Advent Day 14

"And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, 'What then will this child be?' For the hand of the Lord was with him."

    ~Luke 1:65-66

When it says they became afraid, I don't know what kind of fear that is. If it was the stupefied awe of being in the presence of the miraculous or if it was fear as we usually define it over the unexplainable in their midst. But what I know is that they were experiencing a strong emotion, and big emotions have the tendency to mobilize us. We can recognize this in our own lives. The news that catches us, that moves like wildfire, is the news that sparks significant emotion. And this news--these miraculous events--spread throughout their community and beyond it. And whatever motivated its initial spread, it's clear that they understood they'd born witness to God's hand. After 400 years of silence, there had been a vision in the temple, a miraculous conception (well, two actually, but they didn't know that), and the restoration of speech all tied to the birth of this one child. No wonder they asked, "Who will this child be?" No wonder they stored every moment in their hearts, waiting for the day when they would see their question answered.

Do you see how God involves the greater community in these unfolding events?

First they see only the signs of God's movement, but then they are invited to bear witness first hand. And it's that witness that mobilizes them through the rest of their region. 

This story shows the interaction of public and private moments. Both have their time and place. God could have sent his angel before the entire assembly like He did with the shepherds. The message wasn't for them, but they could have been broadcasting it to the world so much sooner. Could've been testifying that the God they hadn't heard in 400 years was speaking again. But it wasn't time.

How many times is the phrase "appointed time" mentioned throughout Scripture? Jesus said His time had not yet come in relation to His public ministry and His death and resurrection. Timing matters, and God is intentional in every waiting season, working His purposes.

Zechariah was alone in the temple. Elizabeth withdrew. But in the appointed time, the miracle became public. Other people witnessed the work God was doing in a direct way. They didn't merely see its after-effects but participated in it. And that participation connected them to the truth in a way that mere knowledge cannot. And it was in that moment that news spread. And instead of having two witnesses to what God was doing, the whole community bore the testimony.

There are times to hold the promise close, and there are times to broadcast it to our community so that the testimony can spread beyond where we could ever take it, glorifying God and encouraging even those we might never meet.