Lk 1:11-17 - And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
Here is a classic case of fear and doubt being stronger than the fear of God. As a result, Zechariah is mute for nine months. I am sure he had a lot to think about over the nine months that John was in his wife’s tummy, and he probably learned a fear greater than he had ever known. What a privilege to both see an angel and then have such a direct consequence. Often I wonder if the point of discipline from the Lord is used to build our faith and our fear in God. Zechariah did go against all common sense and tradition when his tongue was unloosed when he said, “His name will be John.” And you bet it affected the way he parented this young man in the Lord. Hebrews 12:5-6 say “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
