December 7,
2023
Luke 1:23-25
23 When his
time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became
pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she
said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my
disgrace among the people.”
I wonder what this homecoming was like? I can visualize Elizabeth, coming to greet her
husband, and getting the silent treatment. Questioning him, touching him, worrying, has
he had a stroke? Is he sick? Did someone hurt him? What is wrong? I have a
hunch Elizabeth imagined the worst, before the wordless Zechariah was able to
get the message across to her of Angels, and God’s promise, a miracle is about
to happen.
It must have been an interesting time telling the story to Elizabeth. Poor Old
Zechariah, scribbling as fast as he could, Elizabeth desperately following the
story. And then the joy! Oh, imagine the joy, knowing that God had heard her
prayers too, and that finally, finally, they would have a child.
No wonder she hid herself in private. It must have been so much too much to take
in. Five months of quiet and peace, thinking about the massive change in her
world. When you stop to think of it, her experience would mean an enormous
impact in our lives as well. God’s Good News promise was being fulfilled, and John, the
one who would prepare the way for the Messiah was soon to arrive, and right
after his birth, Jesus, our Liberator, would be born and he would surrender
himself to God’s will, and give Himself up for us all, to bring us back to God.
I ask you, what better news could there be?
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