Sometimes the blessings of God are hidden. Sometimes I think God does this on purpose, hoping we will spend time and effort seeking – kind of like a treasure hunt. I think Jesus may have said something about a treasure hidden in a field. And sometimes we simply cannot see the blessings because our expectations have blinded us. Kind of like Wyle E. Coyote, who is so focused on eating the Road Runner that he completely misses the other possible food sources all around him. He is so convinced that Acme has what he needs, that he never even gives Amazon a try. How many times can he fall down into that canyon before he starts looking for other food-blessings or store-blessings? And what about us?
Zacharias had been told by an angel that he and Elizabeth were going to have a son; an important, forerunner to the Messiah son. Zacharias then asked, “How can I come to know this is true? After all I and my wife are both old duffers.” Some sources tend to jump all over Zacharias here, comparing him to Abraham. And comparing him to Abraham is exactly what Luke wants us to do, because when Abraham was told that he would inherit the Promised Land he asked, “How shall I know.” And there is the whole “old duffer” thing. There is no doubt that this is a lack of faith. But it is kind of an understandable lack of faith, isn’t it? Maybe Zacharias thought, “God just doesn’t do the whole blessing old people with babies thing anymore.”
The angel answers with “I am Gabriel.” Now this is impressive. This is one of two angels named in the Bible. Gabriel, whose name means “man of God” is the angel who explains Daniel’s visions to him in Daniel 8-10. He is one of the angels who stands before God. According to Jewish tradition there were either four (cf. 1 Enoch 9.1; 4.2) or seven (cf. Tob. 12:15; Rv. 8:2, 6) of these stand before the face of God angels. That would make them pretty significant. So, Gabriel’s response may have been a bit of a rebuke: “You question me, Gabriel, one of the angels who stands before God, who has been sent by God to deliver good news?” So, Zacharias is struck with sudden inability to speak. This is a punishment, no doubt, but it may also be about the blessing of God being kept secret until God’s timing is fulfilled. The word “time” often refers to appointed or appropriate time.
Then the scene shifts to the people in the courtyard waiting for Zacharias to come out and pronounce the blessing over the people. As the officiating priest, this was his job. The people usually waited apprehensively because there was always the chance that God would reject the priest and strike him dead. So, priest did not linger in the Holy Place. The people were anxious enough. When Zacharias finally comes out he cannot speak and can only gesture to try to make himself understood. They assume that he has seen a vision because apparently being unable to speak is a thing that can accompany seeing visions.
After Zacharias finishes his week of priestly service, he comes home and Elizabeth becomes pregnant. And she does this really strange thing. She keeps the first five months of her pregnancy a secret. What? You would think she would be going all over the village with this big dopey smile on her face, asking people, “Guess who’s pregnant?” Would they believe her though? Would they say, “Oh poor unhinged Elizabeth. God just doesn’t do that anymore.” But I think there is something else here as well. John is the long-awaited fulfillment of prophesy. He is “Elijah” who will proceed the coming of the Messiah. He is a blessing that no one is ready to receive yet. The people in the temple waited for Zacharias to come out and bless them and he came out silent all full of a blessing they did not expect. Elizabeth is pregnant with a blessing but knows that most people will not see it until there is no doubting it. God’s timing and people’s expectations are keeping the blessing hidden.
Jesus came and died on the cross so that we can be in a relationship with the Heavenly Father. And some cannot see the blessing because they expect health and wealth. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep; giving them abundant life. Expectations of avoidance of trauma as the only blessing that matters has gouged out the eyes of some and they are blind to the blessing of Spiritual life with Jesus that lasts for all of eternity. We are still buying from Acme, even though it has always let us down; even though we always end up falling into the canyon. Receive God’s blessings and live. Walter