21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Thank You, Lord, for your mercy upon us, that even when we doubt, You use us for Your purposes in Your kingdom. Amen
Last night I watched an episode of The Chosen in which Mary was recounting Jesus’ birth for the disciples who were struggling with this new calling to follow Christ. She said she knew the child is the Son of God, but for a moment she doubted. The babe was “dirty” and she had to clean Him and he was cold and crying. She saw that He needed her. The Son of God needed her. Yesterday in church listening to the agony in the heart of the pastor from Sanctuary of Hope, I experienced the deep crying of the Spirit over the Harvest that is now ready to be cleaned and clothed and nurtured. The Spirit needs us to save this…
Elizabeth sat quietly waiting, and rejoicing she had conceived. What was to come was far larger in God’s plan. This child to be born was the herald of what had been prophesied for centuries. Meditate on John who I consider to be among the humblest of men, announcing his ministry was done when Jesus appeared.
There were so many verses that described Zechariah's interaction with Gabriel, his uncertainties/doubts, and the consequences for his unbelief. By the time the dust has settled, Zechariah's words have bee reproved and he won't be allowed to utter a word again for about a year. And yet in one simple verse (v.24), "After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant." We can wrestle with faith and doubt so strongly sometimes, but ultimately it's pretty simple: "What's impossible for man is possible with God."