The Annunciation Concerning the Birth of John the BaptistIN OUR STUDY last month we investigated the prologue of Luke, touching only lightly upon the various points which are mentioned there -- because of a lack of space and time. But a thorough investigation of Luke's statement gives us much light upon the human side of the inspiration of the Scriptures.
In the present study, which covers 1:5-25, we shall investigate what is said concerning the annunciation regarding the birth of John the Baptist, the great herald who proclaimed the coming of the Messiah.
Zacharias and Elisabeth
Luke usually ties up, or dates, various incidences, whenever possible, with the political history of the times. In verse 5 is the first occurrence of this custom. He calls our attention to the fact that there was a certain priest by the name of Zacharias in the days of Herod, king of Judea. This Herod was none other than Herod the Great, the monster of wickedness, who was part Jewish and part Idumaean. A more reprobate ruler never exercised authority in Judea than this Herod. It was by his political maneuvering and underhanded methods that he was, by the Roman Senate, appointed king of Judea. Zacharias, we are told, was of the course of Abijah. David, before his death, made all arrangements possible for the construction of the Temple and the order of the services. He therefore divided the priests into twenty-four courses, who served at the Temple service in their turn. Thus each of these courses participated in their duties for only two weeks during the year -- one week during each six-month period. Zacharias belonged to the course of Abijah. For the historical data concerning these courses see I Chronicles, chapter 24.
Zacharias married one of the daughters of Aaron, whose name was Elisabeth. Concerning them Luke informs us that they both were "righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless" (1:6). A higher tribute and commendation of people could not be given by an inspired writer. This is especially significant when we realize that Luke, the inspired writer, spoke in such high terms in regard to them. They were both righteous in that they were living upright, honorable, straight-forward lives. The word, righteous, is derived from the term "right," which means "that which is correct." Evidently these two people did that which was proper and right, both in the eyes of God and men. They were like many of the Old Testament saints who "practiced the presence of God." They realized that the all-seeing eye of God was always upon them. They desired to please Him alone. Thus they were surrendered to do the will of God under all circumstances.
Being of this mind and loving Him with all their hearts, they walked "in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." They were very scrupulous in observing punctiliously all the statutes and ordinances of the law of Moses. It is evident that they did not simply walk in these ordinances from the legalistic point of view. Realizing that those statutes and ordinances were given by the Lord for a definite, specific purpose, and wanting to do His will regardless of all circumstances, they were very punctilious to observe all the ordinances of the Lord. Oh, that all of the people of God today would look at the ordinances that the Lord has given us and would follow these, not only in the letter, but also in the spirit of such commandments and ordinances. Though the Lord has reduced His commandments, statutes, and ordinances to the church down to the minimum, it should be the meat and drink of those who wish to please Him to follow both the letter and the spirit of such ordinances.
Zacharias and Elisabeth walked in these ordinances blamelessly. In the New Testament we are told that we can live on the same high level as did these two saints of God. In Romans 12:1,2 the Apostle Paul urged Christians not to be conformed to the things of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds that they might prove "what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Paul urged the church at Philippi to "do all things without murmurings and questionings; that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and a perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world ... (Phil. 2:14,15). Peter urged his brethren to supply in their faith the Christian graces and to "give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble (II Peter 1:9,10). Only in the power which Christ gives to those who love and trust Him can they live the victorious life.
In Luke 1:7 we are told that Zacharias and Elisabeth had no children, "because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years." These holy, godly people, being normal individuals, doubtless longed for children, but had been denied the joy and pleasure of a family. Oh that all couples would yield to the normal desire for a home! Children have a sanctifying and an excellent influence upon the parents.
The Annunciation Regarding the Birth of John
According to tradition which is current in the State of Israel, Zacharias and Elisabeth lived in Ain Keren, which is a small village about five miles northwest of Jerusalem. It is presumable that they remained at home the greater part of the year. Of course, there were certain duties and functions which Zacharias had to perform, being of the priestly family. But only at the time of his officiating at the Temple would he go to Jerusalem and spend the time there in order to perform the functions of the priestly office.
His lot was "to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense" (vs. 9). God providentially overruled all things for the carrying forward of His plans and purposes through Zacharias, just as He does in the case of all His children, regardless of age or circumstances.
When Israel entered the land of Canaan, God announced that He would choose a place in their inheritance where He would place His name. It was to this place that Israel should go at stated intervals and feasts to worship the Lord. To this place they also were to bring their tithes and offerings (Deut.. chap. 12). Finally, in the days of David, the Lord chose Jerusalem as the place where He would place His name and where the Temple should be erected. This was constructed by Solomon. At the dedication of this Temple, the glory of the Lord descended from heaven and filled the house. It remained in the form of the Shekinah of glory while the first Temple stood, which was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon when he overthrew the nation and took the flower of the people into the land of Babylon, into captivity. In the days of Zerubbabel--after the expiration of the seventy years of Babylonian Exile--the Second Temple was built by Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. According to Jewish tradition the ark of the covenant was missing from the Second Temple; likewise, the Shekinah glory never returned. Notwithstanding these facts, God called the Second Temple "the Temple of the Lord." Christ spoke of it as belonging to God and as being His house of prayer for all the nations. It was finally destroyed by the Romans under Titus in A.D. 70. But the Jews in the end time will rebuild it, according to the prediction found in Isaiah 66:1-4. But this temple will be destroyed, during the Tribulation, as we see in Psalm 74. When, however, our Lord returns at the end of the Tribulation to establish His reign of righteousness over the earth, He will rebuild this temple, which will indeed and in truth be the house of prayer for all nations.
While Zacharias was ministering in his office at the Temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and brought him the welcome message that he should become the proud father of a child of promise, who would herald the advent of the Messiah.
While Zacharias was within the holy place burning incense at the golden altar which was immediately in front of the second veil, an angel of the Lord appeared, standing on the right of the altar of incense. Since the Temple faced eastward, Zacharias, upon entering the holy place, was moving westward. Upon entering the sacred enclosure, he saw in front of him, immediately before the second veil, the altar of incense. To his right was the table upon which the showbread was placed; to his left stood the candlestick. Since this angel of the Lord was on the right of the altar, it is evident that he was on the north side of it. Some have concluded that there was no real appearance of the angel to Zacharias, but that he worked himself up into a strong emotional state and imagined that the angel appeared to him. This critical theory is disproved by the fact that Zacharias doubted the promise made to him concerning the birth of John and was punished by the loss of speech until the birth of the child.
It is fitting and proper that the silence of four hundred years, which exists between the closing of the Old Testament and the opening of the New, should be broken by such a supernatural event as the appearance of the angel who announced the birth of John to Zacharias. Although the angels of the Lord that are ministers for the sake of those who shall inherit salvation camp round about those who know God and love Him, as we see in II Kings, chapter 6, and in Psalm 34, those around whom they are encamping must have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to sense and recognize the presence of these heavenly beings. Everything was propitious for the purpose of bringing Zacharias to the point that he could recognize the presence of the angel. The place was holy where Zacharias was. The surroundings were of such a nature as to draw his mind and heart close to God. By his earnest petitions he was brought into closer communion and fellowship with God. Thus his spiritual eyes were opened and he recognized the presence of this heavenly messenger.
As one thinks of the appearance of Gabriel on this occasion, his mind naturally goes back to the historical records in the Old Testament which tell of the coming of various angelic beings to communicate the will of God to certain of the Old Testament worthies. As it was in the case of all others, thus it was with Zacharias--he was greatly troubled at the presence of the celestial visitor.
The message which Gabriel brought to Zacharias was indeed most interesting and informative. In the first place, Gabriel attempted to allay the fears of Zacharias, telling him: "Stop fearing." The reason for his doing this is found in these words: "...because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear a son, and thou shalt call his name John." Zacharias' prayer had been heard--heard in that Gabriel announced to him that God had answered it. Some think that the thing for which Zacharias prayed was the coming of Messiah and the introduction of the Kingdom Age upon earth. But there can be little doubt that there can be truth in this portion. But it is more highly probable that Zacharias had been praying for a son, who might bring joy to the hearts of the parents, and who might be used of God in advancing the divine purposes among men. God had answered the longings of Abraham and Sarah by giving them a child in their old age. He was none the less powerful, in the eyes of Zacharias, to grant him a son in his old age. Being normal and natural individuals, both Zacharias and Elisabeth longed for their home to be blessed with a little child. Moreover, they wanted the reproach that was heaped upon a childless couple in Israel to be removed. These considerations point in the direction that their prayer was for offspring.
The birth of John, said Gabriel, would bring great gladness and joy to the parents--especially so since he would be great in the sight of the Lord. He would be a Nazarite (Num. 6:1-21) from childhood and would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from birth.
According to Luke 1:16,17 John would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, for he would go before the face of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. These verses are an echo of Malachi 4:5,6. From this prophecy it is clear that Elijah the prophet, who lived in the days of Ahab, king of Israel, is meant. A glance at this shows that Elijah the prophet is scheduled to appear in Israel immediately before the great and terrible day of the Lord, the Tribulation, in order to restore the broken, destroyed relationship in the families of Israel. The Jews are right in expecting Elijah to come as the forerunner of the Messiah and to announce His appearance.
But let us note carefully that the angel Gabriel did not say that John, who was later called John the Baptist, was the fulfillment of Malachi's prediction. Gabriel is careful to let us know that John would not be the fulfillment of the prediction; for he states that John "shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah." This language would never be used if the prediction were to be understood that Elijah was the one prophesied of. Thus it is clear that John should be an Elijah, someone who would remind people of Elijah, both in his spirit and in his power.
When John began his ministry, the Jerusalem authorities sent a delegation to inquire concerning him and his activities. One of the questions which they put to him immediately was this: "Are you the Messiah?" He immediately denied such honors. Then they asked him: "Are you Elijah?" His reply was a most emphatic denial. Thus we can see that John was not the literal Elijah of whom Malachi spoke as coming before the great and terrible day of the Lord. At the transfiguration (Matt., chap. 17), the disciples asked the Lord why the Pharisees claimed that Elijah must first come. In substance Jesus said that the Pharisees were correct in their position relative to Elijah: "Elijah indeed cometh and shall restore all things." John the Baptist had been dead for something like twelve to eighteen months. Nevertheless Jesus said that Elijah had come and that the Jerusalem authorities had done to him whatsoever they would. Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist, though He did speak of him as Elijah. From this it is clear that John was simply an Elijah, not the Elijah of prophetic prediction. Elijah will yet come at the appointed time -- before the great and terrible day of the Lord -- as Malachi said and will accomplish the work foretold by Malachi.
In verses 18-20 Zacharias asked the angel how it was that he should know that the prophecy would be fulfilled. This was more or less an expression of doubt. In his reply the angel stated that he was Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and that he was sent to bring the good tidings of the birth of John to Zacharias. Since, however, Zacharias doubted the correctness of the message, God punished him by making him silent and not allowing him to speak until the very day that the prophecy was fulfilled. While Zacharias was in the Temple performing his priestly functions, the people without in the courts were waiting expectantly for his return and marveled that he tarried so long. Upon his returning to the masses, they perceived that he was unable to speak. They therefore came to the conclusion that he had seen a vision in the Temple. He continued his ministrations at the Temple until he had fulfilled the number of days by divine appointment. When he had accomplished his ministrations, he returned to his home.
Elisabeth Acquiescent to the Will of God
"And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, 25 Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men" (Luke 1:24,25). Elisabeth conceived and hid herself for five months. Then she gave expression to these words: "Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men." She was perfectly resigned to accept anything that the Lord might grant to her. It was her meat and her drink, to do the will of God. There is no other attitude than that, which any reasonable person can take. If any man will do the will of God he shall know of the teaching which Jesus gave--whether it was from Him alone as a man or from God.
May the Lord enable us to be honest and straightforward and may He give us a desire to do the will of God. If we seek to do His will, we will endeavor to ascertain what is His exact will for us. 0 God, grant us hearts fully surrendered to do Thy will! is my prayer.
