FROM REPROACH TO RECOGNITION

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men – Luke 1: 25

Zechariah and Elizabeth were a somewhat obscure couple, Whom God’s grace and mercy elevated into eternal eminence and distinction to become the parents to John the Baptist – the Saviour’s Fore-runner! Christmas can be your season of phenomenal transformation, from reproach to recognition, from anonymity and obscurity to significance.

Zechariah, which literally means “whom God remembered,” was a Jewish village priest. His wife Elizabeth, which means “God is my oath,” came from a priestly family whose lineage traced all the way back to Aaron, the brother of Moses. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were devout and trustworthy in the observance of the Old Testament Law. These faithful followers of Jehovah however had a heart-rending problem. They had no children despite having become quite elderly. They had prayed for a child for decades. That child had never come. This condition had brought them much agony and pain, yet it did not detract them from their consistent service and ministry to God.

The twenty-four families of the sons of Aaron were responsible in rotation for service in the temple at Jerusalem. Zechariah travelled from his village, not too far from Jerusalem, to take his turn serving as a priest. On this particu¬lar occasion, it was his turn to serve in front of the Most Holy Place. Zechariah had the great privilege of entering the sanctuary to burn incense while the congregation remained outside in prayer. Then the strangest thing happened. The joyful message of Heaven invaded upon the long-drawn misery on the earth. The Angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. Zechariah was startled. Fear gripped him. The angel delivered the long-awaited answer to their prayers for a child (Luke 1:13-17). Zechariah was transfixed and stunned, asking the angel for a sign.

In response to his unbelief, Gabriel gave him a sign, declaring that Zechariah would be silent and not be able to speak until this prophesy concerning the birth of John the Baptist, would be fulfilled. The people outside couldn’t figure out why Zechariah was spending so much time in the temple. When he finally emerged, he could not speak to them. He tried to communicate with sign language. It didn't work.

Dumb or not, God’s promise found performance, the reproach of barrenness was rolled away and the story of an obscure priest and wife was eternally etched into the Holy Writs. That’s the stuff that happens at Christmas. God is not finished with you yet. Yours could be the next testimony of triumph – if you believe!