400 years of spiritual darkness.

Perhaps it would be another 400. Who could know? From the last of Malachi’s prophesies, to the reign of Herod, God seemed silent.

The scarce faithful hoped quietly. Ordinary prayers, ordinary waiting. Nothing flashy enough to be recorded for all of the future church to read. And yet, a remnant still clung to the promise that through Abraham all would be blessed.

Zechariah and Elizabeth, advanced in years, surely believed the end of their lives weren’t far away. King Herod would continue ruling with an evil heart, and they wouldn’t live to see his successor.

Unfulfilled longing.

“They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.”

No children, and it was too late, of course.

This couple could have succumbed to bitterness. Lose hope. Believe nothing else was left for them in a land ruled by a wicked king of Judea. Become absorbed into the greater masses of those reveling in disobedience.

But they obeyed, treasuring their faith. Even if they would never hold their own baby, the Messiah would come someday. He would right the wrongs of oppression, wouldn’t He?

But one day, while Zechariah served in the temple, they were privileged to see the glimmer of light at the end of a dark tunnel. And Elizabeth’s barrenness itself weaved a thread of yet another miraculous birth in the line of David. The earth pined for what was close enough to touch.

“The whole world would be turned upside down. Lowly shepherds would see angelic messengers. The dead would taste life. Darkness would be snuffed. Proud King Herod would be outmaneuvered. Promises to Anna and Simeon would be fulfilled. Blind would see. Curtains would be torn in two.” —last year’s post

It started with an angelic messenger announcing their parenthood, after all these years, like a dawn after a treacherous night. Their son John would be the one to prepare the way for the Lord! In just six months, God was going to visit His people in the flesh.

“What made the angel’s news so good?” I asked the children in my class.

“Zecheriah and Elizabeth would finally have a baby!”

Oh yes. How much joy for Elizabeth to carry a baby for the first time, to enjoy the laughter, the hugs, the smiles of a precious little one. Earthly longing fulfilled. But this was just a fraction of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s happiness. The gloriousness of John’s humble life would prelude good news STILL YET to reach every corner of the earth, every tribe and every nation — these will be offered an abundance of blessing through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

Through Elizabeth’s miracle baby, in a broader sense, God was setting His stage for the ultimate provision of grace. This baby would herold GOD’S BABY, Emmanuel. He would use John to prepare a dark, sleepy people to receive the Light of the World and the Lamb who takes away the sins of Israel, and even the world.

“You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,” the angel said, “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.  And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

As I have studied the stories in the Old Testament with my little class, I’m marveling how each account keeps pointing to His Son. A promise to Adam and Eve would be carried like a torch through the generations. His love and redemption brings joy to the world, and the wonders of His love reach as far as the curse is found.

Do you have joy and gladness? Have you received God’s perfect lamb as the substitute for the punishment your sin deserves?

Every reason to rejoice awaits you — when you are called by His grace, He grants the glories of His forgiveness.

We can’t look to the world for our hope. Even Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son would die at the hands of King Herod, but not before John accomplished the ministry God had for Him. He had preached the HOPE of the world as God intended. Hear the good news and believe.

The next day he (John) saw Jesus coming to him and said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 1:29

We’re in another time of waiting right now, but Christ is coming back. Every wrong will be made right, and every tear wiped away. Each of our little and large longings will all be redeemed in the One we wait for — the Lamb! When He returns for His own, we will affirm like an anthem:

“the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.”

( Phillips Brooks )