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Tuesday, December 14, 2004
My father had a fish story. A really good one, too. His hobby was deep-sea fishing, and particularly, fishing for marlin...so you'd expect that he'd have a series of stories about the "one that got away." However, his fish story was about one that he actually caught.
First of all, he really did catch a marlin that day. It was 72 inches long and weighed in at 175 pounds. He joked that it was his exact height and weight. Anyway, he stored it in a cooler at the marina in which his boat launched and came home to tell us all about the fish. Needless to say, his intent was to take our family to see his trophy.
When we got to the cooler, the fish wasn't there. My uncles all joked about my dad being a liar and all that, but the cops were called and the whole deal. Turns out, the governor of the state of Florida had caught a fish of some magnitude that day as well, stored in the same cooler, and the feds were on full alert for the stolen fishes. Hours later, the fish were found entered in a marlin tournament for prize money, the theives arrested, and the fish returned to their captors. That marlin still hangs on my sister's wall.
My dad often referred to that day (much to my mother's chagrin) as "the greatest day of his life." I guess we all have great days, too.
We get a look at another great day in Luke 1: 8--25. Remember, Zacharias and Elizabeth were part of a remnant of faithful followers of the Lord against a culture that had strayed from God since they hadn't heard from Him in a prophetic way for over 400 years.
Verses 8--10 give us a background of a great day for Zacharias, the priest. He was serving and chosen by lot to burn incense in the Temple of the Lord. Scripture is a little understated on what an honor this was. There were likely 18,000 candidates for this job, and the lot (sort of God-directed dice, if you will) fell to Zacharias. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, to go into the temple and burn incense in the Holy of Holies.
This was serious business, too. Bells were on the hem of his robe to let those outside the Temple know that he was still moving...because if he did it wrong he would die immediately. They also tied a rope to his ankle, because if he died, no one could go into the Holy of Holies to get him out, either. That's likely why so many people were outside praying at the hour it was being done.
Can you imagine the honor of this day for Zacharias? He will burn incense, literally, before the Lord. One of 18,000. Wow.
He goes in. Bells ringing. Rope dragging. Incense swinging.
And then he catches an angel standing beside the table! He must've been scared witless! Again, scripture does this understated: "He was troubled, and fear gripped him."
He knows that if he does it wrong, he dies. And now something has, at first glance, failed to go according to the prescribed order. Now the greatest day of his life has flashed to become the ultimate worst day of his life. Ugh.
But, in true angelic fashion, the angel starts with "Do not be afraid" (which, I suspect is much easier said than done). He's bringing an answer to prayer. Elizabeth will have a baby, even though she's elderly. The couple will have a son.
His greatest day has gotten even better!
Oh, yes...and not just any son. People will rejoice at his birth. He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will be a member of an elite sect within Judaism that doesn't drink wine or liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit (which, don't forget, in those days, was not "automatic" for Israelites...God chose whom He would bless with the leading of the Spirit). He will turn the children of Israel back to the Lord God. He will be comparable to Elijah, one of the most revered prophets in Jewish history. He will be the forerunner to the Messiah.
His greatest day has gotten yet even better! First, the choice to go in. Second, he will be blessed with a son. Third, his son will be the forerunner to the Messiah.
Wait a minute.
The forerunner to the Messiah. The one that must come according to Isaiah to announce the King of King and Lord of Lords who will redeem the nation. We haven't heard from God in 400 years and now my son will be the one Scripture talks about!
And, that means the Messiah is coming.
History is back in motion from a Jewish perspective.
Wow.
Zachariah is having the greatest of all possible days in his way of thinking. He would be overwhelmed with joy. His mind would be racing. His heart would be beating a mile a minute. The Messiah is coming. My family is part of God's plan to redeem the entire world and usher in His Kingdom. The years of Roman oppression would be over! The King, on his throne! All of history has geared toward this moment! And now it's here...
The great day of Zacharias.
It's really our great day, too, when you think about it.
We'll pick up the story here tomorrow.
Brent 4:43 AM
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