Commemoration of Zacharias and Elizabeth
September 5, 2012
The Lord be with you
Zecharias and Elizabeth are remembered on our calendar on
September 5. They were “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in the
commandments and statutes of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). One should be clear about
what the New Testament means by being “righteous before God.” The NT teaches
that we are righteous before God by grace through faith in Jesus (Romans 1:17; 3:22;
etc.). They lived in light of this gift of righteousness. We also should not
interpret the phrase “walking blamelessly in the commandments and statutes of
the Lord” to mean that they were somehow now completely sinless. Their very
story in Luke 1 reveals doubt on the part of Zecharias. Like all of humanity, Zecharias
and Elizabeth were sinners in need of daily forgiveness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-9; etc.). What we have in
Zecharias and Elizabeth is a couple who believed in the OT promises concerning
the Messiah, as such they were saved by grace through faith in the Messiah, and
who live in that grace, receiving forgiveness for their daily sins and, in
gratitude, sought to live their lives guided by the word of God.
One day Zecharias, a priest in the Jerusalem
temple, was greeted by the angel Gabriel, who announced that Zecharias and
Elizabeth would become parents of a son. Initially, Zecharias did not believe
Gabriel’s announcement because of their old age. For his disbelief, Zecharias
became unable to speak. After their son was born, Elizabeth
named their son John, as directed by Gabriel (Luke 1:13). When the neighbors objected, because no one in the
family had been named John before, Zecharias confirmed the choice by writing on
a tablet. When he did this, his speech was restored. In response, he sang the
Benedictus, a magnificent summary of God’s promises in the Old Testament and a
prediction of John’s work as forerunner to Jesus (Luke 1:68-79). The Benedictus
is still commonly used in the historic prayer service, Matins. It is also part
of the newer service, Morning Prayer, in our hymnal. Zecharias and Elizabeth
are remembered as examples of faithfulness and piety.
Prayer: O God,
who alone knits all infants in the womb, You chose improbable servants—old and
childless—to conceive and parent the forerunner of Christ and, in so doing,
demonstrated again Your strength in weakness. Grant us, who are as unlikely and
unworthy as Zecharias and Elizabeth, the opportunity to love and serve You
according to Your good and gracious will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Other prayers that
Zecharias and Elizabeth might inspire:
- For the aged
- For children
- That we may be open to the improbable ways God continues to work through the Church
- For the Jewish people, that they may recognize the Messiah
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert
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