Luke 1:20 –
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.”
Zechariah, husband of Elizabeth, just had an Abraham moment. In their old age God came to them and said you will have a son. He questioned God and did not believe. Well, sometimes when an angel comes to visit you it’s time to listen and believe. He is announcing the coming of their son John who will precede Jesus telling of his coming. I am always surprised that John is only 6 month older than Jesus, I always think John is much more mature.
The story of John is rarely touched on other than when he is an adult. We all know of John the Baptist who baptizes Jesus and the sky parts and a dove flies down. But his birth is almost as amazing as Jesus’. Elizabeth is old and barren like Sarah but is having a son. Unfortunately, her child will not be the cornerstone of a great nation. He gets to usher in the Messiah. This is something that is an incredible honor, but at the same time comes with a great price.
Now I like this verse since Zechariah becomes mute because he does not believe the angel. I wonder how we would respond. Zechariah was a high priest, he was inside the temple burning incense when the angel came to him. This means he knew scriptures inside and out. He did not get this opportunity because he was lucky, he earned his way to get a chance to serve in the most holy place. So he had more knowledge than most and still when an angel appears and talks to him, he questions what the angel said.
How does that make you feel? How do you respond when God prompts you? Would you respond to an angel or think you were going nuts? I know I pray for an encounter like Zechariah, but also realize the cost of such encounter. Did Zechariah out live his son? Did John have children not recorded? Put it in that way and the visit was great for the world but the end result for the family wasn’t. Ideal in human terms would be John would have done great thing, baptized Jesus, lived to an old age and had a large family! But reality was not so, although it ended the way it had to end. Sometimes the cost of service to God is more than we want to pay.