Author: Rob Collins

Day 20- How Can This Be

Mary’s response to the Angel of the Lord was similar to Zacharias’s response in regard to Elizabeth’s pregnancy for John. He said, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And Mary said, “How can this be, since I don’t know a man?” 

In other words, she was wondering how this conception could happen, since she was a virgin.  And Zacharias was wondering how their conception could happen since he and Elizabeth were both old in age, and past their child bearing years.

Now there are many ideas surrounding these two stories and there similar responses from Zacharias and Mary. Many believe that Zacharias asked in doubt and disbelief, while Mary asked in awe and reverence. However, they both asked a question and they both gave a reason for their individual scenarios not being able to happen. 

Regardless of what you believe or don’t believe, their responses were similar in this regard—they both asked a question and both of their questions included the reasons why they had asked the question in the first place. Zacharias said, we are old and Mary said, I’ve never been with a man! These are the reasons that they couldn’t see it happening—Elizabeth was old and Mary was a virgin.

Nevertheless, the angel of the Lord goes on tell Mary how the miraculous conception would happen. Gabriel tells Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her, and what would be conceived in her would be called the Son of God. 

Jesus would be the son of man and He would also be the Son of God. He would be one-hundred percent man, but He would also be one-hundred percent God. He would be born in and through the flesh, but He would also be born from and of the Spirit. 

Gabriel goes on to tell Mary about her relative Elizabeth’s pregnancy. He says that she has conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren to be pregnant. Gabriel was letting Mary know that Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age, but he was also building her faith in regard to her miraculous conception. And the very next verse says, “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

He was saying that Elizabeth was old and called “barren”, but now she has been pregnant for six months. And although Luke didn’t write it down quite like this—I believe that Gabriel was saying, “If God can God can awaken the womb of an aged woman, then the Holy Spirit can give you, Mary, a miraculous and divine conception.”

It was all God, and it was His providential promises that were aligning these two conceptions to take place now, at the same time. One was a divine intervention by the hand of God for Elizabeth, and one was a miraculous conception from the Holy Spirit coming upon Mary, and the power of the Almighty overshadowing her. And now, John and Jesus would be born in the same proximity of time to reveal God to us.

Take Away: Mary couldn’t see in the natural world, what God was doing in the supernatural realm. Both Zacharias and Mary couldn’t comprehend what was going to happen supernaturally, so they spoke about what was obvious. Isn’t it amazing how we speak the obvious when we don’t know what else to say. Zacharias and Mary both spoke the obvious. Zacharias said, “We are old and beyond child bearing years.” Mary said, “I have never been with a man.” 

We speak what we know to be true, and they did too. However, God wants us to simply believe Him—so that He can do the impossible! What must we believe? That God is, and that with Him all things are possible! Mary said, “Let it be to me according to Your Word.” And the angel departed from her. Even so, Mary’s surrendering obedience unwrapped untold possibilities for generations to come.

Day 19- Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary

Mary was the first one to know. That’s right, after four hundred years of silence, the prophecy of the Lord from His prophets is now coming true. The Messiah will be born. Heaven agrees upon the moment and now the Word will become flesh and dwell among us and we will behold His glory full of grace and truth. The Angel of the Lord revealed this to Mary before anyone else on earth would know. The young virgin is visited by Gabriel in a city of Galilee named Nazareth.

Luke tells us that it had been about six months since the angel Gabriel had visited Elizabeth. Now he is paying a visit to her cousin, a young virgin girl named Mary. The virgin Mary is betrothed to Joseph who is of the house of David. There it is and Luke is including it too. The house and lineage of David. Luke, as well as Matthew wants his readers to know beyond a shadow of doubt that Jesus is the Messiah and that this lineage is all connected back to lineage and house of David.

Verse twenty-eight of Luke chapter one tells us, “And having come in the angel (Gabriel) said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’” So it appears the angel came in to where Mary was. It’s interesting how God always meets us where we are, isn’t it? However, Mary is troubled and confused about this greeting. Could you imagine a young girl minding her own business and a big angel from heaven shows up and tells her to rejoice because she is highly favored of the Lord among all women. Wow! 

He goes on to tell her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Notice that he calls her by name. Without saying it, he is letting her know that he knew who she was and that God knew who she was as well. Aren’t you thankful that God knows us by name. Anyway, all of heaven had been talking about this moment and now Gabriel is letting Mary know as well. Jesus the messiah will be conceived in the womb of Mary and she will deliver heaven’s gift to the world.

Gabriel continues the conversation with Mary by telling her that she is going to conceive in her womb and bring forth a Son, and His name shall be called, Jesus. He was named before the conception. He continues by saying, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” The proclamation that Gabriel is declaring about Jesus being the heir of His father David’s throne and about His reign being eternal is without a doubt, identifying Him (Jesus) as the Messiah.

Take Away: “And His name shall be called, Jesus.” The name Jesus is equivalent to the Hebrew name, Joshua. Matthew says, “His name shall be called Jesus, for He will save His people from their sin. Joshua was a shadow type of a deliverer and Jesus would become the ultimate deliverer of mankind. Mary was visited by Gabriel and given the news that she was going to deliver our savior and deliverer.

Day 18- Words Are Powerful and Waiting Is Hard

We have spent a lot of time on Zacharias and Elizabeth and the announcement of John’s birth. However, I feel like that this is an important story in the events surrounding the birth of Christ and in its own way, it is also supernaturally divine as well. In verse twenty of Luke chapter one, the angel Gabriel continues to dialogue with Zacharias, telling him that he will be mute until the day that he names John. And now in this same verse, he tells him why.

Gabriel says, “You will be mute until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” So Zacharias came out the temple of the Lord after finishing his work and he was mute. Since he had finished his services to the Lord, he simply went home. However, I want you to notice that Gabriel says that these things would all be fulfilled in their own time. Everything takes time, but no one likes to wait. Nevertheless, there is a spiritual principle and process which involves: seed, time and harvest. 

The seed is planted, but there has to be a process in which we wait. Waiting is the “time” element of this process. We usually have to wait before we see the evidence or enjoy the benefit of the promised results. Zacharias and Elizabeth had prayed and believed God—but then they waited. And they waited and they waited! But now, Elizabeth is going to be pregnant by the miraculous grace of God allowing her womb to be awakened. And, the angel Gabriel has delivered the word of promise—however, they will now wait again! And by the way, waiting typically doesn’t feel very spiritual and it usually doesn’t appear to be very supernatural.

Nevertheless, after all of this had happened Elizabeth conceived and hid for five months and Zacharias and Elizabeth are not really mentioned again in Luke’s story until Mary visits Elizabeth and then for Zacharias, it’s when John is born and he names him. That’s pretty much their story, but what’s interesting in this part of the story, is the fact that Zacharias is made to be mute until everything is fulfilled and John is born and then Zacharias is the one who speaks up and names him. Why?

Take Away: Here’s the scenario: 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 answered, “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 1:18-20)

Here’s my question: If God can make a woman whose womb is past child bearing age bring forth life, and then send the Angel Gabriel to deliver the good news—why can’t He overcome some negative words and a little unbelief? Did God make Zacharias mute so he wouldn’t speak out and hinder what He was trying to do? I don’t know, but it’s interesting that when he spoke in disbelief, Gabriel said that he would be mute until John was born.

Although I don’t know the exact reason for Zacharias being mute until John’s birth, I do know that the Bible tells us that the power of life and death are in the tongue. Words are powerful and they give the spirit realm something to come into agreement with. Your words matter because what you say is being heard by someone. Your words matter because once you speak them they cannot be taken back. Your words matter because they can cast doubt on a situation that requires faith. Your words matter because they can cause discouragement where hope is needed. 

Was Zacharias made mute because he spoke in disbelief. I’m not sure, but it does however appear to be so. Nevertheless, may we believe God and speak in faith and may we choose our words wisely as we wait and watch the plan of God unfold in our lives.

Day 17- How Shall I Know This

Isn’t that a question we all could have asked? “How shall I know this?” Or in other words, “How in the world can this be true, or better yet, how can this happen or take place?” The angel of the Lord has just finished his conversation with Zacharias, telling him that their prayer was answered and that they would be having a son and this was his response back to Gabriel—“How can I know this?”

The angel had proclaimed all of the things that John’s birth would represent, what John would do, and what would be expected of him. And at the end of the conversation Zacharias says, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in years.” He not only asked the question, he gives the reason for the question—we’re old! 

Then the angel answered him and said, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and I was sent to bring you this good news.” Gabriel which means, “Mighty Man of Valor.” He foretold the Messiah’s coming (Daniel 9:25), and according to the traditional translation of the Bible of I Thessalonians 4:16, he will be the one to sound the trumpet for His return.

Gabriel coming to Zacharias was a big deal and the news that he is bringing to him is good news. Gabriel had been in the presence of God Himself and he came to tell Zacharias that their prayer had been answered and that Elizabeth was going to have a son and that his name would be John.

The angel of the Lord, Gabriel had been in the presence of God in heaven and had received the message that he delivered to Zacharias. Nevertheless, Zacharias response to the message appears to be the wrong response. 

However, I don’t know if I would have had responded differently or not either. Why? Because in the natural, this would have appeared impossible. However, we know that God is a God of possibilities and that nothing is impossible for Him. And, we also know that what he said came to pass. Elizabeth and Zacharias would give birth to John and Mary and Joseph would give birth to Jesus and God’s plan would be in motion.

Take Away: Can you imagine how Zacharias must have felt? He and Elizabeth had prayed and believed God for so long, and now God’s messenger, Gabriel shows up with the miraculous message that their prayer had been answered. They were still serving God faithfully—but they were old and beyond child bearing ages. However, God has His own timetable and He moves in ways that we don’t always understand. Nevertheless, God was faithful and they were now going to have a baby and that baby would one day baptize Jesus in the Jordan.

Day 16- For He Shall Be Great In The Sight of The Lord  

John would be set apart by God and used in a special way by Him for His divine purposes. Remember, he will baptize Jesus in the Jordan. That’s pretty spectacular isn’t it. Therefore, after the angel tells Zacharias that his prayer was heard and Elizabeth would bear a son and that he was to name him John, the angel goes on to describe what will follow and what would be required.

Luke records the angel’s conversation to Zacharias as follows: “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 he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit while in his mother’s womb. And he will help to turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go forth in the power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children’ (Micah 4:5-6), and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John would be set apart to prepare the way of The Lord. He would later say, “There is One coming who sandal straps I am not worthy to tie.” Jesus and John would be born in a close proximity of time. They would both grow up somewhat in obscurity, with us not knowing much about that period of their lives. However, they are now both babies that will both be greatly used by God. 

Jesus would come on the scene with a baptism in the Jordan by John and the Holy Spirit would ascend upon Him and the heavens would open and God would say, “This is my Son in whom I’m well pleased.” But for now in these stories they are both still babies in their mother’s womb. 

However, at the moment in Luke chapter one God is doing some pretty miraculous things in the lives of ordinary people just like you and me, and it will  produce divine miracles in the lives of many for years to come.

Take Away:

1. John was an answer to prayer.
2. John was a result of Zacharias and Elizabeth’s faithfulness.
3. John would declare the arrival of the Messiah and herald God’s grace.
4. John would be filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb.
5. John would be set apart for God’s glory and purpose.

Day 15- Your Prayer Has Been Heard 

Faith and faithfulness are two different things. Faith is what or who you believe in. Faithfulness is what action you take as a result of your faith and/or—your ethics. 

Zacharias and Elizabeth not only had faith in God, they also were faithful in their principles and in their practices of faith. 

They were faithful to God in supporting His work and His temple. But they were also faithful to God by honoring Him in their actions and deeds and by living them out in their everyday lives.

They prayed and God heard their prayer (Luke 1:13). However, the request was not answered immediately and the petition was not fulfilled on their timetable. 

Nevertheless, when the angel of the Lord now appears to Zacharias he is told that their prayer was now being answered. 

Notice that the angel didn’t say your prayers, He said your prayer—singular. I believe that the angel was telling him that the prayer they had prayed for a child was heard, and it was now being answered.

Zacharias and Elizabeth were now older and advanced in age, but I wonder when they had first prayed the prayer for a child? I wonder if it had been so long that they had forgotten?

I’m curious how they had dealt with the frustration, disappointment and humiliation of their prayer not being answered and them being childless. 

I mean after all in their culture, having a child was considered favor from God and not having a child was considered the disapproval of God. 

Nevertheless, in the midst of their public humiliation and private disappointment—they remained faithful and steadfast! 

And now Zacharias and Elizabeth were going to have a son and his name would be called John. And John would be the forerunner of Christ and eventually baptize Jesus in the Jordan.

Take Away: 

1. God hears our prayer even when we don’t see the answer immediately.
2. God will honor your faithfulness.
3. God is faithful and His plan is perfect.

Day 14- The Lord Has Shown Favor

There are so many divine providences in the scriptures that surround the birth of Jesus and God’s grace and favor is seen in them all. For example, verse nine of Luke chapter one, tells us that Zacharias was chosen by lot to burn incense in the Temple. And, it was on this very day that the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, telling him that Elizabeth would indeed bring forth a child and that Zacharias would call his name John.

The name John means- “The Lord (Yahweh) Has Shown Favor (Grace). God had surely shown Zacharias and Elizabeth favor and even though it was delayed—it was divine. You see I don’t believe that there are coincidences or happenstance with God. I believe that things happen in order and at the given time. 

For instance, if Elizabeth and Zacharias would have gotten pregnant earlier when they were believing for it to happen, they would have had a baby, but it probably wouldn’t have been John the Baptist. That’s because John would have had to have be born to Elizabeth during the time that her cousin Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Now I know that I am reading into this a bit, but could it be that was why she was barren so long? Could it have been that God was waiting until this particular miraculous moment to awaken her womb.

After all, this is a story of Gods redemptive grace—God becoming flesh to save us. And at this moment in the story, Elizabeth was barren and past the child bearing age. However, God would now allow her to become pregnant with John at the very same time that her cousin Mary would be pregnant with Jesus. And it would be John who would eventually be the forerunner of Christ and he would also be the one to baptize Him.

Nevertheless, after all these years of being childless—Zacharias and Elizabeth still remained steadfast and they served God consistently and faithfully. Even though at times I’m sure they felt humiliation and frustration, they still remained solid in their faith and now they were about to see the faithfulness of God and His promises fulfilled.

Take Away:

1. Zacharias and Elizabeth never wavered in their faith or faithfulness.
2. Elizabeth was going to bear a son in her old age and Zacharias was going to give him the name John.
3. Zacharias and Elizabeth’s prayer had been heard. (Luke 1:13)

Day 13- John’s Birth Announced

Matthew starts out his gospel with a long genealogy of Jesus lineage. He then begins into the story of Jesus birth. Luke, however, starts his book off with a discourse on how he actually wrote his stories of the life of Jesus. He then begins next by progressing into stories that aren’t entirely about Christ birth. Nonetheless, they definitely intertwine and correlate with the birth of Jesus.

For example, Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist and his parents, Zacharias and Elizabeth. This is totally in line with what’s to follow, because it would be John who leaps in the womb of Elizabeth when Mary shows up with the Promised Child in her belly, telling what had taken place.

Luke picks up this story by letting us know that Herod is king of Judea. And, this is about where we left off in Matthew Chapter two. Anyway, he begins by telling us that Zacharias and Elizabeth are righteous people, but Elizabeth was barren. This is important because the Jews considered children to be a sign of Gods favor and childlessness was considered a sign of His displeasure. 

Therefore, Luke was letting us know up front that Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous people and that God viewed them as such. He says in verse six of chapter one, “They were both righteous before God, walking in all of the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 

Luke continues in verse seven by saying, “But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.” Nevertheless , they were righteous and they consistently and continually did all that the Lord had required of them. Again, God viewed them as righteous and blameless. In other words, the barrenness wasn’t because of disobedience, nor was it about them being unrighteousness or unworthy.

Take Away: Maybe you feel a little bit like Zacharias and Elizabeth. Maybe you feel like you’ve done everything right, yet you still haven’t seen what you’ve been believing for. I want you to know today that God sees you, He knows you, and He is for you, not against you. 

Maybe you feel like your time is up, or that your time has passed. Perhaps you just simply feel like you are just too old. Nonetheless, I want you to know today that God has a way of making all things new and as you will see in the lives of Zacharias and Elizabeth—God was faithful! He was faithful to them, and in His time and in His way, He will be faithful to you as well.