What is the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth?
"Herod was king of Judea. During the time he was ruling, there was a priest named Zechariah. He belonged to a group of priests named after Abijah. His wife Elizabeth also came from the family line of Aaron. 6 Both of them did what was right in the sight of God. They obeyed all the Lord’s commands and rules faithfully" (Luke 1:5-6).
"But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will have a child. It will be a boy, and you must call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you. His birth will make many people very glad. He will be important in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or other such drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will prepare the way for the Lord. He will have the same spirit and power that Elijah had. He will bring peace between parents and their children. He will teach people who don’t obey to be wise and do what is right. In this way, he will prepare a people who are ready for the Lord'" (Luke 1:13-17).
Zechariah and Elizabeth's story tells us about the birth of John the Baptist.Zechariah was a priest of the tribe of Levi. He served under the reign of King Herod in Judea. Elizabeth was his wife and she was a descendant of Aaron. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth loved God and desired to serve Him. When we first see them in the Gospel of Luke, they are old and they don't have any children.
It was Zechariah's turn to burn incense as part of his priestly duties in the temple. While he is in the temple, the angel Gabriel appears to him (Like 1:11). Gabriel tells Zechariah that God has answered his prayers and that he and his wife would give birth to the Messiah's forerunner. Gabriel also told Zechariah to give the child the name John.
Zechariah is overcome with doubt. Due to his doubt and lack of faith, Gabriel causes Zechariah to be mute until the day John would be born. When Zechariah left the temple, he couldn't speak. He returned home to his wife and they later found out she was pregnant. In Elizabeth's six months of pregnancy, Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah. Mary and Elizabeth are both overcome with joy to be servants of the Lord. Elizabeth gives birth to a son and they name him John. Their son, John the Baptist, paved the way for Jesus.
