Welcome back to Jesus Daily. Thank you for your patience as the writer took a three day break to go with his son to be disconnected while hiking the Appalachian Trail in the Berkshires. We pick back up in the beginning of Luke today.
Luke 1:5-25 | Acts 1:20b-26
There are many things that can and should be considered in this portion of Luke’s long opening chapter. Zechariah & Elizabeth’s story has much to digest beyond a nod prior to Christmas. But for now, consider one fascinating aspect of the story and the larger New Testament this morning.
The Bible knows nothing of democratic voting.
The choice form of government in the scriptures are kingdom and empire, by which a sole leader is chosen by divinity or dominion (and thus assumed by divine choice). But in the New Testament in particular, smaller groups of people choose who will come into a particular role by casting lots or a lottery.
Could Christians today have such faith? To the modern mind, choosing by lottery seems quite foreign and frankly, irresponsible. But we might stop and consider: are today’s selection methods any better at determining good leadership?
Could followers of Jesus have such faith in both God and people that someone selected randomly would be affirmed, empowered, and gifted by God to pick up the mantle of leadership and do well with it?
Luke 1:5-25
During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old. One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty. Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering. An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear.
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God. He will go forth before the Lord, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old.”
The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you. Know this: What I have spoken will come true at the proper time. But because you didn’t believe, you will remain silent, unable to speak until the day when these things happen.”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered why he was in the sanctuary for such a long time. When he came out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he gestured to them and couldn’t speak. When he completed the days of his priestly service, he returned home. Afterward, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She kept to herself for five months, saying, “This is the Lord’s doing. He has shown his favor to me by removing my disgrace among other people.”
Acts 1:20b-26
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.
Prayer1
God,
Foolish we are, believing that we can rule ourselves by selecting this or that person to rule over us. We are at it again.
Help us not to think it more significant than it is, but also give us and those who come into our leadership enough wisdom to acknowledge our follies.
Help us laugh at ourselves, for without humor our ways of doing life together cannot be humane.
We desire to dominate and thus are dominated. Free us, dear Lord, for otherwise we perish.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Adapted from Prayers Plainly Spoken, by Stanley Hauerwas