At Just the Right Time
Before we get to the birth of our Savior, we first hear about the announcement of the coming of John the Baptist. John has an amazing family legacy. His father, Zechariah, was a priest. At this time there was something like 20,000 priests all vying for a turn to serve in the temple. Which priest was allowed was decided by lot. This means that it is quite possible that some priests never saw the inside of the temple and others, perhaps only once in their lives. Imagine the excitement of Zechariah when he was told he got to perform his priestly duties. Finally able to enter in and take his turn at offering incense, Zechariah is met by Gabriel, a powerful angel of the Lord. We have downgraded angels in our world. We have made them feminine or childlike, given them soft edges and graceful wings. However, we should note that the first thing we often read angels say is, “Do not be afraid.” In fact, John’s father was startled and gripped with fear. There is nothing wimpy about our God.
I love that Luke tells us of one miracle before the ‘big’ miracle of the birth of Jesus. John the Baptist had a truly remarkable start that matched his remarkable, though brief, life. Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, was barren. Though they were both “well along in years”, they had yet to enjoy the gift of parenthood. Here, God not only gives them the miracle of a son, He gives them a truly remarkable son. There is a glimpse of the love of God in this passage that I don’t want us to miss. Verse 14 tells us, “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.” God didn’t just answer their prayer for a son. He did not simply send the forerunner for His Son. He sent a son, with the spirit and power of Elijah, that would also be a joy to his parents.
What a gift it is to serve the Lord. We do not obey a cruel taskmaster. We do not worship a distant Savior and Creator. God desires to walk with His children. Those who accept this invitation are treated as beloved sons and daughters. We read that both Zechariah and Elizabeth were upright in God’s sight. They observed God’s commandments blamelessly. The English Standard Version says they walked blamelessly. Both mean the same, but the second description brings to mind the likes of Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. It shows us there was a work to do. Every choice they made was compared with the will of God. They were not perfect, none of us are. However, they strived to live according to what would please their God. And look at the blessing He poured out over them. They will forever be known as the parents of John the Baptist. On a more personal note, though, they enjoyed blessed lives. They were honored and given a son who would bring them joy, not sorrow.
As we look forward to the birth of our Savior, let’s not forget how God laid everything out in just the right time. John was born exactly when he needed to be. He wasn’t born when it was convenient for his parents, or when they might miss the miraculous message of his birth. He came into the world when the world needed him most. God is not a God of chance or chaos. Everything has a place and an order. Your life entered the world’s stage at the “proper time”. There were no mistakes made with your conception. God has woven together lives throughout the ages to bring about the story He designed at the foundation of the world. There are no blunders or bloopers on God’s timeline. You were planned by your Heavenly Father long before your grandparents ever met. For a time exactly like this, you have been born. God awaited your first cry and will not turn away until it is completed.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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