Advent: Week 3: Wednesday: Year C

1^st Reading: Judges 13:2-7,24-25a

Gospel: Luke 1:5-25

Zachariah and Elizabeth, the Parents of John the Baptist: Godly Parents

Every generation needs the example of godly parents. The parents of John the Baptist were godly, dynamic examples of what parents should be. They were human showing some weaknesses, but they were striking examples for all.

1. The parents of John the Baptist (v.5)

a. They lived in the time of Herod

b. The father was a priest and the mother was of a priestly family

2. They were parents who were righteous (v.6)

3. They were parents with human problems (v.7)

a. They had no child

b. They were elderly

4. They were parents who worshipped (v.8-9)

5. They were parents who prayed and led others to pray (v.10)

6. They were parents greatly favoured by God (v.11-17)

a. Their worship and prayers were favoured by a visit from an angel

b. Their prayers were answered: They received the promise of a son

c. Their son was to be great

d. Their son was to be a prophet

e. Their son was to be the forerunner of the Messiah

7. They were parents who found it difficult to believe the humanly impossible (v.18-19)

8. They were parents who had to be disciplined by God (v.20-22)

9. They were parents who saw God fulfil His promise (v.23-25)

Thought: The point to see about Zachariah and Elizabeth is that God did hear their prayer and bless them richly. He favoured  them because they were faithful to Him.

Every true child of God knows the discipline of God’s hand.

God will not allow people to disbelieve and distrust forever. The day is coming when they will stop all disbelief and distrust just as He did with Zachariah. What hope for us all, even when our faith is weak!

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com