://biblehub.com/greek/5045.htm) even though Joseph, if not the crown prince through Solomon in David’s line, was still one of David’s descendants. Elisabeth’s son was to announce “the kingdom is coming”; Mary’s son was the King Himself! We could make other comparisons but one thing was obvious: these two ladies were not in competition with each other or anyone else! It would be good to have heard some of their discussions; after all, there isn’t much of anything greater than to hear people sharing the goodness of our Lord with one another.
Now, it’s time to wrap things up and, honestly, there are some things that don’t really apply to us, here, in these days. None of us have Jewish roots, that I know of; none of us would qualify to be priests; and there’s not even a Temple anywhere near here that was like the Temple in the Jerusalem of those days/
But there are a couple of things to take away from here. First it’s clear that the Lord wants to bless us and use us to accomplish His will on this earth. We don’t have to be anything special in the eyes of the world—we’re already special in the eyes of our Lord!
Second, and something to think about, should we refuse, the Lord has the right to discipline us because of our unbelief. It may not be so severe as losing our speech, like Zacharias, but the Lord does have ways of getting our attention. Trust me on this one! Been there and done that!
So as we approach this Christmas/Advent season, maybe we could give ourselves to the Lord so that He can use us as He sees fit. What a gift for Him, and who knows what kind of a gift He might give to us!
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)
