NEW TESTAMENT CHARACTERS
ELIZABETH AND ZECHARIAH.
NARRATOR (Luke).
When Herod was king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah. He served in Abia’s team of priests and was married to Elizabeth, a descendent of Aaron. Both lived blameless lives, obeying God’s laws. They were growing old and had no children.
The priests used to draw lots to find which one would go into the temple to burn incense and Zechariah was chosen. He went in, leaving the crowd praying outside. When he approached the golden alter to burn the incense he saw, standing on the right side of it, an angel of the Lord. As you would expect, Zechariah was terrified;
GABRIEL
Don’t be frightened, Zechariah. You and Elizabeth have been praying for a child, you shall have one, a son. Name him John. He will bring great joy to you and to many others. What is more he will be great before God - full of the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. He will turn many people to the Lord, as Malachi prophesied that another Elijah would come, turning the hearts of fathers to children; making rebels see sense and people ready for the Lord.
* * *
Mary was of the tribe of Judah whereas Elizabeth descended from Aaron. Their relationship, therefore, was probably a distant one. There was also a wide age gap and a sixty mile geographical gap between them. Nevertheless Mary chose Elizabeth as her trusted confidante. Quiet temperaments like Mary’s tend to choose confidantes slowly and carefully so there must have been something remarkable about the older lady; a mother figure or even a grandmother figure but certainly a safe haven.
Elizabeth herself had given up hope of ever being a mother. With Zechariah her husband she was approaching old age, resigned to their inability to have children. Then had come Zechariah’s vision of an angel in the temple, after which Elizabeth had conceived - six months ahead of Mary.
Mary walked from Galilee to Judea, probably writing a song on the way - the song now called the Magnificat. She stayed three months and only left when Elizabeth’s baby was nearly due. The older couple must have created a truly warm and welcoming atmosphere in their home for their distant relative.
* * *
NARRATOR (Luke)
Elizabeth had her baby. She told her neighbours and relations about God’s great goodness to her and they joined in the celebrations. They wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.
ELIZABETH
No, name him John.
NARRATOR (Luke)
They said, “No one in your family is called John,” and they made signs to his father who, to their surprise, wrote down, “His name is John.” As soon as he had done this he found he could talk again and began to praise God.
All this caused quite a stir in the neighbourhood and people of the Judean hills remembered and wondered what kind of man this child would become. His father Zechariah was filled with the Spirit and prophesied,
ZECHARIAH
Bless the Lord the God of Israel
Who has looked upon His people.
He has worked redemption for them
Set on high a mighty Saviour
Come to us from David’s household
Promised by the holy prophets
Since the age’s earliest dawning,
Rescued us from living fearful,
From the hand of those who hate us.
He has made us free to serve Him
All the days throughout our lifetime
Righteous and devout before Him.
You my child, you have your calling
To be prophet of the Highest.
You shall be the Lord’s fore-runner.
You shall clear the way before Him
Make the people know for certain
Where it is their rescue comes from,
How their sins can be forgiven
Through God’s deep heartfelt compassion.
See on high the bright new sunrise
Shining on the folk in darkness
Now begins a new Day dawning.
Those who sit beneath death’s shadow
Find a light to show their pathway
In the way of peace to guide us.
NARRATOR (Luke)
The child grew up spiritually strong. He lived in the wilderness until the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.