THE FAITH OF ZECHARIAH
Luke 1:5-25
Dr. Wm. J. Maxwell
First Presbyterian Church, Newport, RI
December 2, 2007
This morning, we are going to start revisiting some of the most familiar stories in the Bible. They are so familiar to us because we read them every year at this time. But this year, I’d like us to take a closer look at the faith of the people found in these stories. As we look at different episodes that are such a part of the Christmas story, we find people at different stages of faith in God.
I call this series: “Assets and Liabilities: Finding Faith in the Christmas Story.” I want us to look more closely at the strengths and weaknesses of the faith of Zechariah, Joseph, Mary and the Shepherds. As we do, may the Holy Spirit guide us toward applying practical lessons to that of our own faith in Christ.
LOOKING AT ZECHARIAH.
As we turn to the person of Zechariah, it is natural of us to expect from him great faith. His name meant “Yahweh remembered.” His wife was a Levite and a natural descendent of Aaron, the first High Priest. Zechariah was also, of course, a Levite, a descendent of Aaron, and thus a priest. In addition, both Zechariah and Elizabeth were outstanding individuals in the community, “observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.”
Zechariah had lived a long life of service to the LORD, as he and Elizabeth “were both well along in years.” He had been chosen by lot to burn incense at the Altar of Incense in the Holy Place in the Temple in Jerusalem. This was a privilege given to a priest only once in his lifetime, and many priests never had the privilege, as it has been estimated that there were around 20,000 priests living at that time.
Then we are told that Zechariah had an encounter with an angel while performing this service. But it wasn’t just any angel; it was Gabriel, one of only two angels in service to the LORD that are named in the Bible. In addition to this, it would be Gabriel who would announce to Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah. But there was another thing about Gabriel … something even more staggering: this angel often stood in the presence of the living God, the Creator of the universe, the One who is Holy, Holy, Holy! Yes, in light of all this, we would expect Zechariah to be a man of great faith. Only it didn’t turn out that way, did it!
The Bible tells us that Gabriel gave good news to Zechariah. Zechariah was told that he and Elizabeth would at last have a child. Now, they had been childless for all those years, and we may assume that he had let go of that prayerful plea for a child some time ago, resigning himself to the facts as they were. But Gabriel told him that he and Elizabeth would have a son, and that they should give their son the name of John – meaning “the LORD is gracious” – that this child would be filled with the Spirit even when in Elizabeth’s womb; and that he would “go on before the Lord,” “to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
That’s when Zechariah responded in such a way as to reveal to Gabriel the weakness of his faith. But … but … “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” At this very moment, Zechariah’s faith was tested and found wanting.
Now, before we get too critical and judgmental of him, his reluctance to believe this message is “natural” to us. Zechariah doubted simply because of the facts of life and the ordinary course of nature and of childbearing. But the problem is that he stopped there and did not go on to the immeasurable greatness of the power of God to do anything God chooses to do.
How great is the contrast between Zechariah and Abraham, who was presumably at an even much older age! And yet as the Bible tells us, “Without weakening in his faith, (Abraham) faced the fact that his body was as good as dead – since he was about a 100 years old – and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” [i]
John Calvin aptly reminds us of the implications of following Zechariah’s example: “We take a narrow and disparaging view of the works of God when we believe that He will do no more than what nature holds out to be probable, as if His hand were limited to our senses or confined to earthly means. But it belongs to faith to believe that more can be done than carnal reason admits.” [ii] Isn’t this so true of us, especially as we live in the Western world?
Yes, we are advancing with technological wonders, one after another. For example, my son had back surgery two weeks ago and had implanted in his lower back a screw and a plate. Last week, in a follow-up visit, he not only saw an x-ray of his back, he took a picture of the x-ray with his cell phone. Then he sent the picture of the x-ray to us on to our home computer. We were able to see what he had seen in the doctor’s office and even more so, what is in his back! What a marvel and a wonder!
And yet, these wonders can all be explained particularly by the technicians behind them. There is planning and intentionality and “humanity” in all of them. But, as to the dimension of our faith in the power of God, do we not so often see God within the narrow confines of puny faith, “… as if His hand were limited to our senses or confined to earthly means”?
BRINGING IT “HOME” TO OUR LIVES.
Now, it’s important to say that Zechariah was not so unbelieving so as to turn aside and away from faith altogether. And this is true of many Christians today, who continue to embrace by faith a gracious God who has promised us so much in the Gospel of Christ. At the same time, there are other promises made to us by God than that found in the Gospel – many special promises: the promise that God will feed us and clothe us; the promise that God will help us in our relationships; the promise that God will vindicate our reputation; the promise that God will transform us into the likeness of our Savior; the promise that He will deliver us from certain dangers and from death itself into the light of eternity.
For each and every one of these promises from God, there is a call to faith, a call to not only believe in God, but to believe God, to trust God, to lean on God. Faith is the answer to each of these particular promises and to the God who makes these promises. So, let me ask you a pointed question this morning: Do you trust in God for the pardon and forgiveness of your sins and for a right relationship with God through Christ and yet nevertheless waver on some other point?
As you look upon your life at this moment as only you can do, are you wavering in your faith in being incessantly concerned about finances, food, clothing, health, relationships or the future? If we dare to be honest, there are areas in all of our lives where we hesitate and falter in our faith and trust. But as we do, let’s not be so concerned that, because we are wavering, our salvation is in jeopardy.
As Calvin said in picture form, one that we who face nor’easters in New England can surely grasp: “Though the branches of faith are agitated by various tempests, it does not give way at the root.” [iii] Nevertheless, we do need to deal decisively with these areas.
In this Advent season, may we find that this is the time to trust God afresh and anew, believing that God desires to be faithful to His promises made to us because He is a faithful Father, but also that He is able to be faithful to His promises, for the reason that He is Almighty God.
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Dear heavenly Father, we thank You this morning that You are fully trustworthy in all that You so graciously promise us in Christ. We thank You for the Good News of the Gospel, that in Jesus Christ we are redeemed, embraced, beloved, accepted and adopted. If there is anyone here this morning who has not entered into such a relationship with You by trusting in Jesus Christ – in His perfect life of obedience, His sacrificial death, and His triumphant resurrection – may Your Holy Spirit lead the way, that grace may be revealed, faith may be exercised, and new life begun.
But for those of us who have already been on this journey of faith with You, we must confess to the times of wavering in our belief toward Your many promises. We are told by others to “face the facts” and “what is, is.” Furthermore, we know people in our families, workplaces and neighborhoods who have made us promises which have never been fulfilled, becoming “empty promises” to us. And so, we hesitate in our faith towards You.
But You alone are “the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.” You alone are the One who can make promises with absolute truth and perfect integrity. You alone are the One who is able to fulfill each and every one of these promises with the greatness of Your immeasurable power. And You alone are the One who desires to fulfill Your promises made to Your adopted daughters and sons with a love that reaches as high as the heavens that are above the earth.
And so, in this quiet moment before You, in a time of silent prayer, hear us gracious Father in what we now bring to You; hear us as to where and when we have wavered and hesitated in our trust of You; hear us as Your children bring before You the needs that we have, the burdens that we bear, the sorrows that we share, but also the faith we seek to express, afresh and anew ...
Thank You, our gracious God, that You are able to be true to the promises You have made to us because You are Almighty God, and that You desire to be faithful to us, for You are the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our heavenly Father as well. Alleluia! We pray this in the name of Christ, for His sake, and for ours; Amen.