In these beginning verses of the Gospel according to Luke, we are directly told that Elizabeth and Zechariah have no children because of Elizabeth’s barrenness. What a short-lived story. I mean, God can’t do anything with those circumstances, right?

Wrong! As we are introduced to Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, it is important to bluntly note that this is the beginning of the foretelling of John the Baptist’s birth. Or, in other words, the beginning of Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled. John the Baptist is a very crucial aspect to Jesus’ ministry, as he is the forerunner to The Much Greater One to come who holds a much greater message.

This is where all of that starts to unfold; where our hearts begin to stir up with emotion, as we begin to see the Almighty God break down strongholds that the enemy thinks will restrict the Savior from coming. We get a glimpse of the Messiah’s first coming, and the path to His ministry becomes more and more clear.

As we grow closer to Jesus, even verses like these bring inexplicable excitement to us during the Advent season, the season of great anticipation for the Christ’s past and future coming.

Maranatha--come, Lord Jesus, come!

Luke 1.5-7

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, 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. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Why is John the Baptist’s birth important to us?

+ Take special note of the descriptions Luke gave of Zechariah and Elizabeth--their age, their status, their marriage, their genealogy, the explicitly given view God had of them, etc. Does thinking of all of this spark some similarities or differences to someone else’s coming birth? [Hint: Mary + Jesus]

+ When has God conquered barrenness in the Bible? What about any other unnatural births?

+ What does it mean to be “walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord”?

+ Life seemed pretty fine for Zechariah and Elizabeth--do you think they were “comfortable” with their circumstances?

+ Who was Herod?

+ Does God always do what man expects will happen?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ How does this passage prepare our hearts for Advent?

+ Think like Elizabeth: Are we doubting God in any areas of our lives, where we might be settling with our circumstances?

+ Do we have our hope set in Jesus and His promises of a Second Coming spoken to us through the Gospel? What might this reveal about our ‘love’ for Christ?

+ As the Bride of Christ, the Advent season is a chance for us to remember and celebrate His first arrival, but more importantly for us to eagerly yearn for His Second Coming--how can we be adorning ourselves even now for the Groom?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Do we have anyone in our lives that may not know the full meaning of Advent?