In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 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.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “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.” ~Luke 1:5-25 (NIV)

I’ve often blazed through this story, content with the conclusion that muting Zechariah was God’s version of a ‘timeout’ for his lack of faith. Anyone else with me?

When Gabriel appears, Zechariah was in the middle of burning incense in the temple, praying for God’s people. It seems there would be no better time or place to expect to hear from God than mid-prayer at the temple. Zechariah, a priest, then asks God’s messenger for proof about how the creator of the universe could possibly fulfill this answer to prayer. Gabriel, even shares details about this miracle child, which seems generous!

As I press in, I’m challenged to slow down to have compassion for Zechariah’s heart and to identify with his humanity.

Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were regarded as “righteous in God’s eyes, careful to keep God’s commandments” and lived long lives serving God and his people. Gabriel shares that God has heard Zechariah’s prayer - presumably for a child long hoped for, as he and Elizabeth are advanced in age.

I imagine him reciting the same heartfelt prayer for a child, each year letting go of expectation and hope that it would be answered. I wonder if Zechariah eventually numbed himself to the pain of this unanswered prayer. As years pass, tired of feeling this pain, he begins to distance himself emotionally from God in an attempt to guard his wounded heart.

God is love, and “there is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

I now imagine Father God placing his loving hand on Zechariah’s chest. Instead of a punishment, the act of muting him works as a means to get his full attention and address the difficult heart work he had been running from for years. Hands on his shoulders, He wants Zechariah to know he is seen, loved and included in the story of this redemptive love story in motion.

I think the state of Zechariah’s heart mattered to God - child or no child. He loved him too much to not address it. God created space for Zechariah to respond beyond the rote prayers, to go deeper where vulnerability was required and where only God’s love could bring life and light to damaged relationship.

I wonder when and how Zechariah would wrap his head and heart around the fact that his son would play an important role in preparing hearts for the coming Lord. Hope was going to be revived beyond imaginable lengths. God’s Son was coming who would bring life to parched places, to press in WITH us, and make a way THROUGH the pain. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)

Lord,

Help me to see myself as you see me: fearfully and wonderfully made, but with brokenness and areas that need your healing and transformational love. Will you help me trust you, allow you to soften hardened areas of my heart, and revive hope in your promises? Make your way in me, Lord.

Amen.