Luke 1:11-20
“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah. The angel was standing at the right side of the incense altar. When Zechariah saw him, he was amazed and terrified. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will have a child. It will be a boy, and you must call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you. His birth will make many people very glad. He will be important in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or other such drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will prepare the way for the Lord. He will have the same spirit and power that Elijah had. He will bring peace between parents and their children. He will teach people who don’t obey to be wise and do what is right. In this way, he will prepare a people who are ready for the Lord.” Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is old too.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I serve God. I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will have to be silent. You will not be able to speak until after John is born. That’s because you did not believe my words. They will come true at the time God has chosen.”” Luke 1:11-20 (NIRV)
Kandy and I have been blessed to have both a child born to us and a child entrusted to us through adoption. As a young married couple we knew that we wanted to have children, but ultimately you never know if you will be blessed in such a way. Truthfully, when you first find out you are expecting you are taken aback a bit. So it is easy to understand why Zechariah, in this passage, was astonished by the promise of a child.
Kandy and I both had that same feeling of surprise when we found out that we were expecting Anna. We found out about Anna during a standard pre-op physical for Kandy. Not your typical excited and anxious pregnancy confirmation. I will say that having nearly nine months to plan and prepare what to do with a newborn is both exhilarating and nerve-racking.
We again had those same feelings when we got the call that we would be taking in Connor as an infant to foster. Initially, late on a Wednesday, we received a call asking if we would be interested in fostering a newborn. But when we didn’t hear anything for almost 48 hours we kind of figured the opportunity had passed us by. However late on Friday morning we got a call that said we needed to be to the hospital early in the afternoon to pick him up. I will say that having to make decisions on the fly to take care of a newborn when we had not done so in more than 10 years was both nerve-racking and exhilarating.
We could relate to Zechariah as we had plenty of questions and plenty of doubt. In both instances we could do nothing but trust in God.
But for me this is only a portion of the parental messaging that the angel, Gabriel, provides. In my opinion, he tells Zechariah three things that make life easier for the pending parents. First, I have realized that this may be the first gender reveal on record. Secondly, he tells them specifically what to name their child. No scouring through books on baby names or wondering how many of your friends and family will have an opinion about said name. And finally he hints at the demeanor that their child will have and the importance of his role in God’s world.
As parents you always wonder and pray for your child’s future. You hope that they find something that is meaningful and productive and sustaining. Your prayers combined with your mentorship and parenting skills provide the framework for them to be happy, healthy and successful in whatever way that looks. And as Christians, in a way that is pleasing to God. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a crystal ball for where our kids would spend their time and talents (and our money) working towards their goals? God’s goals. How about knowing in advance where they might end up? We would be able to help them better. Guide them. Teach them. Pick them up when they fall. But we must rely on our faith in God to walk with us. With them.
God is providing a promise through Gabriel to Zechariah and Elizabeth. The promise of a child and the promise of that child’s future. We need to know that God keeps his promises to us too. Even when we are scared or hesitant to understand what that means for us and for our children. God is there to support us and to give us the strength in order to be his hands and feet in the world. Thanks be to God.
Questions for Reflection:
- How has God surprised you? How did you respond?
- If you could have been told one thing in advance of it happening how would it have changed you…or the situation?
Prayer:
Good and Gracious God, We give you thanks for the gift of earthly life. The promise of eternal life. And the experience that takes us from one to the other. An experience that despite our fear and doubt is with you and for you. Ame
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