Unexpected… even Extraordinary

A Series on Advent
The hymns of Luke’s birth narrative: The Benedictus by Zechariah
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 1:67-80 

[In Luke’s Gospel, there are four songs sung by different individuals that were involved in the story of Christ’s birth. In this series, we will look at the meaning of those songs, how the singer was involved in the birth story and what it means for us today.]

When I was about eight years old, I was playing with some friends near the intersection of a residential side street and M46 – a busy two-lane highway. A boy started chasing me, so I ran from him. Without thinking, I darted across M46, right into the path of an oncoming car driving at least 45 mph.

 

Thankfully he missed hitting me, but both he and I were visibly shaken. Before this, I’d played on the same street many times without an incident. There was no reason to believe that it would be different this time. It was totally unexpected.

 

Zechariah and Elizabeth lived in the hill country of Judea, outside of Jerusalem. They were very old and had no children as Elizabeth was unable to conceive. Despite this, they were both considered righteous in God’s eyes.

 

In fact, Zechariah was a member of a priestly order. On one occasion, while serving at the Temple, he was chosen to keep the incense burning in the Holy Place. This once in a lifetime experience led to something unexpected… even extraordinary.

 

As he performed his duties, the angel Gabriel appeared to him. That was surprising enough, but then he told Zechariah that Elizabeth was going to have a son. Not only that, but their son “would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord”.

 

This was amazing news! Except, Zechariah didn’t believe it. As a result, Gabriel told Zechariah that he wouldn’t be able to speak until the day his son was born. Can you imagine what that would have been like for him?

 

He couldn’t tell anyone what had happened, particularly Elizabeth. Even more frustrating, he couldn’t tell her what was going to happen that would change their lives. However, any doubts must have gone away when Elizabeth became pregnant.

 

During the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Mary arrived with unexpected news of her own. When Mary greeted her, Elizabeth’s baby moved in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary stayed with them for about 3 months.

 

Finally, when the baby was born, Zechariah must have been bursting at the seams to talk. Afterall, he’d had nine months to contemplate what had happened to him and Elizabeth, as well as Mary’s miraculous pregnancy. Also, he’d considered how the Old Testament prophecies applied to both Elizabeth and Mary’s babies.

 

Because he still couldn’t talk, Zechariah wrote on a writing tablet, “His name is John”! Immediately, Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he pronounced his prophetic hymn of praise, the Benedictus, or “praise be”. It began like this.

 

⁶⁸ “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has visited and redeemed his people.   NLT

 

Continuing, Zechariah praised God for sending a Savior from the line of David; for remembering his covenant with Abraham; for rescuing Israel from her enemies. Then he praised the Lord not only for his son, but also for Mary’s.

 

⁷⁶ “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
    because you will prepare the way for the Lord. ⁷⁷ You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.     NLT

 

Paul wrote, “We are God’s handiwork created to do good deeds”. Even with his doubts, God worked through Zechariah. The same is true for us. Even with our shortcomings, God works through us. And the results will be unexpected… even extraordinary. 

 

Copyright 2025 Joseph B Williams

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The Shepherds: Unexpected Servants

Christmas Character Series

Luke 2:1-21

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A1-21&version=NIV;NLT

 

 

Many years ago, we went to a Christmas program called Journey to Bethlehem. It was a series of scenes leading up to the birth of Christ. The manger scene was in the

sanctuary where there was a young couple playing Mary and Joseph. What made it especially touching was that their newborn baby was with them as Jesus.

 

As we walked into the sanctuary, the baby began crying, as babies will do. Just like that, the theatrical scene suddenly became a real-life scene. It took me back two thousand years to the real baby Jesus crying in his mother’s arms.

 

For over sixty years, I’ve celebrated Christmas with outdoor decorations, a Christmas tree with lots of presents, a big Christmas meal with family and a special Christmas Eve service. Despite all of that, it only took a little baby seconds to make Christmas real. It was unexpected, just like it was for the shepherds.

 

On that very first Christmas, the Shepherds were in the fields minding their own business. They weren’t aware of Caesar Augustus and his big plans for expanding the Roman Empire. They’d never heard of Joseph and Mary, and had no idea of what had been happening in their lives.

 

All they knew was to watch their sheep. That was their world. That is, before it was turned upside down when suddenly an angel appeared to them. Surprise!

 

“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹ The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹² And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”    NLT

 

Once the angels left, the shepherds decided to go into Bethlehem to find the baby. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, except for the hint given them by the angel. Look for the sign. After all, how many new born babies would be lying in a feeding trough?

 

The crying baby was an unexpected sign for me. The angels were unexpected for the shepherds, as well as the baby in a manger. Are you ready for what God has for you that is unexpected?