“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. …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.’ 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! 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’” (Luke 1:13, 18–20 NLT).
With Christmas only 10 days away, you might be asking, What does Zechariah have to do with Christmas? Though born only months apart, John the Baptist came first and prepared the way for Jesus. It seems only fitting that his birth announcement come before Christ’s.
Don’t Be Afraid
One of the things I truly enjoy about whenever angels appear to mankind is that their first words are often “Don’t be afraid.” When Gabriel appeared to Mary, those were his second words (verses 28–30).
One can’t help but wonder about the physical appearance of these heavenly beings. I take comfort in the fact that God and the angels don’t want us to be afraid. God could take quite a different stance, and we could find ourselves cowering and afraid for our very lives. Stop and think about that. What does that say about God?
For me, it says God desires a personal relationship with us. Jesus and God are one. Would a humble and meek Jesus be compatible with a scary and demanding God? Food for thought. Yes, God is holy and will take wrath upon His enemies, but that is not His ultimate desire.
Now, I think things did get a little heated when Zechariah questioned the veracity of Gabriel’s words (see verses 19 and 20 and note the exclamation points).
On to my main point about this passage.
The Power of Doubt
If you question the power of doubt, let’s look at what happened. Zechariah doubted and the angel struck him mute. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue can bring death or life” (NLT). Our words have great power, whether they be words of doubt or not!
Zechariah doubted and would have spoken words of doubt in relating his experience in the temple and with the message Gabriel delivered. Could Zechariah’s words of doubt have thwarted the birth of John the Baptist?
Seems unfathomable to say that God’s plan could be stopped by a simple priest’s words. Yet, the angel stopped Zechariah from spreading his words of doubt to those around him by striking him dumb. More food for thought.
What are you regularly saying that’s bringing negative things into your life? What are you regularly saying that’s bringing positive things?
Are you focused on your problems and speaking about them all the time? Or are you focused on the purpose God has given you, speaking His truth, and standing in faith as you act upon what He’s told you to do?
As we prepare to enter a new year, I encourage you to answer God’s call the way Mary did. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (verse 38).
