besquared.org Blog

Today’s Text

There is so much to talk about in this text and I plan to ignore the vast majority of it. In fact, here is a list of what I will NOT be talking about.

• The signifigance for the double decent from Aaron as a foreshadowing of John’s role.
• The implications of bearing the mantle of Elijah.
• The puns on hearing and speach, and angels (ie. messengers) and muteness that are everywhere in this section.
• What are they talking about in v. 8-10 about how the priestly system worked?
• The narrative suspense being built in this story by starting with a foreshadowing of a birth that isn’t even Jesus. Luke thinks that we need this narrative context for some reason. (In contrast to how a Bond movie (or the gospel of Mark) starts, with lots of action and little or no context.)
• This narrative introduction creates continuity with the great redemption narrative of which this is a part. One of the puzzles of Lukes gospel is that despite Greek authorship and audience, Luke cares a great deal about narrative and theological continuity with the Old Testament. Telling this story is a subtle but important example of that.

If you want to know more about the above topics, you will have to ask. If you don’t care, then don’t ask.
Instead I want to talk about the pendulum from smug self-satisfaction to personal conviction that I follow as I consider Zechariah’s response to the words of the angel. It happens the same way every time I read such story. The angel comes to someone, or someone sees a vision, and they respond with doubt or delay. And I think, “How could anyone refuse such a situation? How could anyone respond like this?” I often even go on to think, “I would not have responded like that. If I had a vision, if had a direct word from God, I would do it God’s way. I would never presume.”

But in my heart – even when I am stuck in smug self-satisfaction – I know that I am lying. I know that Zechariah’s impulsive doubt that God could do what God says pales in comparison with the lifestyle of scepticism that I often practice.

Recently, Evan and I were discussing how to water tomatoes. I had showed him twice and he was ready to try. He had his own idea of how to do it. I stopped him and explained, “That’s a good idea buddy, but it won’t work. You need to do it just like I showed you.” He tried again a different way from his first attempt but still not how I had showed him. (Just for clarity I want to assure you that his problem was not that he could not do it the way I had taught, it was that he would not.) I stopped him again and firmly explained, “Evan, there is one way to do this. If you won’t do it my way, you can’t do it.” So he quit. (Again – for clarity – he has since relented and is now excellent at watering plants. You can hire him for 10$ per hour.) As he left I found myself thinking, “Who in the world does he think he is? How could he possibly imagine that his way of doing something would be better than mine?”

As I reflect on this text today, those thoughts haunt me. You see, I do have direct access to words from God. I pretend that if an angel came it would be different, but I have the teaching of the very son of God. I have access to more direct teaching and instruction from God than Zechariah did, and yet I still say, “How can I be sure of this?” I am quite enamored with my own ideas. Like Zechariah, I know how the world works. Old women don’t have babies.

• God has said to me (and to you) directly, “Do not worry about you will wear or eat. Seek first the kingdom and all this will be added to you.” And I say, “How can I be sure of this, because I know how the world works, people who seek first the kingdom often don’t eat as well as I would like nor do they dress as comfortably as I want to.”
• God has said to me (and to you) directly, “Love your enemies. Do good to them.” And I say, “How can I be sure of this, for I have studied history and I know how the world works, many who have loved their enemies were killed by those enemies. Jesus’ love for enemies led to cross.”
• God has said to us directly, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” And I say, “How can I be sure of this, for I know how the world works, if I don’t look out for myself no one will.”
• God has said to us directly, “If I am lifted up, I will draw all men to me.” And I say, “How can I be sure of this, for I know how the world works, people don’t want Jesus, they want better lives, and better marriages, and lower golf scores, they want their life – their best life – and they want it now. If all I offer is the life of Jesus in them, it is not enough.”
• God has said to us directly, “Come to me all who are burdened and I will give you rest.” And I say, “How can I be sure of this, for I know how the world works, who would get the work done, could I really rest? If I wasn’t busy how could your kingdom grow?”

I think that God roars – or whispers – BE SILENT. And then says,

You may think that you know how the world works,

but you have forgotten how I work.

Zechariah did not overestimate the challenge. His biology was right. Old men and old women do not have children. But he did underestimate his God. God delights in working against the grain. God brings children to the barren and eloquence to the shy and power to the humble and grace to the lost. I need this story. It is a great way to start a gospel because it reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways and God’s power is sufficient even against impossible odds. But even more, I need this story in my life.

I need to be reminded that all God asks is faithfulness to God’s ways and God’s plans, even when I cannot see their wisdom. I pray that I might object less to God’s ways and object more to the ways of Men. I prya that I will continually submit to God’s wisdom and will even when to follow them seems folly at best and impossible at worst.

-Ethan

Ps. If you have questions about that other stuff, feel free to ask. And if you have areas of God’s will that you find hard to trust, you can add to my list.