Once upon a time there was a man named Zacharias. He was already old and served God as a priest. His wife’s name was Elisabeth. She was already old. The two were very sweet and often prayed to God. But one thing made them sad: they had no children. They would have loved to have a baby, but one had never come.
One day, Zacharias went to the great temple to work for God. It was quiet and beautiful. Suddenly— BOOM!— an angel stood before him! Zacharias was frightened and his heart was beating very hard. But the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elisabeth will have a son. You shall call him John. He will have a great commission from God.”
Zacharias could hardly believe it. “But we’re already so old! How can that work?” he asked the angel. The angel looked grave and said: “I’m Gabriel. God sent me to bring you this good news. Because you doubted, you won’t be able to speak until the child is born.” And then suddenly it was very quiet. Zacharias could not say another word!
When he came out of the temple, many people were waiting. They saw his amazed face and knew that something special had happened. Zacharias tried to speak, but it didn’t work! He could only make signs with his hands.
At home, he told Elisabeth with hand gestures what the angel had said. And you know what? Soon Elisabeth really got pregnant! She was so happy and said , “God is so good! He blessed me!”
After many months, a little baby was born – a sweet little boy. All the neighbors and relatives came to see the miracle. Elizabeth said: “His name shall be John!” People were surprised, because no one in her family was called that. But then Zacharias wrote the name “John” on a tablet—just as the angel had said. And suddenly he could speak again! He praised God loudly: “God is so good! It always keeps its promises!”
And you know what? This baby, Johannes, later became a very special man. He told the people about Jesus, the Savior, who was soon to come.
What we can learn from history:
God hears our prayers. Sometimes we have to wait, but God never forgets us!
Bible passage
The story of Zacharias and Elizabeth: The birth of John is found in Luke 1:5-25:
Luke 1:5-25 (Schlachter 2000):
*”In the days of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zacharias of the division of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, and walked blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were of advanced age.
And it came to pass, when he was ministering to his priestly division before God, that according to the custom of the priesthood, he fell by lot to offer the incense offering when he entered the temple of the Lord. And all the crowd of the people prayed outside at the hour of the incense offering. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right hand of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was terrified, and fear came over him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias.” For your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And he will give you joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel he will bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and to lead the disobedient to the mind of the righteous, to prepare a prepared people for the Lord.
And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this?” For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in her days. And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God; and I have been sent to speak to you and to declare this good news to you. And behold, you will be dumb and will not be able to speak until the day when these things will take place, because you have not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in due time.
And the people waited for Zacharias and wondered why he stayed so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they knew that he had had an apparition in the temple; and he waved to them and remained silent. And it came to pass, when the days of his ministry were finished, that he went home to his house. After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and hid herself for five months, saying, “This is what the Lord did to me in the days when he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.” *
