Faith Like A Mustard Seed

Luke, the doctor, and author of one of the gospels, goes back further than any of the other gospel authors to give Theophilus, and us, a certain account of what has been taught. It’s about one year before the first Christmas, Herod is king, and the priests are worshiping at the temple of the Lord. Only one priest was allowed to go inside and burn the incense, while the other worshipers prayed outside.

Luke tells us that Zechariah, one of the priests in the division of Abijah, and his wife Elizabeth were upright before God, and that they observed His commandments blamelessly. It’s always great to see people doing that. Anyway, Luke also tells us that Zechariah was the priest that was chosen to go into the inner part of the temple and burn the incense before God.

While Zechariah was standing inside, the angel Gabriel appeared before him to the right of the altar. Zechariah stood in fear while Gabriel delivered this message from the Lord: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:13-17)

When Zechariah heard this message he doubted. He wanted more proof because not only were he and his wife old in years, but Elizabeth was also barren so they had no children. Notice though that Gabriel told Zechariah that his prayer had been heard. Either Zechariah was praying for this, or he had been praying for it at some time. Not only that, but an angel appears to him in the most holy place of the temple where only one priest was supposed to go, and he still doubted. Gabriel was delivering some pretty great news here, and Zechariah flat out second guessed it.

Well, after Zechariah’s response Gabriel counters with this: “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 proper time.” (Luke 1:19-20)

Zechariah prayed for it, he came face to face with the messenger, but he still did not believe. Gabriel was like; “Do you know who I am? I’m Gabriel! What do you think I do all day? This is what I do, I stand in the presence of God and I personally deliver His messages. Now because of your unbelief you won’t be speaking any more until what I just told you actually happens.”

The worshipers outside the temple wondered why Zechariah was taking so long in the temple, and when he finally came out all he could do was wave his arms around in the air because he could not speak to them. They figured out that he had seen a vision in the temple but Zechariah remained speechless.

About 5 months later Elizabeth was in her fifth month. She had indeed become pregnant just as the angel Gabriel spoke. Elizabeth said, “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown His favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” (Luke 1:25) Back then, women who couldn’t bear children were valued less, but Elizabeth was about to be the mother of John the Baptist. Just like the angel Gabriel said, he would prepare the way for the Lord, he would open up the hearts of His people to repentance and grace.

A great thing was happening in Israel. The time of the Messiah was drawing closer, and prophecies were coming to pass, but an even greater thing was about to happen…

Dave Earley
Bible Study Forum
Faith Like A Mustard Seed