Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I trust what you have told me? I’m an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the presence of God. It was He who sent me to bring you this good news! But, since you did not believe my words, you will be mute and silent until my words have been fulfilled.” …Elizabeth said, “Oh, how kind the Lord is! He looked at me and He has taken away my disgrace.”

In the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke we find the story of Zachariah the Priest. We aren’t told much about Zachariah, other than he came from the priestly lineage of Aaron, he held both social and religious prestige, and he and his wife were unable to have children.

The priests who served in the temple were split into separate groups. Each group took turns serving their duties. Through the casting of lots, Zachariah’s group choose him to be the one to enter the sanctuary to offer the prayers of the people. It was no accident or coincidence that Zachariah was chosen to enter the sanctuary. The casting of lots was seen as a way of circumventing human interference in the process of decision making. Therefore, the result of the lot was considered God’s decision.

As we read the story, we begin to get a sense that God is preparing to do something amazing. He was not just choosing Zachariah to fulfill the very sacred honor of lifting the people’s prayers before the throne; God is also choosing Zachariah to be the father of the one who would prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry. 

Zachariah enters the temple to offer the people’s prayers through the burning of incense. The imagery paints a portrait of our prayers being delicately wrapped in a pleasing aroma, traveling through the heavens, arriving at their destination before the throne of God. The story continues with the appearance of the Angel Gabriel, who is standing at the right side of the altar of incense. The imagery associated with standing at the right of the altar is of a picture of divine position or authority. Gabriel is asserting his positional authority when he tells Zachariah, “I stand in the presence of God.” It symbolizes the convergence of heaven and earth. The altar of incense is standing in the earthly place, while God’s throne is standing in the heavenly place. As Gabriel speaks to Zachariah, he is both simultaneously standing to the right of God in heaven and on earth.  

Gabriel speaks to Zachariah, “Do not be afraid, for God has heard your prayers.” These words carry immense significance. God has heard Zachariah’s prayers because God is present with him. This story so beautifully illustrates the scriptural truth that we do not worship a God who is far off. Rather, He is a God who is actively present and near to His people. Through our prayers, He is constantly converging heaven and earth together. Our prayers do not travel far before they are heard. For we, like Gabriel, stand in the presence of God.

Gabriel shares with Zachariah that he and Elizabeth have been chosen to be the parents of the one who will prepare the way for the Messiah’s ministry. He tells them their son is to be named John, which means God is gracious. This is obviously not your ordinary baby announcement. Likewise, it is not just an announcement of God’s grace to fulfill the heartbroken dreams of a childless couple. It is so much bigger than that.  It is the announcement of God’s grace and kindness to all His people. The Savior is about to be born. God is giving John a special ministry, one of hope, to prepare the hearts of His people for the redemptive work He is about to do through Jesus.   

However, Zachariah seems too deaf to realize what Gabriel is telling him. He is stuck on the phrase, “You’re going to be parents!” Unlike Mary, whose response to the news that she is going to be the mother of the Savior of the world is one of reverence and belief, Zachariah’s response illustrates doubt. “How can I trust what you have told me?” he asks Gabriel. His response is a perfect example of what happens when we focus on the wrong thing. His focus is so locked on what he saw as his detriment – his age – that he is about to miss the entire miracle. What are you looking at? What is your detriment? Are you so focused on your difficulties, your failures, your circumstances, that you are missing the bigger and greater thing God wants to accomplish in and through you? Not only is Zachariah completely missing the blessing of what God is promising, but he is also failing to believe the miracle that he is standing in God’s presence and hearing God’s promises answered.  

There is another striking contrast in the story. There is the contrast between how Zachariah responds to Gabriel’s message versus how his wife Elizabeth responds. While Zachariah’s response to God’s promise is one of disbelief, Elizabeth’s is one of genuine faith and gratitude. Elizabeth replies, “Oh, how kind the Lord is! He looked at me and He has taken away my disgrace.” Just as the name of their future son John suggests, God is showing considerable favor upon Elizabeth by giving her a child. Culturally, at that time, to not be able to bear children was a source of shame for a woman. It was humiliating and would have caused Elizabeth much distress, both emotionally and publicly. What would have happened if Elizabeth’s response was like Zachariah’s response? She does not get stuck on her detriment. Her focus is on the right thing. Elizabeth’s heart is open to receive God’s blessing.

The thing I find most beautiful about Elizabeth’s response is how it recognizes and foreshadows the very work which Jesus came to accomplish. Jesus came to redeem – to take upon Himself that which was our own disgrace. The greatest exchange ever accomplished was completed on the cross, where Jesus willingly places upon Himself all our unrighteousness, while at the same time, placing upon us all His righteousness. God looks intently on each of us, not just a casual glace over, but a deep look of intimate knowing, and He sees us. He hears our hearts. He draws near to us. In His kindness, He removes our disgraces – every ugly thing we have done in the dark – or unfortunate circumstance that’s happened to us – and covers us with blessing, truth, and love. Then he takes the very thing which is our disgrace and uses it for His glory. The barren woman now becomes the mother.  

I find it interesting to see how God places a temporary disgrace upon Zachariah’s response of disbelief. The people are waiting for him to come out of the temple, to let them know God has heard their prayers. However, because God has struck him mute, Zachariah is unable to complete his priestly responsibilities to his people. In contrast, because of Elizabeth’s response of faith, God allows her to minister and to bless the young, pregnant Mary, soon to be the mother of Jesus.

God is not finished with Zachariah, for during his time of disgrace, God creates within Zachariah a humble heart, a heart of praise and faith, one that mirrors Elizabeth’s heart. God eventually restores Zachariah’s voice at the birth of his son John. We should take considerable note that it is out of Zachariah’s obedience to God that his voice is restored. The first thing Zachariah does when his voice is restored is to praise God. So let us all praise the Lord, for He has taken away our disgrace.