The Christmas Story: Love is Born
Verse 5 Herod received his commission to rule from Mark Anthony and the Roman Senate in 40BC but did not actually return to rule until 37BC.
- He was considered King over Judea which included Judea, Galilee, much of Perea, and much of Syria.
- Herod was an Edomite though and not a Jew, so he was never fully trusted or received by the Jews.
- Herod was also a brutal man, killing his own wives and sons when he suspected them of plotting against him.
- While the Temple has been rebuilt and Temple worship and sacrifice has resumed they hadn’t heard from the Lord in a long time. It has been approximately 400 years since a prophet has spoken.
- The name Zechariah mean “Yahweh remembered” which is appropriate given this story.
Luke 6 This was not righteousness as we now understand it through Christ but this was an OT righteousness in following the Law or God’s commandments.
Luke 7 In this time period the absence of children was generally seen as a problem, sin or some judgment.
- But the couples’ righteousness shows that their barrenness was not the result of judgment or sin.
Verse 9 Through the casting of lots Zechariah was chosen to have the honor of giving the sacrifice.
- Only once in his life would a priest receive the special honor of offering the incense in the Holy Place.
Verse 11-12 The position of the angel on the right side of the altar of incense places it between the altar and the candlestick in the Holy place.
Verse 13 The angel says that his prayer has been heard. Now the question is, what prayer?
- He could have prayed for a child but his job and current duty as priest would also include the possibility that he was praying for the redemption of Israel.
- Zechariah doesn’t question the name but the name; it is appropriate in that it means “Yahweh has been gracious.”
Verse 15 The angel says that John will be “mega” (great) in the eyes of the Lord.
- The command to not drink wine or other strong drink is very similar to a Nazirite vow taken in the OT.
- In the OT the Holy Spirit came and went from people, here it says that the Spirit will be with John his whole life.
Verse 16 John will act like a prophet and call the nation to reform – turn to God and live differently.
- John will call the nation Israel to turn back to Yahweh and prepare for what God is about to do in regards to the Coming One.
Verse 17 As far as we know John never performed the kind of miracles that Elijah did so John must be parallel to Elijah in the same way that Elijah called for repentance.
- The part of turn the hearts of the fathers to their children etc is a quote from Mal 3:24.
Verse 18 Zechariah in the spirit of Sara isn’t concerned with the great and glorious things the angel has said will happen through John. But like Sarah, Zechariah is only concerned with ‘how’ John will come to be.
- But Zechariah is in good company, many others in his position have had the same question and doubts, Abraham in Gen 15:3-8; 18:11-12, Gideon in Judges 6:37, Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:8, and Ahaz in Isa 7:11 all asked for a sign.
Verse 19 Zechariah’s objection, based on his and his wife’s ages, is met with a statement from the angel about its authority and position.
Verse 20 Zechariah now receives both his sign and his punishment for his unbelief.
- The angel says that he will be unable to speak and as we will see later in verse 62 apparently, he is also struck deaf.
Verse 21 The verb structure here seems to indicate that this was a quite a bit of a wait.
Verse 22 When Zechariah emerges from the Holy Place, the first fulfillment of the angel’s prediction comes to pass, Zechariah was unable to speak.
- Being struck mute by a visitation from God had OT precedence in Ezk 3:26 and Dan 10:7-8.
Verse 24 True to the word of the angel Zechariah’s wife becomes pregnant, and she withdraws for a period of time.
- From the human side it is possible that Elizabeth remained secluded for five months so that when she came fourth it would be obvious that she was pregnant and her skeptical friends and neighbors couldn’t mock or ridicule her.
Verse 25 Both Mary and Zechariah have long songs of praise recorded as their response to their children’s impending birth but Elizabeth only gets one verse.