Rev Gav

Barren

Luke 1:5-7

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵ When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. ⁶ Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. ⁷ They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Reflect

Luke began with the story of a married couple called Liz and Zechariah – two ordinary people going about their ordinary lives. At the time, Herod was the Jewish king and he was called ‘Herod the Great’, although he wasn’t considered great by many Jewish people as he was under the control of the occupying Romans. Herod was rebuilding the great temple in Jerusalem, and it was in this temple that priests from the surrounding countryside, such as Zechariah, would take turns to go and work – performing priestly duties.

However, this story of Liz and Zechariah doesn’t start with joy but with heartache. Like many families, this one had its own tragedy. Being unable to have children is terribly difficult for any couple, but back in the religious setting of first century Palestine, it was a major deal. Some people thought it was a sign that you’d been ditched by God, and others would even poke fun at you. Harsh, huh?

In the same way that Liz and Zechariah suffered from heartache, families today  also experience heartache, for example, family breakup, loss or illness. But in the same way that this story starts with Liz and Zechariah, God’s story in the world starts with you. You’re at the cutting edge of God’s work in the world right now.

Do

Today, think of something that has caused or is causing heartache within your own family. Bring some of that heartache to God, and ask God to stand with you and/or other family members in their pain.

Pray

Holy God
Every family goes through difficult things,
and yet your story in the world begins with me.
Help strengthen my relationships with those around me,
that together we might bring;
peace where there’s conflict
reconciliation where there’s division
and comfort where there’s distress.
This day and forever.
Amen.

Think

What’s God (through Luke) communicating to us, by starting his whole book with a family going through such heartache?