Advent Day 9: Luke 1:5-25,57-66

Read & Journal

Read Luke 1:5-25,57-66. Meditate on what you’ve read by considering these questions:

• What examples of God’s faithfulness do you see in this account? What are some examples of faithfulness on the part of Elizabeth and Zechariah? How did they display a lack of faithfulness?

• The name John means “the Lord has shown favor” or “Yahweh has been gracious.” How would John be a symbol of God’s favor?

• The angel’s announcement to Zechariah seemed impossible. When have you seen God do something that seemed impossible in your life or the life of someone you know?

• Are there situations or circumstances in your life in which you are doubting God’s faithfulness? Be bold enough to admit these to the Father today.

• Think back over your faith journey. What are some specific instances when God has proven his faithfulness to you? Create a list that you can return to in times when it feels difficult to trust God is faithful, true and good.

Ponder

Early in their marriage, Elizabeth probably waited each month to see if it had finally happened, anxious to tell Zechariah the good news: a baby was on the way. But each month, without fail, she was disappointed. The months slipped into years, and Luke’s Gospel tells us that Zechariah and Elizabeth had grown old. They’d done what they could to be at peace with the situation, to accept that they’d never hold a child of their own. It was next to impossible at this point anyway, right?

Then, one day Zechariah was chosen to enter the holy place and burn incense to the Lord, an opportunity a priest usually only experienced once in his lifetime. An angel announced that Zechariah and Elizabeth would have a son in their old age, and that son would prepare the way for the Messiah. Zechariah’s response (“How can I know this?”) demanded proof and declared his lack of faith, resulting in Zechariah’s forced silence until the baby God had promised was born. God had been faithful when Zechariah had not. God’s favor was on full display in the unlikely child of an elderly couple who had long since given up hope.

But God’s favor toward the world was also on display. While Zechariah and Elizabeth reveled in their individual blessing, God was announcing His coming grace and mercy to a world that felt hopeless. Through John, God would call the people to make ready for the Messiah. He would turn the hearts of the fathers toward their children and cause those who lived in rebellion to understand the wisdom of righteousness. God was preparing to bring the Light into the world, and John was the one who got to share the good news.

God is still true to His character. He is faithful to step into seemingly hopeless situations and bring light and hope, even when it seems impossible. When we are faithless, He is faithful (2 Tim. 2:13). We can rest in his flawless character. And we, like John, who have experienced His faithfulness can declare it to a world living in darkness, preparing the way for Jesus.