God's Messenger

One thing, however, made them sad. They had never had any children, and now they were both so old that it appeared they never would.

Because he was a priest, Zacharias went to the temple in Jerusalem one week every six months to perform the duties of a priest. Once while Zacharias was working at this duty he was chosen to go into the temple of the Lord to burn incense. As was God's command, the people and other priests remained outside of the building praying while Zacharias entered into the temple alone.

But this time something very wonderful and very frightening was about to happen to the old priest. For as Zacharias entered the quiet, deserted room, he was astounded by what he saw. Standing at the right of the alter where no one had been a moment before, there had suddenly appeared a mighty Archangel!

Seeing how frightened Zacharias was the Archangel tried to reassure him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias. Your prayers to God have been heard. He knows how much you and Elizabeth want a child of your own. You and your wife will have a son and you are to name him John. Your son will be very special to God. He must not drink wine or strong drink in any form all his life.

"John will be given God's spirit while he's still a baby in his mother's womb. Many of the children of Israel will be turned back to their God because of his efforts. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers. Those who are disobedient will be turned to the righteousness of God's law. All this will be done so that a people will be ready for the coming of their Savior."

But Zacharias, remembering that both he and his wife were past childbearing age, wondered how this could happen. "How can I be sure that this will take place?" He asked. "Can you give me a sign that what you say is true?"

"I am Gabriel, who stands before God," the Archangel informed him. "I have been sent by God to tell you this good news. Because you have doubted God's message, you will be unable to speak until after your son is born."

Outside of the temple the people were beginning to wonder why Zacharias was taking so long. When he came out they tried to question him, but Zacharias could only make signs. Just as Gabriel had said, the disbelieving man had become mute.

Zacharias completed his duties and returned home. Soon afterwards, Elizabeth knew that what God had sent Gabriel to tell her husband was true. She was going to have a baby.

"How kind God is," she exclaimed, "to allow me, who has been childless all these years, to have a son."

When Elizabeth had been pregnant six months, Gabriel was again sent out with a message from God. This time he appeared to a young woman named Mary who was engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. Mary was a relative of Elizabeth, and, like Elizabeth, had always tried to obey God.

"Greetings, you who are greatly favored and honored," Gabriel said appearing to Mary. "The Lord is with you, and you are blessed above all women."

Mary was amazed at these words and wondered what they might mean.

"Don't be afraid, Mary," Gabriel comforted. "God loves you and has chosen you for a very special job. You will have a baby and you will call him Jesus. He will be the Son of God and He will rule over all people, and His kingdom will never come to an end."

But this was too much for Mary to grasp. "How can this happen, to me, a virgin who has never been with a man?" she asked.

"By the power of God's Spirit," the angel explained. "You will have a Son who will be the Child of God. In spite of her old age, your relative, Elizabeth, will also have a son and she is now six months pregnant. With God all things are possible."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of God. Let it happen to me according to your word."

After Gabriel left, Mary hurriedly prepared to go visit Elizabeth. As soon as Mary stepped into the house of Zacharias and Elizabeth the baby that was growing inside of Elizabeth leaped for joy.

Elizabeth became filled with God's Holy Spirit. Realizing that her young relative had been selected to give birth to a very special person, the Son of God, she greeted her accordingly, "Blessed are you above all women and blessed is the fruit of your womb," she declared. "As soon as you spoke the baby in my womb jumped in gladness. Happy is she who believes, because the things that were told us by God will take place!"

Mary and Elizabeth talked about how merciful God was to them, and how glad they were that they were being allowed to help in His plan. They believed that God was able to perform great miracles and that He would always take care of those who remained faithful to Him.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth and Zacharias for three months until their baby was born, and then returned to her home.

Elizabeth had a son just as the angel of God had said. When her neighbors and cousins heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child and give him his name. Everyone assumed they were going to call him Zacharias after his father. But his mother said, "No, he shall be called John."

They said to her, "None of your relatives are called by that name." And they made signs to his father, what he would name him.

When Zacharias asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." they were all amazed. Zacharias was then able to speak again, and praised God.

Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel. He has come among His people and redeemed them. He has brought the power of salvation to those of us who are of the house of his servant David. As He spoke through His holy prophets since the world began, that we will be saved from our enemies, and all who hate us. That He would show mercy to us as He promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham.

"That he would grant to us deliverance from the clutches of our enemies and that we might serve him without fear of persecution, in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest. For you will go before the Lord, the Messiah, to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people through the forgiving of their sins. Because of God's tender mercy the Light from heaven has come to us, to give light to all who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. This Light will guide our feet into the way of peace."

And the child John grew in body, and grew strong in the Spirit, and when he was grown he lived in the wilderness areas until he began his ministry at the age of thirty.

Read the Life of Christ Part Two - The Birth of the Savior

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