New Christmas Musicals

15 The Promise (optional reading): The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.'" (Mark 1:1-3) The angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John." (Luke 1:13) Zechariah: What shall we say of Him? This God of Israel—t he God of our Fathers? Just this—that Yahweh will do what Yahweh will do. Now, answer this. When have we needed Messiah more than now, hmm? And what shall we say of this old man, this priest of the division of Abijah!? This—that in the winter of my years I hold the promise of God! Listen, I'll tell you how it happened. The day before Sabbath, I traveled to Jerusalem to assume my sacred duties. It is as I've always done. The lots were cast and the honor to offer incen se in the Holy Place fell to me! Never before had I been selected! Never would such an honor happen again. I'm an old man you see, my Elizabeth an old woman. We have no son—no child to care for us. Our lifelong sorrow. But Yahweh—blessed be His name—offered this kindness—and I will not forget. I, Zachariah, would have the honor to serve Him in His temple. That morning, I washed and dressed. I en tered the chamber, the bowl of incense in my hand. I could hear the chants of the Levites. I scattered the incense over the coals—tears on my face! "Hear the prayers of Your people, Lord!" Then suddenly—from the smoke—a voice! "Zechariah, do not be afraid. Yahweh has heard your prayer." Heard my prayer? "Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son." But how? Elizabeth is too old. I am too old! To my eternal shame, I could not believe! "I stand in the presence o f God!" says he. "I was sent to bring you this good news! Now because you doubted, you shall be deaf and mute until the day that these things come to pass!" And it was as he said. I left the Holy of Holies. I could not hear. I could not speak—until the day of his birth—when my son, John, the promise of God was born. 65/2096&97MD - 15 For Preview Only

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