ABOUT ZACHARIAS (JOHN THE BAPTIST'S FATHER)

0. About Zacharias (John the Baptist's father)

a) Zacharias was told before anyone else that God was setting in motion his own visit to earth. Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, were known for their personal holiness. They were well suited to doing a special work for God. But they shared the pain of not having children, and in Jewish culture this was considered not having God's blessing. Zacharias and Elizabeth were old, and they had stopped even asking for children.
 
b) This trip to the temple of Jerusalem for Zacharias's turn at duty had included an unexpected blessing. Zacharias was chosen to be the priest who would enter the holy place to offer incense to God for the people. Suddenly, much to his surprise and terror, he found himself face to face with an angel. The angel's message was too good to be true! But Zacharias did not respond to the news of the coming Savior as much as he expressed doubts about his own ability to father the child the angel promised him. His age spoke more loudly than God's promise. As a result, God prevented Zacharias from speaking until the promise became reality.
 
c) The record of the prayer in Luke 1 is our last glimpse of Zacharias. Like so many of God's most faithful servants, he passed quietly from the scene once his part was done. He became our hero for those times when we doubt God and yet are willing to obey. We gain hope from Zacharias's story that God can do great things through anyone who is available to him.

1. What were his strengths and accomplishments?

a) Known as a righteous man.

b) Was a priest before God.

c) One of the few people to be directly addressed by an angel.

d) Fathered John the Baptist.

2. What were his weaknesses and mistakes?

a) Momentarily doubted the angel's promise of a son because of his own old age.

3. What can we learn from his life?

a) Physical limitations do not limit God.

b) God accomplishes his will, sometimes in unexpected ways.

4. What are the key verses?

a)  Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷ But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. (Luke 1:6-7 NIV)

b) Zacharias's story is told in Luke 1.