Luke chapter 1

vs 11

Ok, now that's more exciting. I was beginning to think this story would be boring.

vs 12

And most people are, when confronted with angels. Somehow I don't think the renaissance did then justice.

vs 13

"Don't be afraid" is very important in the angel vocabulary. But isn't it nice, God took the time to hear Zechariah's prayer and give them a child. He even gives them a name, so that they don't have to pick one. Very thoughtful.

vs 14

Well, children supposedly are a joy and a delight, so that's fairly proverbial, but many people rejoicing at his birth, beyond immediate family, is a little odd.

vs 15

But the reason is that his greatness will be in the sight of the Lord. That's pretty cool. So God obviously has some sort of plan for him. He's also to be brought up strictly, like a Nazerite, without alcohol (although it doesn't say anything about hair).

Just on a side note, our OT lecturer made an interesting point about Nazerites in the OT serving the position of monks and nuns - people who lived an abjectly holy life for a reminding witness primarily to the faithful.

vs 16

And this sounds like what John will be doing, doesn't it? I mean, he's probably more of a prophet (because he brings word from God about the Messiah), but he is certainly serving primarily the Jews.

vs 17

There is a Bible reference here, but it's not in quotes, so you don't get a big bold letter telling you where it's from. It's from Malachi 4:5-6. It's a prophecy about John the Baptist.

What does turning the hearts of fathers to their children mean? Some people might read the Luke account here, and think it links to Jesus' words "accept the kindgom like a little child", but if you read the Malachi verse, you'll notice it also says "turn the hearts of the children to their fathers". Which makes me think he's talking about what he says afterward - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

So important to remember that this was so! When Jesus hit the ground, people had already heard the testimony of John the baptist, and probably for some years! It says (probably hyperbolically) that all Israel went and got baptised by him, and probably all Israel did hear his message, if not directly then indirectly.

So Jesus didn't walk into 21st century Australia and just convert a bunch of people. He walked into first century Judah, and converted a bunch of people who were dead keen for a messiah, and had heard John the Baptist preaching for years.

vs 18

For a priest, he's pretty dumb. I mean, he surely knew the story of Abraham, and yet he asks the same question.

vs 19

It's not often we get the name of an angel given to us. Gabriel is in fact a bit of a celebrity, having already been mentioned in the Old Testament. If Zechariah took comfort in knowing that, then he's even dumber than I thought - I mean, everyone knew Abraham's story - but who can tell me where Gabriel is mentioned in the OT without looking?

vs 20

See, I think this is totally fair. A priest should have known better. But anyway, God still uses it to his purpose later on. Whether it was Gabriel's power on his own, or God's power, that shut Zec's mouth, I don't know. Doesn't really matter to me.