SCRIPTURE
Luke 1: 18-25
And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.
And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
SONG
Silent Night
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
‘Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, Love’s pure Light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming Grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth!
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth!
ACTIVITY
John the Baptist was one of several children in the Bible who were special births because of their parts in God’s huge Redemption Story. I put a * next to the women who God provided a child miraculously to the couple. If your kids are up on their Bible trivia, try quizzing them to see how many they get right. Or just talk about the significance of these special births:
Adam and Eve: Seth, direct line to Noah
Noah and his wife: Shem, direct line to Abraham
Abraham and Sarah*: Isaac
Isaac and Rebekah: Jacob
Jacob and Rachel*: Joseph, a picture of redemption
Jacob and Leah: Judah, the tribe that Jesus came out of
Amram and Jochebed: Moses, leader of Israel out of Egypt
Elkanah and Hannah*: Samuel, a great prophet to King Saul and King David
Boaz and Ruth: Obed, grandfather of King David and in the genealogy of Jesus
Zachariah and Elizabeth*: John the Baptist
And of course, Joseph and Mary* (although Joseph was only the adoptive earthly father): Jesus
