On the human level, the situation in the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth was not unique. Many families longed for children. We can recall two similar cases: Abram and Sarai, and Elkanah and Hannah. But in both families, as with Zacharias and Elizabeth, divine intervention enabled the impossible to happen, resulting in the births of Isaac, Samuel, and John! The three homes reverberated with joy, and the fruit of the womb produced men who performed specific roles in fulfilling God’s purposes for not only Israel, but also the whole world.
Zacharias was of the house of Abijah, and Elizabeth was of the daughters of the house of Aaron. Both were described as righteous and blameless. In New Testament language, this was an equal yoke. This account takes place against the background of Zacharias’s priestly service in the temple.
John MacArthur writes,
[Zacharias’s] lot fell to burn incense…A high honor (Ex. 30:7 and 2 Chron. 29:11). Because of the large number of priests, most would never be chosen for such activity, and no one was permitted to serve in this capacity twice. Zacharias, no doubt, regarded this as a supreme moment in a lifetime of priestly service…The lone priest offered the incense morning and evening while the rest of the priests and worshippers stood outside the holy place in prayer (Lk. 1:9).”1
A joyous announcement
When the angel appeared to Zacharias, the man was terrified (v.?12). However, the angel calmed his fears and announced, “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth” (vv. 13f).
The home that for years had been filled with a sad emptiness would be radically changed! The angel then outlined in detail what kind of man this son would be and what kind of role he would fulfill: “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb…He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Yet in response to such a wonderful angelic pronouncement, Zacharias expressed doubt that such a thing could be possible. For an ordinary man to doubt an angel is one thing, but for an honored priest to do so was quite another.
The angel responded, “I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God; and was sent to speak unto you, and to bring you these glad tidings.” This last phrase is from the Greek word for gospel, an indication that the message of the angel concerned God’s plan for salvation. The Savior was on His way, and Zacharias’s child would be His forerunner. Unbelief is the enemy of the gospel. Consequently, Zacharias’s disbelief was immediately followed by another announcement: “You will be mute and not able to speak until these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
Zacharias’s delay in emerging from the temple caused some concern. “And the people waited for Zacharias marveled that he tarried in the temple” (v. 21). When he finally emerged, he could not speak and endeavored to communicate to them by hand signs. Then “they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple.” When his days of temple service ended, he returned to his home in the hill country of Judah.
A curtain is pulled across the succeeding months. The Scriptures simply tell us that “after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and she hid herself five months, saying, ‘Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’” Elizabeth had suffered the reproach that accompanied barrenness (cf. Gen. 30:23; 1 Sam. 1:5-10); but the angel’s prophecy was fulfilled, and Elizabeth’s sadness was turned to joy.
A joyous visit
The next reference we have to Elizabeth is the close association she had with Mary, the expectant mother of the Messiah. The angel addressed Mary, “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who is called barren. For with God nothing is impossible” (vv. 36-37). This news must have come as a shock to Mary, knowing Elizabeth’s advanced age. She herself, no doubt endeavoring to take in the implications of her own miraculous pregnancy, decided to travel south from the Galilee to Judea and visit Elizabeth.
We are told that “when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leapt in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” Thus, Elizabeth’s mind was taken from her own glad situation to an even greater joy: she was looking into the face not only of another expectant mother, but also of “the mother of my Lord!” The promise of the long-expected Messiah would soon be fulfilled. It is no wonder that Elizabeth was totally overcome; and, raising her voice, she authenticated that the babe in Mary’s womb was “my Lord,” because the child’s behavior in her own womb had supernaturally confirmed this. Furthermore, she expressed surprise that Mary was visiting her and not the reverse! The visit lasted about three months. What a precious time for both of these privileged women that must have been.
A joyous purpose
When Elizabeth’s time was fulfilled for the birth of her son, her neighbors and her relatives joined in the celebrations; and, eight days later, the requirements of the Law were enacted. Two things happened: the child was circumcised and given a name. The former was physical testimony to God’s covenant made with Abraham (Gen. 17:8-12). As for the name, tradition demanded that the firstborn, if a son, would take his father’s name. In this case, human protocol was set aside; and Elizabeth announced his name would be John. What a surprise! The gathered company remonstrated. There were no Johns in the family. They called upon Zacharias, still unable to speak, to comment on his wife’s pronouncement. To their amazement, he confirmed in writing, “His name is John.” Then “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke, praising God.”
We need now to note Zacharias’s first words. They were not about his angelic encounter in the temple months before, as incredible as that experience was. They were not even about his newborn son although, humanly speaking, that would have been perfectly natural. Rather, they were about redemption for his people and salvation for the house of David. He burst forth, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel. For He has visited and redeemed his people…And to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham…that we might serve him in holiness and righteousness” (vv. 68-75). Zacharias used the past tense when speaking of this redemption since, prophetically, he saw it already accomplished. It was only after he concluded this hymn of thanksgiving and praise that he turned his attention to the infant. “And you child will be called the prophet of the highest…to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. And to guide our feet into the way of peace” (vv. 76-79).
What a remarkable conclusion to a lifetime of service and expectation! By God’s grace, this family was bound up with the Messiah; and, at every turn, whether by His miraculous intervention to end Elizabeth’s barrenness, or by His visiting presence, or by the role He gave them in His program, He brought joy to this home.
endnote
1 John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Luke 1-5 Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009.