This week a blast from the past hit me. It was a blast of cold air, as the temperatures plummeted, and the rain came down. I felt like I was back home in my native Buffalo, as I shivered and tried to stay dry. But what is more interesting is that these feelings and these circumstances brought back memories of times long ago and even of things I had forgotten. Have you ever had feelings and circumstances bring back memories of times long ago and even of things forgotten? If you have, then you have a small glimpse of what it must have been like to live in Israel in the days of Herod and Caesar Augustus. The days of the Kingdom of Israel were long gone. It had been 400 years since the Word of God had been heard among the people of Israel. The world had changed, in virtually every way.

But now, in Jerusalem itself, change was about to come again. A bigger change. A change put into effect by the plan of the living God! God was on the move, and Israel (and the world!) would never be the same again.

I. Time of Trouble

II. Appearance of the Angel

III. Responding to Revelation

Questions for consideration: (1) Why are we so likely to link difficult circumstances with abandonment by God? What does this passage teach us about that? (2) How did Zechariah’s life prepare him for the visit of the angel? Why wasn’t that enough? (3) What “reproach” is there in your life? How does the “good news” of the angel provide a “taking away” of it?