The birth of John the Baptist — Luke 1:57-66
Zechariah’s Song — Luke 1:67-80
Chapter 1 of Luke concludes with these two sections–quite the prelude or perhaps prequel to the story of Jesus. God’s hand at work in the details of lives that have great impact on the world. Thanks be to God the Almighty.
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
“To everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.'” (Luke 1:63). Zechariah wrote these words because he still could not speak. His firstborn son would not bear his name or even a name from his family. Zechariah and Elizabeth knew their responsibility was to honor God by obeying the words of his angel.
“Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God” (1:64). Zechariah was faithful, even though he didn’t react well to the angel’s proclamation, he was faithful. How many times, Lord, have you spoken to me and I reacted far worse than Zechariah? Yet you are steady, you are constant, loving and patient. Lord, help us to learn from Mary’s example and humbly walk in your ways.
Zechariah’s song touches my heart and brings tears to my eyes. For nine months this faithful priest could not speak a word because of his faulty reaction to the words of Gabriel, the mighty messenger of God. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, prophesies about his son. In my heart I believe Zechariah knew how the story would end for he was a faithful priest and John would stand against the established religion and proclaim the Messiah’s entrance into the world. This cannot end well. It’s so incredibly odd that our forefathers would on one hand preach the hope of the world in serving the Lord, yet on the other hand would reject him that was sent as a hope to end all fears.
It’s fitting that Zechariah’s first words after nine months of silence would honor God above all else.
Lord, thank you for the incredible testimony of Zechariah and Elizabeth, for their faithfulness to you. Help us to learn from their humble obedience to your calling.