Heroes of Christmas: Zachariah & Elizabeth

Welcome to The Heartbeat of Faith Podcast, hosted by Dr. Andrew Farley. In this special Christmas episode, we delve into the story of two unsung heroes, Zachariah and Elizabeth, who exemplify the profound impact of our elders on our faith journey. The message of Christmas, the epic coming of Christ, was made possible through the small yet significant acts of obedience and unwavering faith of those who paved the way for us. Join us in exploring their inspiring journey and reflecting on the legacy of faith they left behind.

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As we celebrate Christmas, let us not forget the profound impact of our elders and predecessors. Their faith, humility, and obedience have shaped the course of history and provided us with a roadmap to follow. By appreciating their struggles and the traditions accumulated over generations, we gain hope and guidance as we venture into uncharted territory. Join us in honoring our forerunners and consider the legacy you will leave behind for future generations. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray. Therefore, I exhort the elders among you
as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings
of Christ, and who will also share in the glory
that will be revealed First Peter Chapter five, Verse one.
Dear God, your goodness endures throughout the generations. I praise

(00:26):
you for your faithfulness to our ancestors who faced hardships
and trials while paving the way for Jesus. Thank you
for those who trusted you and played a role in
bringing about this beautiful gospel message. I am in awe
of how your presence has ministered to every generation in

(00:48):
Jesus name. Amen, thank you for praying with me today.
Now discover the profound intricacies of the heartbeat of faith
with doctor Andrew Farley.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Elders are our forerunners. They pave the way for us
to walk boldly into the future. Our lives are often
made better by the small acts of obedience, love, and
bravery of those who came before us.

Speaker 3 (01:27):
You, my little son, will be a prophet of the
most High. You will prepare the way of the Lord.
You will point people towards their salvation. You will show
them the way the morning light of Heaven is breaking
on us this day.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
Hi, I'm doctor Andrew Farley, and welcome to another Christmas
episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. Today we honor
two figures who were the forerunners of Mary and Joseph,
that is, Zachariah and elizabeths represent a running theme in
the Bible. We are often enriched by those who came

(02:06):
before us. So let's begin.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
In the time of King Herod, there was a Jewish
priest by the name of Zechariah. He and his wife
Elizabeth were loved among the people. Their righteousness and love
for God was well known. However, they lacked children, for
Elizabeth was barn As their years increased, so did their
love for God and one another, although the pain of
being childless never left.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Zachariah and Elizabeth were advanced in years and had given
up hope that they would ever conceive a child. Yet
they remained faithful and were chosen by God.

Speaker 3 (02:51):
One day, Zachariah was serving God in the temple. It
was his turn to enter into the Sanctuary of God
to burn incense. While he stepped into the Holy of Holies,
a bright light emerged from the smoke. Zechariah fell in
fear as he stared at the Angel stepping out before him.
His knees trembled as he gazed upon the magnificent creature.

(03:11):
Do not be afraid, Zechariah, the Angel said, God has
heard your cries for a child. Elizabeth will give you
a son, and he will be the messenger proclaiming the
new age of the Lord. He will be filled with
God's spirit and a mighty voice for liberation.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
Zachariah and Elizabeth were the parents of John the Baptist,
who was the forerunner of Jesus. John the Baptist preached
repentance to the people of Israel and prepared the way
for Christ.

Speaker 3 (03:47):
A multitude of people gathered by the Jordan waiting for John.
They had been meeting him for weeks, now listening to
him proclaiming the way of the Lord. John scanned the
sea of faces and stepped into the river was cool
and refreshing. He turned around to the people and raised
his voice. Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is.

Speaker 1 (04:07):
Near, he yelled.

Speaker 3 (04:09):
One by one, the people walked into the water with
John and were baptized. The submersion in the water represented
a turning away from sin and idolatry. It was often
accustomed Gentiles would undergo to come into the family of God.
Yet Jews flocked to John to be baptized. Their hearts
were softening towards the Lord, and they knew they needed

(04:29):
to turn from their selfish ways and be restored.

Speaker 2 (04:33):
The mission given to Zachariah and Elizabeth wasn't entirely clear.
They had a blurry image of what the future might hold,
and it was up to them to proceed faithfully. This
was the role of many people who came before us.
Uncertain of the future, they had to move forward by

(04:55):
faith in God. They stumbled, sometimes failed, but alt timately
triumphed through God.

Speaker 3 (05:05):
Zechariah smiled and held up his boy. His name will
be John, he said. Zechariah laughed and cried, you, my
little son, will be a prophet of the most High.
You will prepare the way of the Lord. You will
point people towards their salvation. You will show them the way.
The morning light of Heaven is breaking on us this day.

(05:27):
So John grew strong and grew in the favor of God.
An attention of man.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Our forerunners, paved the way for us to walk boldly
into the future. Our lives are often enriched by the
acts of faith, love, and obedience of those who came
before us. Elizabeth and Zachariah represent the beginning of that
transition toward the message of Jesus. They were a folkrum

(05:56):
by which history began to pivot. Faithfulness to God and
humble obedience to his voice helped to usher in a
message of hope the Gospel. Through Elizabeth and Zachariah, John
the Baptist played a crucial role in preparing the way
for Jesus and pointing people towards him. John's ministry focused

(06:21):
on repentance from sins, urging people to turn away from
their wrongdoing and prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah. However,
John's message of repentance was just the beginning. He was
the forerunner for Jesus, who would bring a greater message

(06:42):
the Gospel. The Gospel is not merely about stopping sinning,
but it's about faith in God for righteousness as a
free gift. Through Jesus, we received total forgiveness and a
new life under grace. John the Baptist's importance lies in
his role of directing people to Jesus, who is the

(07:04):
author and perfector of our faith today. It is through
faith in Jesus that we find true righteousness and experience
the fullness of God's grace and forgiveness. During this Christmas season,
let's remember our elders and predecessors, those four runners who

(07:25):
struggled so that we could be encouraged in the amazing
message of the Gospel today. Thank you for listening to
today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. Follow the
podcast so you can learn the Bible in this entertaining
and inspiring way. Download the Prey dot com app, and

(07:46):
for more encouragement in God's grace, visit Andrewfarley dot org.
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