The announcement

Zacharias and Elizabeth lived in a very modest home nestled in the hill country just south of Jerusalem. Zacharias was a priest in the service of the Most High God at the temple in Jerusalem. He was one of thousands of priests, each of whom served a total of two weeks during the year. This was going to be a special year for Zacharias because, as a priest, he was allowed to burn incense in the temple once during his lifetime and this year the lot fell to him. It’s interesting to note that, in addition to Zacharias being from the priestly line of Levi, Elizabeth was a direct descendant of Aaron, the very first high priest of Israel and the brother of Moses.

Elizabeth and Zacharias were both well advanced in years as Elizabeth became pregnant with her first child. She had been barren all her life but now God had sent the angel Gabriel to announce to Zacharias, while he was standing near the altar of incense, that his wife would bear him a son. Zacharias was shaking with fear as the angel Gabriel, who towered over him, said “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”

The news was just too much for him and he doubted that this could be true, implying that God could not accomplish this great miracle in his life. Once more, Gabriel spoke to Zacharias who must have fallen face first onto the ground, “But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time”. As the great, thunderous voice ceased, Zacharias peeked through his hands that had been clenched tightly around his face. The large angel was nowhere to be seen as he got up. As he exited the temple he faced a growing crowd of curious onlookers who could not get one word out of his mouth but they tried just the same.

Six months later and seventy miles away, Elizabeth’s relative Mary was also greeted by the angel Gabriel “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women! Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Mary stood still in the dim light.

As the last word left the magnificent angel’s lips, the Holy Spirit came upon her and the power of the Highest overshadowed her and she immediately became pregnant with the Son of God! Gabriel went on to inform Mary that Elizabeth and Zacharias would also have a son even in their old age. And it was that, as the glory of the Lord began to diminish, the angel Gabriel departed with these last words “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Mary would cherish these words sent from God as well as reflect on them many times before Jesus would be born into the world.

Mary’s father and brother saddled the family’s donkey so that she could set out on the 70 mile journey to visit her relative Elisabeth who lived in the hill country of Judah. Mary longed to verify and witness the miracle that the angel Gabriel had prophesied to her concerning Elizabeth’s conception. Mary, her brother, and Joseph set out in haste towards the hill country south of Jerusalem to visit Elizabeth. The road was rocky and the long trip took the trio several days to complete.

As Mary neared the village her heart began to pound as she remembered what the messenger from God had imparted to her. She knocked and then pushed open the door to Zacharias’ house.  There, sitting near the fireplace warming herself, was Elizabeth. Mary hurried to greet her with a joyful “Shalom” and kissed her on each cheek. It happened that as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the baby leaped in her womb; And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary and Elizabeth encouraged each other with the wonderful news God had delivered through the angel Gabriel, however Zacharias was still unable to speak to anyone.

Mary chose to stay and help Elizabeth with all the day to day chores by cooking, cleaning and washing clothes. She stayed three months with her until it was just time for the arrival of her son. Then Mary returned to Nazareth with Joseph and her brother.  However, the trip back took much longer because she was now further along with her pregnancy.  As they traveled through Jerusalem, the morning sun illuminated the gold doors of the temple as the baby kicked inside her womb. Soon she would be back in her own quaint village of Nazareth awaiting the birth of the blessed Son of God!

“The announcement” is part one of a three part short story that will be published during the month of December. I would like to invite you to travel along with Mary and Joseph as they follow this same road to their ancestral city of Bethlehem, enduring many trials on their way to registrar for the Roman census.