“And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.” (Luke 1:21-23 KJV).
In these opening passages of Luke’s gospel account, God announced great news through the angel Gabriel to these faithful couple who waited to have a child for a lifetime. Angel Gabriel’s appearance with Zacharias put him in shock that kept him unusually awhile in the altar of incense. As it happened in the inner chamber, on the outside court of the temple the people marveled of his longer than the usual time of wait. They knew something supernatural happened, which was affirmed when Zacharias came out speechless. Unbeknownst to the people, this temporary debacle was the result of his hesitance to believe.
Symbolically, Zecharias’ completion of his duties in the temple can be understood to represent the exit from the old covenant, and entrance into the anticipated new covenant that will be established through the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This serves as the precursor to the transformative impact that the birth of John the Baptist, in ushering the subsequent eternal significance of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ will have on the world. The kingdom of God is coming, specifically to those who repent and believe in the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).
This, the Lord Jesus proclaimed Thirty years later, as it is written: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:14-15 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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