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 glad 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.”
—From Luke 1:1–25 (NKJV)

“Zechariah’s question was a challenge: Prove it.
So Gabriel proved it.”

— The Joy of Advent

Reflection

Do you ever pray without really expecting an answer? In your heart you know that sometimes God’s answer is no, but at other times, you expect silence. Have you ever asked for a sign from God? Lord, show me where to attend university—give me a sign. Father in Heaven, is this person the one you want me to marry? Please, a sign. Will I ever see an end to this illness? I need a sign. Have you ever experienced a sign so powerful (or uncomfortable) that you can’t possibly doubt the Messenger? Reflect on prayers that have been answered in your life, even if (especially if!) they were answered in ways you did not expect. Every prayer, however it is answered, is a testament to God’s faithfulness.

Celebrate Together

Gather the family for today’s Celebration in our book, The Joy of Advent. Stand in silent awe of Gabriel’s message with Zechariah, explore the Jesse Tree symbol of a trumpet, discover the history behind today’s carol, and enjoy a family conversation (or private journaling) about surprising answers to prayer.

Today’s Jesse Tree Symbol:
A **trumpet** reminds us of the announcement Elizabeth’s baby will have when he’s grown.

Inspiration

Archangel Gabriel struck Zechariah mute

Alexander Ivanov, 1824. Zechariah about to challenge God’s messenger.

Music

Sing your joy with Joy to the World! [Play Video]

Experience the Joy of John’s announcement with Go Tell It On The Mountain. Jesus Christ is born! [Play Video]

Visit our Joy of Advent YouTube playlist for featured videos, our Ultimate Christmas playlist for all our favorite carols, or our sing-along carols to enjoy karaoke style.

Prayer

O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come, and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.

My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm,
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy
Even as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Resources

What does it mean for prayer to be heard? According to C. S. Lewis, quite a lot.
Enjoy a printable coloring page of Zechariah in the Temple.
Would you like to make Jesse Tree ornaments to accompany your readings? Find tutorials and ideas from simple to advanced at our Jesse Tree Ornaments Pinterest board.

Recent Resources from Joy of Advent