Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah’s Prophecy, Speech Restored
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick This week, we cover Zechariah’s prophecy found in Luke 1:67-79. This passage is powerful and full of revelation and insight. If you remember where we have been, Zechariah’s words come on the heels of Elizabeth’s prophetic exclamation in verse 42, Mary’s song of praise in verses 46-56, and the birth of John in verses 57-66. Zechariah is coming off his nine months of silence. Because he expressed words of doubt and unbelief when the angel Gabriel had told him that he would finally have a son named John, Zechariah was rendered mute and deaf. By the time John arrived,...
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Characters at the Cradle: John the Baptist, Awe and Wonder
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, ‘What then will this child be?’ For the hand of the Lord was with him.” Luke 1:65-66. When Zechariah’s voice returned, he started blessing God for all that had happened to him and Elizabeth. He was incredibly grateful for the birth of his child. The text goes on to tell us that all the neighbors were filled with fear. The “fear” talked about here is not dread or being afraid. On the...
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Characters at the Cradle: John the Baptist, Words of Worship
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick When Zechariah wrote down, “His name is John,” for all to see and read, he obeyed in specificity all the angel of the Lord had commanded him to do. At that moment, something significant happened. Let’s take a look. “And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God” (Luke 1:64). Immediately. What a powerful word! Not gradual, not slowly… immediately! Zechariah’s act of obedience led to his immediate breakthrough. At that moment, he was able to speak again. And the words that poured forth blessed the one true God. This might...
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Characters at the Cradle: John The Baptist, His Name is John
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick The ultimate name of the Christmas story is born into a cradle. His name is Jesus. But there are many characters at the cradle who play significant roles in highlighting the Savior of the world. One, in particular, is the forerunner to the message of Jesus. His name is John. Luke 1:61-63 continues the story of John’s circumcision. Even though everyone thought this special baby would be named after his father, Gabriel instructed Zechariah to name him John. Because Zechariah was still mute, Elizabeth had just spoken up to tell everyone the name. No one who gathered for this...
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Characters at the Cradle: John The Baptist, What’s His Name?
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick What’s in a name? There is power in a name. Meaning in a name. Purpose in a name. In Scripture, names often point to someone’s God-ordained purpose. Today, you will learn why John’s name was significant. After John was born, Zechariah and Elizabeth took him to be circumcised on the eighth day, as was the Jewish custom. This was also the time when the father would pronounce the name of the child. Often in biblical times, the child would be named after the father. This actually still happens a lot in today’s culture as well. So for John’s circumcision, everyone...
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Characters at the Cradle: John the Baptist, The Birth
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick This week, we are going to look at another character at the cradle. Join me as we explore the birth of John the Baptist, found in Luke 1:57-66. We will start today by looking at verses 57 and 58. Elizabeth’s time to give birth has finally arrived! After her five months of hiddenness and Zechariah’s nine months of silence, the divine time for John to enter the world had arrived! Think about all that must have happened to Elizabeth over those nine months. Somehow, Zechariah figured out a way to tell her about Gabriel’s visit to him in the temple. The shock, the unbelief,...
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Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, Let There be Praise
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick Let there be praise! While Mary’s Magnificat ends with verse 55, Luke 1:56 tells us what Mary did after she completed this psalm of praise. I often find that the practical action steps that follow a spiritual encounter are equally as important, if not more, than the encounter itself. It is important to put action behind our experiences. Mary did just that. The Bible says that Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned to her home. What do you think happened in those three months? I can think of 3 things that I think happened. First, I think Mary...
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Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, God Loves Israel
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:46-56 depicts a profound display of praise and adoration from Mary toward God. In the Latin Vulgate translation, “magnificat” means “magnifies.” These verses are designed to purely magnify the Lord God. In verses 54 and 55, Mary said, “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” These verses mark a shift in Mary from praise for what God had done for her personally to praise for what this child would do for Israel. Mary knew that this gift of a...
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Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, The Greatness of God
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick The greatness of God is one of the profound mysteries of the Christian faith. His glory, his majesty, his dominion, his power. Our God is mighty! But in his greatness and might, he chose to come down to earth, taking on the form of a servant, to live the perfect life none of us could live, die the death we deserved, and restore anyone who responds to his salvation by grace through faith back into relationship with the Father. In Luke 1:50-53, Mary expounded upon what the birth of Jesus would mean for those who are weak or feel insignificant, for those who are hungry and...
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Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, God Looked
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick Today we will focus on Luke 1:48-49, which says, “For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” God looked at Mary. He saw her. But think about this for a moment. Mary spent her life looking to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac. In turn, God looked to Mary to help him accomplish the greatest mission ever accomplished: the salvation of the world. The gospel of Jesus is a “to you, through you” gospel. God did not...
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The story of Zechariah continues in Luke 1:8-15, which we will look at today. While serving as priest, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple during a high holy feast. Take note that even the drawing of straws is under the sovereign hand of Almighty God according to Proverbs 16:33. We serve a mighty God who has a timing and purpose for everything!
Undoubtedly, while serving in the temple, Zechariah prayed for Israel, as all priests regularly did. However, I would suppose he also prayed fervently for a child, and probably more specifically a son, as sons were considered a special gift from God in those days as they served as a continuation of the family name.
While Zechariah was serving in the temple, an angel, who later in the story self-identifies as Gabriel, appeared to him. 400 years of silence from God is now broken. He said to Zechariah, “Your prayers have been heard.” Could there be a more perfect and wonderful message to receive from an angelic visitation than this? God heard Zechariah’s prayers, which were probably offered many times throughout the years, both for Israel and for a child.
After Gabriel’s encounter with Zechariah, Zechariah was filled with fear, which is a common emotion when anyone in the Bible experienced a divine revelation. Can you even imagine a perfect angel appearing to you as a sinful human? I can only imagine the fear of the Lord that would come upon me if that happened to me.
The angel went on to tell Zechariah that he would have a son and he was to be named John, which means “God is gracious.” And God certainly is gracious. He gave this man a son in his old age by grace, through faith. He told Zechariah that he and his wife would be filled with joy because of this baby. John would be great before the Lord, not given to strong drink or wine, and with a heart totally devoted to the Lord, filled with the Spirit from the womb. As a side note, what a miraculous demonstration of that fact that life begins at conception and that God can encounter and give promises to children in the womb!
No matter what you’re going through, especially if you want a child, keep praying in faith! God hears your prayers!
Nothing brings greater joy than answered prayers.