Delighting Many

(The link is here to the audio version of this blog on FAB’s Podcast.)

But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He’ll achieve great stature with God.

“He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.” (Luke 1:13-17)

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While Zach was trying to absorb this shocking entry of the unannounced visitor, he was given some specific instructions. I wonder if any key parts of the narrative are missing, as they don’t contribute to the storyline, but might have been there. For example, I wonder if Zach said things like:

“If you don’t mind, I need to sit down.”

“Did you tell me who you are? I don’t think I caught your name.”

“Do you come here often?”

“Why me?”

None of that. But some very specific points of instruction and description enter into the conversation. The angel tells him,

“Don’t fear, Zachariah.” (By the way, did you notice that the angel called him by his name? Can you think of other Bible stories where this happened? Samuel, for one, comes quickly to mind.)

“Your prayer has been heard.”

“Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you.” (He names his wife, and also removes any thought someone might have that because of their age, this will open the door to another Holy Spirit-activated conception; the angel announces clearly that she “will bear a son by you.”)

The angel tells him that he will name his son, John, and that his son will “achieve great stature with God.”

And in the middle of this list of specifics, the angel describes Zach’s response at the birth of his firstborn: “You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth.”

Rarely have I known the sight of a newborn baby not bringing joy to the observer. “Look how cute! I love that smile! And those cheeks…does he already have a dimple?!” Babies bring joy. (Did I mention: I’m writing this just after my first grandchild was born! My experience with baby joy is fresh. And I’m resisting filling the rest of this page with baby pictures.) We can’t help but smile at the brand new bundle that has exited the warmth of mommy and is now kicking, squirming, drooling, grinning, begging to be held (ok, maybe they really aren’t begging to be held, but they sure do look like it, and why risk it, so let’s pick them up and be the answer to their hopes! Wait, whose hopes?!)

We can predict that Zach and Elizabeth will be overjoyed. We aren’t told their ages, but we know they are old, and I assume that means past the age of child-bearing from the reaction of Zachariah. Elizabeth’s normal biological functions and processes for baby production (and Zach’s!) are now in the rear-view mirror. They thought they were over the hill; but wait, they are over the moon! They prayed and prayed for a child, and subsequently gave up as the clock ran out on the baby game. Nice try, but sorry…In the midst of that the angel says, hold on, it’s going to happen!…your prayer has been heard! (And I happen to know that, as I stand in the presence of God. I’m close to the communications center. He sent me to you. Just saying.) Joy is coming to this old couple! Yippee! Celebrate good times, come on.

An interesting and perhaps overlooked phrase in the story to me is that “many will delight in his birth.” It’s not just the old couple who are going to rejoice. It won’t be their own private review of newborn baby glory. News is going to spread. It can’t be contained. It’s a birth with fireworks. “Did you hear that Elizabeth had a baby!? What! Old Elizabeth? Get out!” This will be a baby delivered into their lives by the supernatural hand of God. This will be a baby with a purpose: “Zachariah and Elizabeth, God has blessed you with a baby in your old age?! There must be a reason for this! Must be a God-inspired purpose for this! That must be some baby. Can’t wait to see what he’s going to be when he grows up!”

The angel told Zachariah several things, including: the baby “will achieve great stature with God…He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb…He’ll get the people ready for God.” And he will do so because “he will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah.”

Zachariah was told these things, but I have to think that little known to the many who delighted in his birth, that this child would in fact be a forerunner, a prophetic voice for the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. That Nazarene, John Baptist’s cousin, was also born in a unique way at about the same time. Their mothers shared a common bond of being pregnant during the same time frame. Mary had just gotten the news from the angel about her impending pregnancy, and “she got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped.” (Luke 1:39-41) The baby in Elizabeth’s womb would forever be linked in life and ministry to Jesus.

The unfolding parts of the Advent birth story extend beyond Bethlehem. And they all add together to delight many.

“Father, thank you for showing yourself strong to Zachariah and Elizabeth. We are part of the many who delight in the news of the birth of John! What a fantastic plan you had, and as always, it’s perfect, even though we often have trouble getting our heads around how it all comes together. We are so grateful for this look into your ways and wisdom, delivered by the angel Gabriel to an unsuspecting worshipper. Please visit one of our friends or family members today who needs to hear from you and see you at work during this Advent season.”