Because of Our God’s Deep Compassion
...the dawn from heaven will break upon us.
Luke 1:57-80 | Acts 1:15-26
Zechariah’s prayer probably deserves more attention than it gets. Mary & Jesus get more attention, and deservedly so. But Zechariah’s song concerning John the Baptist is pretty powerful. Don’t miss it.
What’s in a name? The debate concerning what the infant’s name would be (it’s John) was apparently important enough for Luke to include it, among all the things he could have included. Zechariah receives his voice back when vouching for it.
The eleven remaining apostles, short one because of Judas’ demise, choose two names to present to the Holy-Spirit-working-through-casting-lots. Matthias is chosen. It seems this was pretty important, too. Then again, we never hear of Matthias again.
Luke 1:57-80
When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a boy. Her neighbors and relatives celebrated with her because they had heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy. On the eighth day, it came time to circumcise the child. They wanted to name him Zechariah because that was his father’s name. But his mother replied, “No, his name will be John.”
They said to her, “None of your relatives have that name.” Then they began gesturing to his father to see what he wanted to call him.
After asking for a tablet, he surprised everyone by writing, “His name is John.” At that moment, Zechariah was able to speak again, and he began praising God.
All their neighbors were filled with awe, and everyone throughout the Judean highlands talked about what had happened. All who heard about this considered it carefully. They said, “What then will this child be?” Indeed, the Lord’s power was with him.
John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
“Bless the Lord God of Israel
because he has come to help and has delivered his people.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house,
just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago.
He has brought salvation from our enemies
and from the power of all those who hate us.
He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and remembered his holy covenant,
the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham.
He has granted that we would be rescued
from the power of our enemies
so that we could serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes,
for as long as we live.
You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
You will tell his people how to be saved
through the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of our God’s deep compassion,
the dawn from heaven will break upon us,
to give light to those who are sitting in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide us on the path of peace.”
The child grew up, becoming strong in character. He was in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
Acts 1:15-26
During this time, the family of believers was a company of about one hundred twenty persons. Peter stood among them and said, “Brothers and sisters, the scripture that the Holy Spirit announced beforehand through David had to be fulfilled. This was the scripture concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus. This happened even though he was one of us and received a share of this ministry.” (In fact, he bought a field with the payment he received for his injustice. Falling headfirst, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines spilled out. This became known to everyone living in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Hakeldama, or “Field of Blood.”) “It is written in the Psalms scroll,
Let his home become deserted and let there be no one living in it;
and
Give his position of leadership to another.
“Therefore, we must select one of those who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus lived among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when Jesus was taken from us. This person must become along with us a witness to his resurrection.” So they nominated two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
They prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s deepest thoughts and desires. Show us clearly which one you have chosen from among these two to take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” When they cast lots, the lot fell on Matthias. He was added to the eleven apostles.
Prayer
God,
I confess that sometimes the stories in scripture seem quite foreign to me. If I presented the idea of casting lots to determine our leaders to my church or denomination, I myself might be cast out (among other reasons).
But that’s where we’re at with the early Church. Nothing of democracy to be found here in Acts, or anywhere else, really. Just you, the King, and your Kingdom.
So help me, God: Give me the same trust as those apostles, who assumed with whomever was chosen, all would be well. Give me the fortitude to keep on despite my desire to control, influence, or affect things.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.