Luke 1:1-4 To modern readers, investigating everything carefully - checking the facts, talking to the participants and eyewitnesses - seems the norm for anyone purporting to write a non-fictional account of events. It would be incongruous to apply modern standards to the time of the Roman Empire. Such attention to accuracy should inspire us to the realization that Luke, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was not just writing for his own time, but for future readers he could not possibly imagine. Luke must have gotten a lot of the material through conversations with Mary, since Joseph, Elizabeth, Zacharias were probably all long-gone, and we have no record that Luke himself ever met Jesus, since his only autobiographical hints are found later in Acts.

Luke 1:5-7 In Zacharias and Elisabeth we find a parallel to Abram and Sarai. (cf Gen 11:30 & 17:17.) A barren couple, honoring God with their way of life, past the years of childbearing, are promised, and eventually receive a son.

Luke 1:8-25 In the promise by God of a son to be born miraculously, both couples wrestled with God's promise. Sarah laughed and was rebuked (Gen 18:12-15) although Hebrews 11:11 tells us that she considered God able (so why did she laugh), but Zacharias was struck mute for more than nine months (Luke 1:20&64). Perhaps the angel judged that he should have learned from the story of Abraham (which he must have known). Paul tells us that Abraham did not waiver in faith (Romans 4:19-20)

            These passages must raise for us the self-examination of how often we doubt God's promises, and how graciously He deals with our doubts. It has been suggested that Zacharias' divinely appointed muteness prevented him from voicing further doubts. When we struggle with God, do we doubt God's power, or do we wonder if He would really do that for us? Do we see God's supernatural intervention as humorous, setting aside the natural order of things so that He can have his way? Are we sensitive enough to discern the additional signs He gives us, or does He have to clobber us on the head to get our attention?