After preaching on the story of the angel’s appearance to Zecharias (Luke 1:5-25), I came across two resources about that story.
The first is Jon Bloom’s contemplation of what the first conversation between Zecharias and Elizabeth might have been when his tongue was finally loosed to speak again. Jon also notes the theme of grace at the end of the dialogue:
Then Elizabeth asked, “Why did the angel make you mute?”
Zechariah sighed. “I’ve been so proud, Liz. I’ve viewed myself as a man who believes God’s word. I’ve lived by his law. I’ve felt some contempt for doubters. I’ve even secretly thought that my faith would be greater than some of our prophets and kings if only God spoke directly to me as he did to them.
“Well, God showed me what I really am. You know what I said to the angel? ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.’ I, who have taught many about Abraham and Sarah, doubted God when he sent an angel to tell me that he’s answering my prayer. Is there a greater fool?
“So the angel said, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.’
“God was very gracious to only take my words. He could have taken my life.”
There were at least two more allusions in this story to the grace of God: the name Elizabeth means, “My God is the one by whom to swear,” or “My God is fortune.” That is, Elizabeth’s name was a reminder that God is a trustworthy and gracious God. And then there was the name this couple was told to give to their son: John means, “God is gracious.”
So when Zacharias married Elizabeth and all through their lives together, every time he uttered her name, he should have been reminded of the grace of God in his life. And every time John’s name was mentioned throughout his life, this small family should likewise have been reminded not only of the time in their lives that they had been extended much grace, but also the truth that always God is gracious.
The second is a YouTube clip from the movie, The Nativity Story. The clip is not accurate in that there is no angel visible in the scene, and Luke made clear that the angel was very visible, but it does capture some of the emotion of the scene. [The section of interest begins around the 2:45 mark and ends around 5:30.]
HT: Justin Taylor.
Words of Grace 