Advent – Day 12

“Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.’ The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.’” – Luke 1:18-20

Have you ever been the recipient of a gift or a promise so astounding you could scarcely believe it? Perhaps it was perfect provision when you were in desperate need, a miraculous healing, or a gift for which you had been longing. What was your response in that moment? Was it shock, doubt, wonder? When we receive an extravagant gift or the long-awaited answer to a desperate prayer, our reaction is often incredulous. We find ourselves wondering if it’s true. 

Such was Zechariah’s response when Gabriel appeared to him with the news that Elizabeth would have son. He asks—no doubt with some amount of fear and trembling—“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah’s response should resonate with us in an honest, authentic way. It shows his humanity; his fallibility. He trusts God’s faithfulness, but in that moment, he wonders if the news can really be true for him. So he asks for a sign. And Zechariah’s question is less indicative of a lack of his faith and more indicative of the fullness of his humanity.

Could it be? Could his long-awaited answer to a desperate, decades-long prayer finally be coming true? The priest is overwhelmed by the news. It is so much more than he could have fathomed. Not only will he and Elizabeth have a son in their old age—a natural impossibility but a complete possibility with God—but the child will be filled with the Holy Spirit and will “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” The promised child will be part of God’s sovereign plan to bing about the birth of his son and the redemption of the world.

It’s no wonder Zechariah was astounded. It’s no wonder he asked in shock and amazement “How can I be sure?” After years of wondering and waiting, after decades of praying and petitioning for a child for himself and a messiah for his people, God was answering both prayers with one promise. The messiah was coming, and the one predestined to prepare his way was coming forth through Zechariah and his wife. The plan for rescue and redemption was unfolding, and Zechariah was playing a role. 

Zechariah waited for a gift, and when the gift was finally given, it was so much more abundantly extravagant than he could have ever fathomed. And such is the season of Advent. We wait in hope and expectation for the arrival of the babe. Then we creep to the manger and behold the son and discover that the gift given is so much more abundantly extravagant than we could have ever fathomed.

Dear Lord, thank you for the extravagant love of your son that never ceases to overwhelm us. This season, may we find ourselves beside his manger with renewed gratitude and wonder. Open our eyes to the fullness of the gift given and the abundant extravagance of your love poured out on us inside a Bethlehem stable.

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