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.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. 

They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Luke 1:5-7 NLT

This is where Luke starts the story, with a beautiful old couple who have long religious traditions, they love God, serve, and they have no children. 

They're both infertile and old. 

Luke is setting us up here for a miracle on the edge, one step removed from Jesus. 

In fact Jesus isn't even here yet, and is breaking in in an unusual place, an unexpected place. 

Zechariah and Elizabeth never gave up serving God even though they lived under Herod's rule, and the one thing they dearly wanted, children of their own, wasn't happening and was now a forlorn hope. 

When the world is against us and hope seems lost, we can all be like Zach & Liz, faithfully serving our God. 

And sometimes, miracles happen. 

I don't know how that works. 

If we knew, well it wouldn't be a miracle right?

Luke is describing the rumble before the earthquake, things are shifting, these 2 old people are part of it, just as we're called to be part of it today. 

#christmas2023

#love God

#love people

#serveevenwithoutamiracle

#rumble

#heavenisenteringthestory