Amazing Faith

Zechariah and Elizabeth

5During the time when Herod F2 ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah. Zechariah belonged to Abijah’s group. F3 Zechariah’s wife came from the family of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. 6Zechariah and Elizabeth were truly good people before God. They did everything the Lord (God) commanded and told people to do. They were without fault. 7But Zechariah and Elizabeth had no children. Elizabeth could not have a baby; and both of them were very old.
8Zechariah was serving as a priest before God for his group. It was his group’s time to serve. 9The priests always chose one priest to offer the incense. F4 Zechariah was chosen to do this. So Zechariah went into the temple F5 of the Lord (God) to offer the incense. 10There were many, many people outside. They were praying at the time the incense was offered. 11Then, on the right side of the incense table, an angel of the Lord (God) came and stood before Zechariah. 12When he saw the angel, Zechariah was upset and very afraid. 13But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. Your prayer has been heard by God. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a baby boy. You must name him John. 14You will be very, very happy. Many people will be happy because of his birth. 15John will be a great man for the Lord (God). He will never drink wine or liquor. Even at the time when John is being born, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. F6 16John will help many Jews return to the Lord their God. 17John himself will go first before the Lord. John will be powerful like Elijah. F7 He will have the same spirit Elijah had. He will make peace between fathers and their children. Many people are not obeying God. John will bring those people back to the right way that people should think. He will make people ready for the {coming of} the Lord.”
18Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is also old.”
19The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I always stand ready before God. God sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news. 20Now, listen! You will not be able to talk until the day when these things happen. You will lose your speech. Why? Because you did not believe what I told you. But these things will really happen.”
21Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was staying so long in the temple. F8 22Then Zechariah came outside, but he could not speak to them. So the people knew that Zechariah had seen a vision F9 inside the temple. Zechariah could not speak. He could only make signs to the people. 23When Zechariah’s time of service was finished, he went home.
24Later, Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant. So she did not go out of her house for five months. Elizabeth said, 25“Look what the Lord (God) has done for me! He decided to help me {have a baby}. Now people will stop thinking there is something wrong with me.”

The Virgin Mary

26-27During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin F10 girl that lived in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. The girl was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. F11 Her name was Mary. 28The angel came to her and said, “Greetings! The Lord (God) is with you. You are very special to him.”
29But Mary was very confused about what the angel said. Mary wondered, “What does this mean?”
30The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God is very pleased with you. 31Listen! You will become pregnant. You will give birth to a baby boy. And you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great (important). People will call him the Son of the Most High (God). The Lord God will make him king like his ancestor David. F12 33Jesus will rule over the people of Jacob F13 forever. Jesus’ kingdom will never end.”
34Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I am still a virgin F14 !”
35The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit F15 will come to you and the power of the Most High (God) will cover you. The baby will be holy. He will be called the Son of God. 36Also, your relative Elizabeth is pregnant. She is very old, but she is going to have a son. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant now for six months! 37God can do anything!”
38Mary said, “I am the servant girl of the Lord (God). Let this thing you have said happen to me!” Then the angel went away.

* I will post more of the birth of Christ as we draw nearer to the celebration of the day of HIS birth. Join me please in reading the story of our Lord and Savior.

Julie