Lesson Eight Zacharias and the Angel

Lesson Eight: Zecharias and the Angel Gabriel

8.1 In the hill country of Judea there was a certain priest who had been praying. Little did he realize his prayers were about to be answered in a most dramatic way.

image copyright, Marjorie Nordwall

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord"

And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."

And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people." Luke 1:5-25

8.2 Zacharias had been praying for a child. Elizabeth was barren, and in those days it was a reproach to be barren. This old couple, well past child bearing years, wanted a child. No doubt they had been praying a long time. They never gave up. They asked for the impossible. Then came the day when their prayers were answered. God himself would give them son, and not only a son, but the forerunner of the Messiah!

8.3 Joy and rejoicing came to their household. If John was to be the forerunner of the Messiah, then the Messiah himself would be coming soon! The wonder and the amazement of it all filled them with gladness. In this state of mind Elizabeth hid herself five months, and then something yet more wonderful happened. Elizabeth received a visitor from the north. Her relative, Mary, came down from Nazareth.... but that is lesson 10.

Discussion Question: What was Zacharias praying for? How does God answer prayer? What did the angel say to Zacharias about his prayers?

Memory verse: Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Psalm 1:1