Dramatized Scripture, Luke 1:5-23
Worship Leader: We live in a world filled with fear. We turn on the news, and it is meant to frighten and numb us. We turn on a show, and the advertisements are intended to tell us how we are falling short and the quick and easy fix for a discounted price. [Pause]
Numbing will not make the fear go away. Buying more will not make our lives better. In this season, we seek to face our fears so we turn to the stories of our faith — stories of others who have lived with fear, loss, and uncertainty. We seek wisdom from their example. Today, we will hear the story of Zechariah from Luke chapter 1 verses 5 through 23.
Narrator: During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belongs to the priestly division of Abijah.
Enter Zechariah.
Narrator: Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, are both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all God’s commandments and regulations. It saddens them to be childless, but both are now very old. One day old Zechariah is chosen by lottery, as is the priestly custom, to enter God’s sanctuary and burn incense. Carrying the incense, Zechariah approaches the high altar alone, as the people, gathered to worship, pray outside the temple during this hour of incense offering. An angel from God appears to Zechariah.
Enter Angel.
Angel: Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the God’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the holy spirit even before his birth. He will bring many Israelites back to the Eternal One their God. He will go forth before the God, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of parents back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Promised One.
Zechariah: How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old.
Angel: I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you. Know this: what I have spoken will come true at the proper time. But because you did not believe, you will remain silent, unable to speak until the day when these things happen.
Angel departs.
Narrator: Meanwhile, the people waiting for Zechariah wonder why he remains in the sanctuary for such a long time.
Zechariah: Leave the incense on the altar and approach the congregation, gesticulating and looking like you are trying to say something.
Narrator: Zechariah finally emerges from the sanctuary. The people realize Zechariah has seen a vision in the temple, for he gestures to them and cannot speak. When he completes the days of his priestly service, he returns home, speechless, to Elizabeth.
Zechariah departs.
Photo: Sculpture, Lincoln Cathedral, UK — taken by Ana Gobledale