Luke 1:13

New International Version (NIV)

But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.

For Meditation

I remember the first time the then President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, visited my hometown. I was in elementary school then, and a proud member of the Young Pioneers (YP), a group the President had formed to inculcate nationalism in the youth. Before the Presidents arrival, many things changed in my town. All the potholes in the road from Ejisu, the district capital were filled. The houses that lined the main street of our town were painted, and our youth group received new flags and scarves for the occasion. It was all because the President was coming to town.

A little over two thousand years ago, another sovereign visited His people. He came as a baby called Jesus. Even though He did not come as the King of kings that He is, a lot of things in the world changed because of His coming. Two notables were the changes the Greek and Roman empires brought. The Greek Empire gave the world a common language and the Roman Empire provided roads to facilitate the Gospel movement. But, some notables also happened to some individuals.

An old couple received an answer to a prayer they had been praying for a very long time, and had given up on it because of their age. Zechariah and Elizabeth received a special visitation from angel Gabriel who announced the birth of a son to them (Lk. 1:13). The child was to be named John, “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (17). Elizabeth got pregnant and rejoiced, saying, “The Lord has done this for me … In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people” (23). It was all because, Jesus was coming to the world to save it.

1. What has changed in your life because of the coming of Jesus?
2. Have you received the favor that Elizabeth celebrated because of Jesus’ coming?
3. Have you experienced the joy of the young virgin called, Mary; not only because she was favored to carry the Messiah, but because of the salvation He was bringing to the world (69)?
4. Has the peace that was pronounced by the angels on the earth to, “those on whom his favor rests,” settled in your heart (2:14)?
5. What are you expecting this Christmas, because of Jesus’ birth?

I pray a major change, both spiritually and physically, to take place in your life this Christmas season, because Jesus is born.

So: May you be expectant and prepared to receive from the Lord Jesus; and may the favor, joy and peace that accompanied His coming, all come upon you this Christmas season.

Because Jesus is coming back, many things must give way in your life.

 Shalom