It is obvious in this
passage that Luke did his homework concerning the religious history
and traditions of the Jews. Luke had quite an understanding of the
Aaronic priesthood. He made note of couple of significant facts;
there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of
Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of
Aaron, and
her name was Elizabeth.
Luke
1:5 ESV See
Chronicles 24:1-10 and Exodus 6:23-25. The average Greek would not
have known the genealogical history and significance of Zechariah
and Elizabeth. But Luke took the time to research it and present it
in his account.
Luke
also makes the point that they were
both righteous before God. He
also points out that Elizabeth
was unable to have children and that she and Zechariah were elderly.
Luke then lets us know that it was during Zechariah's service to God,
that God sent an angel with some incredible news. (Verses 8-13) They
were going to have a son! In verses 14-17 the angel explains that
there are great things that will come from the birth of this son.
Even
though an angel of God stands before him making this proclamation,
Zechariah doubts. He basically says to the angel; we are old, how
could this happen? The angel Gabriel responds to his doubt by making
him mute until the prophecy was fulfilled.
Luke
then tells us in verses 24 and 25 that just as the angel said would
happen, Elizabeth did become pregnant. But, she kept it quiet for
five months.
As
we look back over these verses we can see that God used His system of
the priesthood and ancestral lines to bring about His will. To bring
forth the prophet that would prepare the people for their long
awaited Messiah.
Luke
wants his readers to understand that God had been planning for the
birth of Jesus all the way back when he established the Aaronic
priesthood in the wilderness wanderings of the exodus. Isn't it
interesting that God uses a non-Jew to point this out?
Tomorrow
we look at the foretelling of the birth of Jesus. Luke 1:26-38
©
2012 Leo J. Woodman
