Supernatural Births Christmas Series
Truth Taught- God hears Zechariah’s prayer and Zechariah and Elizabeth are promised a child.
Last week we looked at Abraham and Sarah and the miraculous birth of Isaac. In connection with Isaac’s birth, we also spent some time focusing on the Abrahamic Covenant found in Genesis 12.
Genesis 12:1–3 (ESV)
12 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
We saw that it was through the power of God that Isaac was born. He was the next in line that God’s covenant would move forward.
We then looked at the fact that all this was to be fulfilled as Jesus would be born and redeem His people. For that we looked to Galatians…
Galatians 3:13–14 (ESV)
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Throughout the lineage of the OT we find many other miraculous births. Through the Bible, we see this Pattern of Barrenness and Divine Intervention
One of the most common forms of miraculous birth in the Bible involves women who are initially barren—unable to conceive children—until God intervenes. This theme appears repeatedly, emphasizing that the birth of certain individuals is the result of God’s direct action rather than mere chance or human effort.
If God’s Covenant was to move forward and eventually arrive at Jesus, God would have to do it all. He alone will bring it to pass and He does so in miraculous ways.
If the families of the world are to be blessed by God with the birth of Jesus as He had promised Abraham then God would take the initiative to make this promise come to pass. The birth and life of Jesus is the Father’s doing. Everything concerning mankind’s salvation is the Father’s doing.
Chapter 7
Of God’s Covenant
Paragraph 1
The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.
Paragraph 2
Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace, wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.
- Genesis 2:17
- Galatians 3:10
- Romans 3:20,21
- Romans 8:3
- Mark 16:15,16
- John 3:16
- Ezekiel 36:26,27
- John 6:44,45
- Psalms 110:3
God is to be glorified for everything He does in bringing Jesus to us through His covenant promise made to Abraham. We have the conclusion to these miraculous births and the fulfillment being Jesus and then our salvation, then, Is anything impossible with God?
Jacob and Esau: The Twins Born to Rebekah
Isaac’s own wife, Rebekah, also experienced barrenness. After years without children, Isaac prayed to God on her behalf, and she conceived twins: Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:21-26).
Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife, endured years of childlessness while her sister Leah bore multiple children. Genesis 30:22-24 describes how “God remembered Rachel,” opened her womb, and she gave birth to Joseph. Rachel’s story is yet another example of God granting life in situations where human hope had faded.
Samson: A Nazirite from the Womb
In the Book of Judges, the story of Samson’s birth is marked by angelic announcement and divine intervention. Manoah’s wife was barren until an angel appeared, proclaiming that she would conceive a son who would be dedicated as a Nazirite and become a deliverer for Israel (Judges 13). Samson’s miraculous birth paved the way for his extraordinary feats and his role as one of Israel’s judges.
Samuel: The Answer to Hannah’s Prayer
Hannah’s yearning for a child is emotionally depicted in 1 Samuel 1. She prays fervently at the Tabernacle, promising to dedicate her son to God’s service if her prayer is answered. God responds by granting her a son, Samuel, who becomes a prophet and key transitional figure in Israel’s history. Samuel’s birth is celebrated as a direct answer to prayer and a sign of God’s responsiveness to heartfelt faith.
Today, we are going to jump to the New Testament and look together at another elderly couple who could not have children. This account is a little like Abraham and Sarah…
Please Stand…
Luke 1:5-25 (ESV)
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.
[8] Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, [9] according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. [10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. [11] And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. [12] And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. [14] And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, [15] for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. [16] And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, [17] and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
[18] And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” [19] And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. [20] And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” [21] And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. [22] And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. [23] And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
[24] After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, [25] “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
1. Days of Darkness in Israel (1:5-7)
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.
Luke begins this narrative by showing us the time in which these events took place. He says it was in the days when Herod ruled Judea. We know a little about Herod the Great from Jewish historians. We know something of Herod the Great from the Book of Matthew where he orders the murder of all the children two years old and under because he is paranoid over possibly of losing his throne. So paranoid was he, that he had three sons murdered, one of his ten wives murdered, and others murdered. It was this Herod that one historian said it is better to be a pig in Herod’s barn than a son. In other words, the pig had a better chance to live to an old age than a son did. This was the political context of the time.
It was also seen as a time of God’s silence. For four hundred years since the Book of Malachi, there had been no prophets raised up by God. No brave men empowered by the Holy Spirit to call the people to repent and turn back to God. No amazing miracles, signs or wonders…just silence. Had God forgotten His people? Had He abandoned them in frustration? Looking back now we can see what was going on. We can see that God was putting everything in place for the birth of the Messiah Jesus Christ.
So, because of Luke’s efforts to shine the light on Zechariah and Elizabeth’s blamelessness and obedience to God their being without children was not some sort of punishment for their sin. They were faithful even through these difficulties. They were not accustomed to pity parties or complaining they lived out their lives before the face of God in uprightness and worship.
They are a good example for us. When we enter trials, we too must be faithful through them.
2. Your Wife Elizabeth Will Bear You a Son (1:8-17)
[8] Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, [9] according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. [10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. [11] And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. [12] And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. [14] And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, [15] for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. [16] And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, [17] and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
We have accounts of the number of priests in Israel during those days. A high estimate is in the neighborhood of 85,000. Others range from 12,000-15,000. These priests were divided up into 24 divisions. Each division served in the temple twice a year. If we take the low number of 12,000, then there would have been 500 on duty that day with Zechariah being one of them.
By casting of lots, the duty of burning incense fell to this aged priest named Zechariah. It’s no mistake that Luke adds this bit of information because he wants us to see God’s hand involved in the selection of Zechariah that day. Most priests would spend their lifetime serving never to be selected to burn incense in the temple.
All the other priests were praying outside and Zechariah and two assistants that Zechariah chose went into the temple. One assistant carried the golden bowl which he filled with burning coals from the altar. Zechariah had the incense. The other assistant charged with cleaning the ashes from the worship of the day before. The first assistant cleaned the ashes from the altar of incense, worshipped then backed away slowly. The hot burning coals were then poured onto the altar of incense and the second assistant worshipped then backed away slowly and left the temple. After they left and the door was shut the great pipes blasted announcing to the people that it was the time for prayer.
Zechariah then, poured the incense out onto the hot coals, and the result was a large cloud of smoke that rose to the ceiling and left the temple, the large room was filled with the fragrance of the incense which stayed for hours. This represented the prayers of God’s people. The priest would then also offer up prayers.
These prayers were on behalf of Israel and her salvation through the coming of the Messiah. Then, the priest would worship and slowly back away from the altar as each of his assistants had before. Zechariah never got to this part. As soon as his prayer was finished an angel appeared.
[11] And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. [12] And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
What is Zechariah’s response to the angel’s appearance? Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
Whenever angels appear to people, this is the normal response. When the angel appeared to Mary, it says she was troubled. When the angels appeared to those guarding the tomb of Jesus they fainted. This is the normal human response to angelic beings. The customary response to this is the angel’s first line…[13] But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,
[13] But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
Zechariah, your priestly prayer for the salvation of God’s people has been heard. This prayer was the thrust of the prayers at the altar of incense. Pray that God would send the Deliverer. So, what we have here, is the connection between the priestly prayer of Zechariah and his prayer for a child. Both are really one and the same. God will send the Deliverer, namely Jesus and He will also send to one who would announce that the Messiah has come, John the Baptist.
3. Zechariah’s Struggle to Believe (1:18-25)
[18] And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” [19] And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. [20] And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” [21] And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. [22] And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. [23] And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
The priest’s unbelief is shown as he demands some sign from the angel. How shall I know this?
Zechariah says, I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. So, this doesn’t add up…
The angel says, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
What was the sign given to Zechariah? It was his punishment for unbelief? you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words.
He was unable to tell his wife the good news of what God was planning to accomplish through them because he didn’t believe God.
God is faithful just the same and worked in the lives of these two elderly people. God’s promise was fulfilled…
[24] After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, [25] “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
What are we to take away from this text of Scripture?
First, we learn that God is working to bring about amazing things for His people. He will always work to that end. God was bringing about new things in the lives of those who love Him. He was bringing about the New Covenant that He spoke to Abraham. He was setting things in place so that the people would be ready to repent.
He had everything set in place and in the history of redemption; Jesus would be the next great event.
So, God’s plan was unfolding perfectly as it always does. This should give us confidence when we wait for God. Even if at times He seems silent, He still is at work bringing about His perfect and loving plan.
Do you see God that way?
God does not just send Jesus. He sends His prophets. He sends His messengers. He sends His Word. He sends times of hardship and times of repentance. God wants to come to a people prepared for Him, a people whose hearts have been turned to Him. This was John’s role, to call the people to repent and to announce that their Messiah had arrived.
John the Baptist was born in a miraculous way. Much like Abraham and Sarah who were too old for children so too Zechariah and Elizabeth were too old to have children and yet God made it happen because it was His perfect will to bring about John, who would prepare the people for Jesus.
The question for us is this: Are we ready for the next work of God?
What if the next work of God was to send Jesus back to earth the second time, are you ready? What if the next work of God is to send some trial your way to strengthen your faith, are you ready? What if the next work of God is to answer that prayer you’ve been praying now for what seems to be almost forever? for your prayer has been heard Are you ready?
God’s next move in the Bible is the birth of Jesus the Messiah and He will give His Son a grand kingly introduction. Jesus will be born in a very miraculous way…
Conclusion…
God sets in place all the pieces. His great promise is on the threshold of fulfillment. Next Lord’s Day if it is God’s will, we will look at the birth of our Lord and rejoice that God loves His people.
I pray as we trace these miraculous births you will conclude as did those involved, there is nothing impossible for God.
God does all the work…
Zechariah is on duty…he is selected by lot to serve in the Temple…He prays the priestly prayer of peace and salvation…God responds to Zechariah’s prayer that He wanted him to pray.
What’s the prayer God wants you to pray?
Resources Used:
Words of grace
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