Zacharia's Doubt & Mary's Faith!
Luke 1:11-20
Luke 1:11-20, Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
Luke 1:26-38, Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
We have one side stressful during the Christmas.
- Shopping,
- Gifts,
- Food,
- Weight,
- Etc.,
Parents struggle for the children’s gifts. Not showing partiality. Discipline varies among the kids. Jesus birth story starts at Bethlehem. God starts with a woman who finished her mensural cycle. God is going to start with Mary so she needs to know what God can do with impossible.
Gabriel visits Zacharias. Name of the child will be John, and he will be great.
Zacharias asks how? He closes his mouth for 6 months. 1. Church is a living proof. Same Gabriel visits Mary after 6 months.
Mary responds asking how? Gabriel explains the Mary how God will do it! Zacharias and Mary ask the same question. God creates an encouraging environment for Mary. Mary needs a living proof when she visits Elizabeth. Mary needs to know how virgin get pregnant.
There are Zacharias in every church. Always negative, critical, complaining, murmuring.
Are you sitting next to Zacharias? 2. Gods’ answers depend upon your action.
When Gabriel announces the birth of John he visits Zacharias. Whereas the announcement of Jesus birth the angel Gabriel shows up to Mary not to Joseph.
Why?
Is there a gender inequality? If Garbiel visited Zacharias, then he also should have announced Jospeh. Gabriel asks Mary to visit her cousin Elizabeth for six months and when she comes back, she is pregnant. Gabriel didn’t tell Jospeh.
Matthew 1:18, Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Think for a moment. Jesus’ birth was immaculate conception. John birth was not immaculate one. For Jesus birth Jospeh has nothing to do. For John birth Zacharias needs to act upon the word of God. You may be praying for something, and God gives you a word but there are times you need to act upon that word.
There is a time to pray There is a time to Act on the word. God’s answers to prayers depends upon your action. Moses-Red Sea. Joshua- Walls of Jericho Lame man- Pool of Bethesda. Lazarus- Move the stone away
Joshua 7:10, So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Stop being on your knees start walking.
God wants to promote you, but you need to go to work and be faithful in your work.
God wants to give you good health, but you need to take care of your diet. 3. Praising God for the signs. Gebriel shows up and tells Zacharias that your prayers have been answered. Gabriel tells Mary that God chose you. Mary isn’t praying for her to be pregnant!
Zacharias was told that your wife is going to have a baby. But the answer is not instant. Childbearing is a progressive one. Gestation period of 9 months. Some are waiting to praise God only when they can see the full answer. They can’t handle the progressive answers.
Zacharias could praise God only when John was born. You don’t need a full miracle, but a sign is enough to thank God. There is a progress in your relationship, health or work or somethings. Will you be able to thank God for the signs in your life?
Conclusion
Resume
Zacharias is old man. Mary is a teenage girl. As you grow older your experience with God becomes bigger and bigger. How God has been so good to you in, Protecting you, Providing for you, Saving you enemy, Looking after your family, Looking after everyday needs, Does your resume is bigger and bigger?
Do you thank God enough for the resume?