Zechariah's Song
A Baby Named John
Luke 1:5-25,57-80about 2 minutes to read aloud
Zechariah was a priest. He and his wife Elizabeth were old, and they had no children. They had prayed for a child for many years.
One day, Zechariah was chosen to burn incense in the temple. While he was inside, an angel of the Lord appeared to him. Zechariah was afraid.
"Do not fear, Zechariah," the angel said. "Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth your wife will have a son. You shall name him John. He will be great before the Lord. He will turn many of Israel to their God."
"How can I know this?" Zechariah asked. "I am old, and my wife is old too." The angel answered, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. Because you have not believed, you will be silent until these things happen."
Elizabeth had a son. On the eighth day, the family wanted to name him after his father. Elizabeth said, "No. His name is John." They asked Zechariah. He wrote on a tablet, "His name is John."
At that moment, his tongue was loosed, and he praised God. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has come to His people." The Lord had not forgotten.
Questions to talk about
Why had Zechariah and Elizabeth been sad for many years?
Show the answer
They had prayed for a child for many years, and they were old.
What did the angel Gabriel tell Zechariah to name the baby?
Show the answer
'You shall call his name John,' the angel said.
What happened to Zechariah because he did not believe?
Show the answer
Zechariah was silent until the day the child was born and named.
The lesson
The Lord hears long prayers. He comes to His people in His own time, and no promise of His is forgotten.
