Luke 1:10-20 - Pattern

I taught a Sunday school lesson during the first week of Advent that I based on the first chapter of the book, "Light of the World: the Meaning of Memory" by Amy-Jill Levine.  I'm going to use parts of that lesson for my next three blog posts.  This is based on Luke 1:10-20.  I'll post the passage here (but not on the next few posts:

Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.  Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him.  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.  You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,  for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.  He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.  With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.”  The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”

There are many times in the Bible when we see pattern.  The fact that the author is  writing the story to a particular pattern communicates something to us. For example, when a  woman is at a well in the Bible, a pattern starts.    Do you see a familiar pattern in this announcement and what has led up to it?   It is a pattern of a barren woman, childless, promised children to come.  Where else do you see it in the Bible?  You may recognize it from the Abraham and Sarah story, the Rebekah and Isaac story, the story of Samson’s parents, and the story Samuel’s mother Hannah.

What are the components of the announcement pattern?

• Barren couple without hope for children
• There is an announcement of a coming child – promise of God
• What about the child who is born?  Isaac, Jacob and Esau, Samson, Samuel – all part of  God’s story and work to come.

So, Luke is saying, “here we go again – another great one is about to be born.  See it? You  recognize it.

Compare this to the Annunciation – the announcement to Mary of the birth of Jesus.  How is it  different?  Mary is not barren; she is unmarried.  What does it say about the child to come that “the Holy Spirit  will come upon you, and he power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the  child to be born will be hold; he will be called Son of God.”

Luke is telling us using the same pattern that a great one is to be born, but this one (because of the different  we see in the pattern, we can recognize it) – this one will be even greater.

3. Doubt.  Zechariah expressed doubt when Gabriel finished his announcement.  “How will I know  that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.”  The angel replied “I am  Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I have bene sent to speak to you and to bring you  this good news. But now, because you did not believe my word, which will be fulfilled in their  time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”

Question:  what do you think about this passage?

Is Zechariah being punished for doubt? Is doubt a sin?  Note that Mary asked almost the same  question.

Levine writes, “I imagine that at this point, words failed Zechariah.  He was terrified and  traumatized.  Everything for which he had prayed will come to pass, but he is stuck between  belief and doubt.  What at this point can he say?

Question:  What is the role of silence in our relationship with God?

Question:  Are there times when you allow for silence intentionally?