Mary was overcome with joy—a three-fold joy! First, joy at the affirmation of what she knew about herself with a role in the birth of Messiah, joy at seeing the truth of what she’d been told about Elizabeth, and of course, the simple joy at seeing relatives she loved. She couldn’t contain it any longer […]
With that awkwardness out of the way and moving beyond parental permission, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, a walk of 90 miles. She didn’t mind the time being alone with her thoughts. Five days of travel to ponder, Who could she tell? Who should she tell? […]
Mary’s mind was all awhirl as she made her way home from this totally bizarre encounter. She believed it was real, but it was too strange for comfort. She wanted to be alone. No! That’d be the worst thing. She’d talk herself out of it, she reasoned. What she really needed was to be in […]
Mary listened attentively and at long last, Mary pieced together what the angel Gabriel was saying to her. She blushed deeply and asked the obvious: “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High […]
“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was still looking at Gabriel when her heart became greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God”. What is […]
Meanwhile the work of Gabriel was not finished. After telling Zechariah of his good news about a son named John, to which all the angels naturally marveled and desired to know more deeply, six months went by and Gabriel was sent again. There was a joyous stirring in the host of angels. Would this […]
Finally, Zechariah gathered his composure. His knees which failed him…his strength which was rendered weak and useless–those in time were restored. His voice, however, was not. Luke 1:21 “Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to […]
Zechariah remained frozen in stunned silence, trying to blink away the brilliant glow’s memory still in his eyes. Must have been real. His mind did not imagine it. His eyes did not manufacture it. Were those tears forming and streaming down his cheeks? Yes. Why? Fear? Joy? Shock? Ashamed of his doubts being known? He […]
Zechariah was stunned into silence by the angel’s appearance and proclamation about his prayer being heard. His mind whirred into action. Prayer? Prayer? Which prayer? No one had ever told him that this is what happens when you’re ministering before the altar of incense. He hadn’t a clue what prayer and when he’d prayed the […]
It was a career highlight to be sure, thought Zechariah, but moreover, it was the closest he would ever get to a burning bush moment. How enthralling! How amazing! How monumental as a career milestone! He was getting carried away in a flurry of excitement, but then suddenly, a cold feeling of total unworthiness […]
