The Godly Couple
Elizabeth and Zacharias
Luke1:5-80
Not counting for much ….
Soon after the beginning of Luke’s Gospel we are introduced to a couple whose relationship has been profound, loving and mutually supportive over many years of joys and hardships. Zacharias and Elizabeth were devout, principled, law-abiding and, in the world’s eyes, unknown. In God’s eyes, however, they were hugely important and their contribution very significant.
Christians often think they do not count for much, but it is Christian witness and service that really changes people and the world we live in for good. Celebrities may set fashions, politicians make policies and legislators pass laws, but it is God’s people who make a difference that counts for eternity.
Zacharias and Elizabeth were both of a priestly family and it was crucial that the heritage was passed on. Priests had to come from the line of Aaron or they would cease to exist. It was therefore all the more heart-breaking that Elizabeth could not conceive and give birth to a son. And in those days it was felt that someone must have done something wrong to cause infertility.
Praying – and grieving
Every month this couple would have prayed and grieved, but somehow they kept going and lived exemplary lives as they served God faithfully. Although priests were not allowed to marry a divorcee (Leviticus 21:7), they themselves could divorce and remarry. If Zacharias was a ‘man of the world’, he could easily have swapped Elizabeth for a ‘younger model’. Sadly, it happens so often when men have reached the heights of their profession or business.
There are few couples in the Bible who could be regarded as role models. As we have seen, many of the Old Testament heroes had flawed marriages. This elderly couple are among three notable marriages recorded in the New Testament, the others being Mary and Joseph, and Priscilla and Aquila.
Qualities
Let’s look at some of the qualities of Zacharias and Elizabeth. Firstly, they were both believers. They had a common key interest and motivation. In many ways their goals were the same. While there are numerous instances of Christians being married to non-Christians, the Bible urges us to marry believers (2 Corinthians 6:14). Marrying a Christian is not necessarily the key to a good marriage, but it is certainly the first step in the right direction. Although a spouse may later become a Christian, this is unusual and it is good advice to avoid marrying a person who is not a believer.
Secondly, they were a couple who confided in one another, sharing their deepest thoughts and concerns. They appeared to enjoy one another’s company and there was an unmistakable, enduring trust between them.
Thirdly, they stayed together during hard times, particularly so during Elizabeth’s childlessness and also when Zacharias was later temporarily disabled.(Luke 1:22).
Priestly caste
There were up to 18,000 priests in Israel, charged with instructing the people as well as with ceremonial duties in the Jerusalem Temple. It was a chance in a lifetime when Zacharias was chosen to burn incense on the appointed day. And it was during his service there that an extraordinary incident took place.
Modern men and women have great difficulty believing in the described angelic visitation. But if they do not believe in a Creator God, it is unlikely that they will believe in the truth of such an event. Their main problem is not difficulty over the text, but their initial un-belief in God. We may think that supernatural claims like this were common in Israel at the time, but angelic visions had not actually happened for centuries.
Zacharias was terrified – the usual emotion related to a divine revelation or appearance in the Bible – not laughter, fascination, or a warm spiritual feeling, but unmitigated terror. (Revelation 1:17) Then we read words which are typical of such circumstances that would be regularly repeated in the ministry of Jesus: “Do not be afraid.” Or more succinctly, “Fear not!”
We are often fearful of people around us, frightened by our circumstances, uncertain about the future, and need to remind ourselves of those comforting and encouraging words.
Profound words …
So, after all those years of prayer and no apparent response, the old man heard words that shocked him profoundly. He and Elizabeth were going to have a son who would be named John.
Zacharias, the pious priest, was stunned. He and his wife were elderly. They had experienced all those years of disappointment. Doubt immediately clouded his mind. Even Christians of many years’ standing can begin to doubt the promises of God.
Many doubt the literal return or second coming of Jesus, but one day it will happen. Some doubt that Jesus will always be with them and that things will work out for good. (Romans 8:28)
Because Zacharias doubted, he was made both deaf and dumb for some nine months until the birth of his son. God may at times need to intervene somewhat painfully in the circumstances of our lives to draw us more closely to Himself. The interview with the angel took longer than the text seems to indicate. What is clear is that he returned to his wife, friends and congregation a non-gibbering wreck.
It is at this point that the qualities of Elizabeth become evident. After Zacharias completed his duties, she accompanied him home after which she no doubt cared for him and spoke for him. Having understood her beloved husband’s vision, she had faith to believe God would fulfil his promise even in this seemingly impossible situation. So she comforted him and, in the course of time, became pregnant.
Waiting
However, she waited until things became clearer rather than risk being mocked by the disbelief of her neighbours. So this delightful lady remained quiet for five months, knowing that no one would believe her. There are times when we need wisdom from God to know whether to speak openly about what he has done and there are times to be silent.
This couple was unusual in ways that may not be obvious to the contemporary mindset. In first century Israel it was the practice that women who had important roles in the home were not required to be educated in language, law and the Scriptures. So they were not present at lectures and the rabbinic teaching schools. But it is worth noting that Jesus encouraged women to be present at his teaching sessions (Luke 10:38-42). In Elizabeth’s case, thanks to the loving partnership with her husband, it is evident that she was both literate and educated. For when the pregnant Mary, mother of Jesus, arrived at her house, she very perceptively realized immediately what was going on:
And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:41-45).
Luke, both in his gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, describes people as being “full of the Holy Spirit”. And the first to be given this truly momentous designation is a woman – Elizabeth. Although Zacharias doubted he would have a son, it was Elizabeth who had the faith to believe. Elizabeth is a great example of a wife caring for firstly a fallible husband who doubted God’s message, and secondly an infirm husband. She acted like a loving sister in Christ, caring for her brother-husband.
As marriage has been stated to represent the mystical union between Christ and His church, wives are urged to regard their husbands as Christ. Husbands in a sense are like Christ in the relationship, but we are not Christ. Unlike Christ, we are sinful and fallible and continue to seek to change as long as we live on this earth. This is true for men and women.
They did not chide one another, but encouraged each other along their respective and complementary spiritual journeys. During Zacharias’ incapacity, she took the initiative, in the welcome she gave to Mary. When Zacharias recovered he took the initiative.
Full of the Spirit
Later on, when Zacharias’ speech returned, he too was described as “full of the Holy Spirit”. He then uttered a wonderful prophecy which expounded the ministries both of their son John and Mary’s son, the Lord Jesus. (Luke 1:68-79)
This marvelous but relatively unknown couple were the parents of John the Baptist about whom Jesus said that there was no-one greater among those born of women. (Matthew 11:11)
Zacharias and Elizabeth had a close relationship. But they were not bound up in themselves to the exclusion of others. In fact, together, they lived both for God and for others.
Questions:
- How should we encourage mutual spiritual growth?
- What are the principles behind caring for a disabled spouse?
- How do we hold on to God’s promises? 3:17-21)
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Jonathan Redden worked as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. After retirement he studied theology at Bible College. He has lectured extensively in Europe and China and has written scientific papers on arthroscopic and orthopaedic surgery.
He is the author of From Romania with Hope; Expository Thoughts on Acts – A Surgeon Looks at a Physician’s Narrative; Exploratory Thoughts on Luke – A Surgeon Examines a Physician’s Gospel and Desperate Prayer.
Jonathan Redden continues this short series over the next few months
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