2 - Episode 1 - Elizabeth and Zechariah
When Elizabeth married Zechariah she moved to his home in a small town on the outskirts of Jerusalem but they had always stayed in close contact with Mary, Anne and Joachim, visiting whenever they could. During these years, she had watched her young cousin grow into the lovely young person she was now.
As Mary and Joseph were making their way to visit them, Elizabeth and Zechariah, utterly unaware of the fact, were preparing for the birth of their baby in a month’s time. They had gradually come to terms with the reality that, after all the long and childless years of their marriage and despite their earnest but unanswered prayers over many years, their deepest desire to have a child of their own was about to be fulfilled.
The events of the previous year which had brought their dream about were still fresh in their memories. Zechariah was a member of a priestly order and on one particular occasion when it was the turn of his order to perform the temple duties, he had been chosen by lot to be the priest who was to burn the incense in the sanctuary while the people prayed outside.
As he entered the sanctuary, he saw the vision of an angel standing by the altar. He was terrified but the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, I have been sent to tell you that your prayers have been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, is going to have a baby, a son, and you are to name him John. He will bring great joy into your lives and many people will share your joy.
“You must bring him up in a way which befits his destiny. He will be full of God’s spirit and become a great prophet who will bring the people of Israel back to God and help to reconcile families, encouraging everyone who has strayed from living a good life to turn away from their bad habits. It is he is who be given the great task of preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah.”
Zechariah’s response was to say to the angel, “How can this be true because I am too old now and so is my wife?” The reproof came immediately. “I am Gabriel and I have come from God to bring you this good news. My words will come about in due time but because you have doubted my message, you will be unable to speak until this happens.”
Meanwhile, all the people who had been praying outside began to wonder what had happened because Zechariah had been in the Sanctuary for such a long time. When he finally appeared and tried to make signs to them, they realised that he had been struck dumb and understood that he had seen a vision. He gave them no indication of the message he had received; his only desire was to return home as soon as his time of service came to an end to share the story with Elizabeth.
On his arrival, the whole story had to be conveyed to her by signs and by writing on a tablet. Like her husband, she could hardly take the news in but when, sometime later, she found out that she was indeed expecting a baby they were both overjoyed beyond measure. She and Zechariah decided to keep the news to themselves for a while so, for five happy and contented months, they savoured the realisation that, after all these years, the disgrace that Elizabeth had felt so deeply had been taken away by this wonderful gift from God.
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