In his gospel, Luke recorded two stories that are very similar and yet very different in some respects to being called to be major characters in the story of the incarnation of Jesus. In our passage, we see that one responded with unbelief, and the other with joy and praise. Over the next several weeks I want us to look at the response of these key people in the storyline; Zachariah; the father of John the Baptist and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Today let’s focus on Zachariah. Zachariah’s response to the angel represents how skeptical humans can be to accept God’s power to change their lives.

(Luke 1:5-25)

⁵ In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division ^k named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. ⁸ When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. ¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. ^{x 13} But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. ¹⁴ There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people. ¹⁸ “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” ¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. ²⁰ Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” ²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. ²² When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless. ²³ When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. ²⁴ After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.” 

It was a dark time in Israel’s history. There had been no prophetic Word from God for over 400 years, not since Malachi had prophesied the coming of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6). The spiritual leaders were stuck in tradition and even corruption. Although it seems to us that Zachariah had everything going for him and it would be easy for him to believe, he had a moment of unbelief. Let's inspect this story and see why there should have been no room for doubt in his life.

He and his wife had been married for many years and they were well on in years. The very fact that he was married, and he and his wife were faithful to each other would have been a plus for him to believe the angel when he said they would bear a son. The names of Zachariah (Jehovah has remembered) and Elizabeth (God is my oath) would have been another plus for him to believe. This couple didn’t just go through the motions in following God’s laws; they backed up their outward compliance with inner obedience. Their obedience was from the heart and that is why it was said of them here that they were “righteous in God’s eyes.”

Zachariah was a priest in the nation of Israel. It is possible that there were at least 20,000 priests in the nation at this time. The priests would draw lots to see which ministry they would perform in the temple. It was a long shot that he would have ever been chosen to offer the highest honor of offering incense in the holy place. But here he was, the lot had fallen upon him. That put him in the perfect position to be visited by the angel Gabriel. My friends, God was guiding the events of history to prepare the way for Jesus to come to earth.

While burning incense on the altar in the temple, Zachariah was also praying. He was probably praying for the coming of the Messiah to his people. He and Elizabeth had probably prayed daily for this but had also probably prayed that they would have a child themselves. It possibly seemed odd to him that the angel said his prayer had been answered and they would have a son. The greatest desire of Zachariah’s heart was that he would have a son and it was about to come true. But at the same time, Israel’s prayer for a Messiah was coming true. This son of Zachariah would grow up to prepare the way for the Messiah. But the person who had every reason to believe the message about Jesus doubted.

God did keep His promise to Zachariah and Elizabeth, and she conceived and birthed their son John the Baptist in their old age. Years earlier the prophet Jeremiah shouted out praise to God for His faithfulness (Jeremiah 32:17). Oh, Lord GOD! You Yourself made the heavens and earth by Your great power and with Your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You! Not only would Elizabeth bear a son, but the birth of this son would also be the evidence that the Messiah was coming! These dark days were brighter because the Savior of the world, Jesus, would be born.