The opening chapters of Luke are like a duet from an oratorio. One voice begins to sing, followed by another, and then the two verses harmonize. For a while the second voice is silent while the first verse sings alone. Then the first voice leaves off and the second voice breaks the silence and carries the music until finally the song ends with a chorus of angels.
The first melody here belongs to John the Baptist. It is the promise of his birth, given to his father Zechariah by the angel Gabriel, but fully believed only by his mother Elizabeth. Then we hear the song of the Savior: the virgin Mary will give birth to the Son of God. When the two mothers meet, their melodies harmonize into one song. But after a three month visit, Elizabeth is ready to give birth, and Mary returns to Nazareth. It is time again to sing the song of John the Baptist. (Ryken 54)
Zechariah’s Silence is Broken
After 400 years without any word from God, the Lord broke his silence by sending his angel Gabriel to the old priest Zechariah. The angel appeared to him in the temple and told him that his wife was going to bear him a son in his old age. Like most of us would today, he didn’t believe it. So, Gabriel stripped him of his ability to speak for the long nine months of pregnancy. Marital communication is already difficult enough when the husband and wife can both speak; can you imagine how difficult it would be to prepare for a baby when one couldn’t speak? But Zechariah and Elizabeth somehow survived the quiet maternity phase.
When the baby was born, the news quickly spread to all of their friends and relatives. One by one they showed up with hot casseroles, newly knitted baby blankets, and encouraging words. Zechariah’s fellow came with a box of Cuban cigars to celebrate in the joyous occasion. Even though his lips couldn’t speak, he could still puff on a big fat stogy. (Well OK, that’s not exactly the way the biblical story goes, but you get the picture.) Everyone recognized how the Lord had shown them great mercy, and the whole town showed up to share their happiness.
According to the Jewish custom, Zechariah and Elizabeth took the baby to the temple on the eighth day so that he could be circumcised and formally named—a firstborn son was always named after his father, but his mother spoke up and said, “No, his name is John.” Although this was in obedience to the angel’s command, everyone else was shocked and horrified! “John” was a common enough Jewish name, but everyone protested because there was no one in their family with that name. (This is classic! When parents give their child an unexpected name, some people just can’t resist making snide remarks or offering unwelcomed suggestions.)
Even though Elizabeth was a brand new mother, her friends and family thought she was having a senior moment. So, they gestured to Zechariah to inquire as to the child’s real name. Still unable to speak, he asked for a writing tablet and confirmed that the boy’s name was John.
As soon as he wrote the name John on the tablet, his tongue was miraculously loosened and he began to verbally praise God. Everyone marveled at these events, and they wondered about the child’s divine destiny; for they recognized that God’s hand was upon him.
1.) Praising God for his Plan of Salvation (68-75)
When Zechariah’s silence was broken and his speech returned, notice what he did first. He didn’t praise God for restoring his voice. He didn’t even thank God for giving him his own baby boy at such an old age. Instead, he uttered praise for the coming of Mary’s baby. He was thrilled about the birth of his own son and deliverance, but he was more grateful for the news of Mary’s miraculous conception.
Why would Zechariah’s primary praise God for someone else’s baby before his own newborn son? Because Mary’s baby represented God’s plan of salvation for the world! His son would be the forerunner to Messiah; Mary’s son was the Messiah! Mary’s son was the fulfillment of God’s covenants with Abraham and King David; he would bless all people on earth and establish an eternal kingdom. Zechariah’s son would be wonderful, but Mary’s son would redeem Israel, save her from her enemies, and enable them to live without fear. In the midst of the bleak spiritual darkness that covered the land, Mary’s son embodied a new light was dawning.
Like Zechariah, our primary praise to God should be for his plan of salvation. Before we praise God for giving us children, restoring our health, or providing for our physical needs, we should praise God for sending Mary’s baby to redeem our sinful souls. Mary’s son would be long awaited Messiah and our great horn of salvation. He would be the king who would deliver us from our enemies.
Who are our enemies? Contrary to popular belief, our greatest enemies are not Muslim Jihadists in the Middle East, Kim Jong Un in North Korea, or even the Russian Bear Vladimir Putin. Our greatest enemy is not cancer, poverty, or injustice. Our greatest enemy is Satan and his minions of darkness who tempt us to sin and live apart from the grace and love of God. Our greatest enemies are not the one who can harm our bodies, but the ones who can destroy our souls and lead us to hell.
God did not send his Son to be our political advocate, military liberator, or social supporter! He did not send his Son to deliver us from our financial deficiencies, physical pains, or psychological insufficiencies. Why did God send his Son to earth? To live a sinless life so that he could die a holy death and pay the penalty for our sins and to rescue our souls from the fire’s of hell. This is the salvation that God offers to each of us!
Have you received God’s greatest gift of love? Have you embraced his offer of salvation? Have you put your faith in his birth, death, and resurrection for the redemption of your soul? Do you praise him for his plan of salvation?
2.) Blessing a Child’s Destiny (76-80)
After Zechariah praised God for his great plan of salvation through Mary’s baby, he took his own newborn in his arms and blessed the child’s destiny. With love and compassion, he looked into his little sons eyes and told him that he would one day become a prophet of the Most High and that he would go before the Lord to prepare his ways. He would give the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins to the people. He would tell about the tender mercies of God and give light to all who sit in spiritual darkness and wallow in the shadow of death.
Wow! What a powerful blessing from a father to a son! It is no wonder the child grew and became strong in spirit until the divinely appointed time for him to begin his public ministry. His father spoke love, peace, and purpose into his son’s life.
I wonder how many parents pronounce blessings like this on their children today. I wonder how many parents hold their little ones close to their heart and tell them that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their life. I wonder how many parents tell their kids that God wants to use them to accomplish great things for his kingdom.
Sure, our children do not have the same divine destiny as little John the Baptist did—his was a one of a kind calling to be the forerunner of the Messiah. But I see many parents today either worshipping or cursing their kids, and these are equally detrimental. Parents who worship their kids put their kids above God. They give them everything, do everything for them, and never tell them “No!” The inherent sin of selfishness is never curbed and it leads to children who are spoiled, arrogant, and exhibit a sense of entitlement. This is really the sin of parental idolatry.
I also see many parents who curse their kids. They constantly lie to them, berate them, and provoke them, and then wonder why their children are so screwed up.
One of my childhood best friends was a boy named Barry. His father, Barry Sr., drank a lot and was a difficult man to please. He would often tell his son that he was stupid and that he would never amount to anything. If a kid hears curses like this enough, he eventually starts to believe them. Barry’s father would often beat him and embarrass him in front of his friends.
When Barry was about19 years old, his dad began to criticize him one night. Barry took a baseball bat and beat his dad to a bloody pulp. Barry Sr. spent five days in the hospital—he suffered a severe concussion, broken ribs, and a shattered shoulder. Barry Jr. spent a few days in jail and has been in and out of corrections ever since.
Whatever you do, don’t worship or abuse kids! Bless them as Zechariah blessed John! Speak loving words to them! Show them affection! Discipline them when they need it! And most importantly, model and teach them about the love and grace of God.
When Zechariah’s silence was finally broken, he had a lot to say! His song teaches us a lot about the importance of praising God for his incredible plan of salvation and the importance of blessing our children. I hope and pray that we all will respond to Zechariah’s song to God and his little boy!