Once again,
if you think the Christmas story
is all cozy baby and doting parents,
angels singing, cows lowing, and doves cooing,
listen to the song of Zechariah (Luke 1: 68-79).
"Who," you may ask, "is Zechariah?"
Zechariah and Elizabeth
are the uncle and aunt to that tiny baby
whose birthday is so fast approaching.
The couple is too old to have kids,
yet the angel Gabrial visits Zechariah
and announces that they will, in fact,
be having a baby boy--
another miraculous birth,
and one preceding the birth of Jesus.
When baby John is born--
better known to us as John the Baptist--
Zechariah breaks into song,
and much like that of Mary,
it celebrates the coming of the one foretold by the prophets,
the one to bring deliverance, freedom, forgiveness.
But wait, there's more!
Uncle Zech also addresses the new-born as well:
You, too, will be a great prophet,
introducing the one to follow, Jesus,
to a world in need of repentance and hope.
Our son John will lead a strange life,
and die a tragic death,
but he will light the way for the one
who brings light to those without hope,
those who dwell in darkness.
You know, those like us.
So add these three new figures
to your Christmas nativity:
Elizabeth, Zechariah, and John.
The stable's getting crowded.
Is there still room for me? for you?
Text and image © 2024 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.