December 14: Your Only Saving Grace

December 14:

Luke 1:18-25  “Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.’  The angel answered, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.’  Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.  When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.  When his time of service was completed, he returned home.  After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.  ‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.’’

As part of a book discussion, my students and I talking about various means of draft avoidance during the Vietnam War.  One such means was marriage.  As an example, I tell them the story of my mother-in-law and father-in-law.  At the age of 20, my father-in-law was dating my mother-in-law, who was 16 at the time.  Neither one of them wanted my father-in-law to be drafted, so they decided that getting married would solve that problem.

Since my mother-in-law was underage, her mother (aka Granny) or her father would need to sign (offer consent) for her.  Granny wasn’t too thrilled at the prospect because she was afraid that my mother-in-law wouldn’t finish high school.  My mother-in-law promised her that she would, so Granny agreed to sign.

They were married in June, and three months later, my mother-in-law discovered that she was pregnant with my sister-in-law and ended up dropping out of school.  (She later earned her GED).

My students are usually confused as to why she dropped out of school.  When I tell them it was because she was pregnant, and in that era, pregnant girls were not allowed to attend school, they are surprised and confused.  In today’s age, a pregnant belly or two is a common occurrence in high school. 

“But she was married,” They state indignantly, “Why couldn’t she go to school?”

The best explanation that I can give them is that a pregnant belly, whether a product of marriage or not, was considered indecent and disgraceful, especially in a school setting. Even married female teachers who became pregnant during this time period had to resign.

Disgrace is an interesting word that can function as a verb or a noun.  To disgrace someone is to bring shame or unacceptably discredit either himself or someone else.  A state of disgrace is a loss of reputation or respect.  The root of the word alludes to its function: dis (meaning, a lack of or a reversal of) grace (honor or favor).

In today’s passage, the word, disgrace, is associated with both Zechariah and Elizabeth.  One experiences the verb while the other is concerned with the noun.

After hearing the good news, Zechariah’s first reaction is a completely human one.  He asks, “How can I be sure of this?” (Luke 1:18)  In other words, ”Prove it.”  Then, he says, “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”  (Luke 1:18) In other words, “This makes no sense.  It totally defies logic.”  What a disappointment, especially from a man who had just been described as “upright in the sight of God, observing all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly”  (Luke 1:6).  Rather than reacting in faith, Zechariah reacted out of fear. 

God’s disappointment translated into a consequence. “And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time” (Luke 1: 20).  I think it’s important to note that God did not reverse His promise; John the Baptist was still on the way.  However, because of a lapse in faith, God deemed it necessary that Zechariah endure a tangible reminder of the way in which he had not only disgraced himself but also God.

Zechariah clearly was not the only one who had yearned for a child.  While Elizabeth was in seclusion during her pregnancy, she says, “The Lord has done this for me. In these days, He has shown His favor and taken away my disgrace among the people” (Luke 1: 25).

Apparently, Elizabeth, too, had suffered personal embarrassment and shame because she was barren.   

After all, as a priestess for God (and a reportedly righteous one too), she must have assumed that people questioned the depth of her devotion and authenticity since God had not answered her prayer and blessed her with a child. When her belly swells, Elizabeth feels as though her reputation is growing again as well.

Disgrace does not originate with the Heavenly Father; it is born of sin and emanates from us to others and even toward Christ.  It does not, however, flow back from Him; God is always, and has always been, only about grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”

While shame, embarrassment, and guilt are byproducts of disgrace, God does not impose them upon us, nor does He ask us to linger over those consequences.  Each time, we slip and fall, He offers to pick us up and let us start all over. In other words, He offers grace. 

Psalm 40:1-2 “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. ² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”

From grace comes life.  For Zechariah and Elizabeth, that life was physical – their son, John.  For us, that life is blessed, fulfilling, and eternal. Disgrace is just a word; it is not a way of life.  Take the consequence of your actions, learn from it and accept the free, no-strings-attached gift of grace.

John 14:1-3 “14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God^[a]; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Challenge:  Smile at five strangers today. A sincere smile can really make a positive difference in someone’s day.· Without saying a word you are letting that person know that you see them and that they matter. People appreciate being noticed and acknowledged! ·As Plato once said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Encourage five strangers today by giving them each a smile!