A heavy snow is coming!
My weather app tells of the coming snow! Hubby has a completely different weather app … his also tells of the coming snow … although with slightly different descriptions than my app!
Both hubby and I received text notifications from the King County Emergency Alert Service … snow is coming!
The advent of snow is imminent!
It is the Christmas Season of Advent … when we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ to the earth!
Just as the coming of a heavy snowfall is preceded by numerous weather notifications and Emergency text alerts, so also the coming of Jesus Christ to the earth was also preceded by numerous prophecies, which notified and informed the Jewish people!
And just as the different weather apps give slightly different descriptions as to what to expect, so also the different prophecies gave slightly different information as to what to expect with the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. Here are just a few:
* The Messiah would be born of a virgin. – Isaiah 7:14
* The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. – Micah 5:2
* The Messiah would be from the ancestral line of David. – Isaiah 9:6-7
* The Messiah would be preceded by a prophet who would prepare the way.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. … I will send you the prophet Elijah … He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers;” – Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6
The above verses were the very last communication from God to the Jewish people … and then silence. 400 years of silence!
The Jewish people waited. (Just like hubby and I waited for the arrival of the predicted heavy snowfall!)
Messiah is coming!
The Jewish people studied the Scriptures. They poured over the prophecies. They waited. They prayed! They prayed for Messiah to come!
Among those who studied the Scriptures, poured over the prophecies, and prayed for Messiah to come was an elderly man named Simeon (Luke 2:25-32). It was revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he actually saw Jesus, the Messiah!
Also among those who studied the Scriptures, poured over the prophecies, and prayed for Messiah to come was an elderly 84-year-old widow, named Anna … a prophetess, who had devoted her entire life to serving God in the Temple.
Far away from Jerusalem, in the hill country of Judea, an elderly couple also studied the Scriptures, poured over the prophecies, and prayed for Messiah to come! This elderly couple were both descended from the priestly family line of Aaron. Zechariah had served his entire life as a country priest (or pastor, if you will) teaching and caring for the spiritual needs of their small village. Alongside him, his wife, Elizabeth served as sort of a “pastor’s wife.”
This elderly priestly couple had no children … and they were both well along in years. (perhaps in their mid-70’s? or maybe 80?)
Zechariah’s priestly duty called him away, to serve for a time at the Temple in Jerusalem. While there, Zechariah’s lot was chosen to go into the Temple and burn incense.
As Zechariah entered the holy place to burn incense … an angel appeared! … and said: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.”
What do you think Zechariah had been praying for?
Many people automatically assume Zechariah had been praying for a child. However, how many 80-year-old couples do you know who are praying for a baby?
Zechariah most likely had not been praying for a baby. Most likely, Zechariah, and his wife Elizabeth, had been praying for the coming of Messiah! (as had been Simeon, and Anna, and untold others!)
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son …”
Zechariah knew the prophecies!
Zechariah knew Messiah would be born of a virgin.
Zechariah knew Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
Zechariah knew Messiah would be of the royal lineage of David.
What is the answer to Zechariah’s prayers for the coming of Messiah??
The angel’s message to Zechariah is a direct quote of the last words of God to the Jewish people in Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6: “… He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:13-17)
Messiah is coming!! And Messiah will be preceded by a prophet who will prepare the way!
His son … his very own son … will be that long-awaited prophet who will prepare the way!!
