Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.
Today, is day nineteen of our journey and our symbol is the Writing Tablet.
Angels of the Lord are mentioned many times in Scripture. Sometimes they are described as having an image that is hard to comprehend. For example, some angels have six wings and animal-like features called Cherubim and Seraphim; others are described as having no wings and human-like features with names like Gabriel and Michael. Regardless of how different angels may be described or sometimes appear, one thing is for sure, angels are mysteriously supernatural and whenever humans encounter them it provokes a response of fear. We tend to be fearful of what we see, but do not understand.
Zechariah, well advanced in age, was a Levitical priest (tribe of Levi like Moses, Aaron, and Ezra). It was a priest’s great honor—chosen by lots—to take care of the Temple of the Lord and by offering sacrifices for the sins of the people. As well, the priests kept the incense on the golden altar burning [signifying the prayers of the people/priests asking for forgiveness]. To be able to serve in the Temple for a two-week duration was a great honor, because there were so many priests at the time within the twelve tribes of Israel.
Zechariah and the priests followed the Mosaic Law while they waited and prayed for the Messiah to come. God used centuries to prepare His people for the coming of the Holy One who would atone and save His people from their sins. In the meantime, the only way for the people to approach God was with a blood sacrifice of an animal. The sinner could not bring a sacrifice and meet with God, everything was offered through the priests.
Joy erupted in Zechariah when his name was called to serve in the Temple for his allotted two weeks. While there, Zechariah has an encounter with an angel who brings startling news. He is in a holy place and doing God’s holy work, but he is filled with fear when he is confronted with a message from the angel, Gabriel. What’s the message? He and his elderly and barren wife, Elizabeth [Mary’s maternal aunt], are going to have a son and this will begin to fulfill the prophecy of the coming Messiah.
Zechariah struggles to receive this good news from the angel and because of his disbelief, the angel causes Zechariah to be mute until he can get into agreement with God. Yet, agreeing with God is exactly what Zechariah does and at the birth of his son, this joy-filled priest obediently pens the words on a Writing Tablet, “His name is John!” John whose name means “God is gracious” will prepare the way for his cousin, Jesus.
Like Zechariah, we can all struggle trying to grasp God’s unfathomable love for us, as well as understand the power of His Word. God blesses us with the blood atonement for our sin when we place faith in Jesus Messiah, but He also blesses us with every good and perfect Gift from above. That should leave all of us speechless.
Psalm 111:9 NLT He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
Isaiah 9:2 NLT The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
Luke 1:11-20, 57-68, & 76-80 11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. 58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.
59 When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”
61 “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” 62 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.
65 Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. 66 Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.
Zechariah’s Prophecy
67 Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:
68
“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited and redeemed his people.
“And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
77
You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
78
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
79
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”
80 John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the lessons from Zechariah, his walk of faith, and the gift of a son who enters into your plan of salvation. We can identify with Zechariah and his struggle with doubt. You pour out your blessings on us and we are overwhelmed. Yet, today, may we proudly proclaim our adoption as your sons and daughters and receive every spiritual blessing with great joy! In Jesus’ name. Amen.