Characters of the Nativity - Zechariah: The Silent Witness to God’s Faithfulness
- Rebecca Montrone
- Dec 1, 2025
- 4 min read
This Advent season, we are setting our hearts on a quiet but rich journey: exploring the lives of the men and women God chose to weave into the nativity story. These were real people—ordinary, imperfect, faithful—whose lives intersected with the greatest miracle the world has ever known: the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. By reflecting on their stories, we see anew how God works in human hearts, how He keeps His promises, and how He shapes His people to be part of His redeeming purposes.
Stepping Into Zechariah’s World
Imagine Jerusalem at dawn. Pilgrims shuffle through stone streets as lamps in the Temple courts flicker alive. Priests in white garments move with quiet purpose. One of them—an elderly man named Zechariah—has drawn the lot of a lifetime. Today, he will enter the Holy Place to burn incense before the Lord. Most priests never receive this privilege. Once in a lifetime—if that.
He walks with the slow dignity of age, years of service etched into his face. Behind those lines lies a long sorrow: decades of unanswered prayers, especially the one whispered most often—a child. Yet he and his wife, Elizabeth, have remained faithful, righteous, steadfast.
Zechariah steps into the Holy Place, the golden lampstand glowing beside him, the veil before him, the scent of incense rising. And there—suddenly, terrifyingly—stands the angel Gabriel, breaking 400 years of silence.
God is beginning His greatest work, and Zechariah is the first to hear the news.
Zechariah in the Story of Christ’s Birth
Zechariah is the father of John the Baptist, the promised forerunner who would prepare the way for Jesus. His encounter with Gabriel launches the cascade of events leading to the nativity: Mary’s visitation, John’s birth, and ultimately the arrival of Jesus Christ.
What We Know About Zechariah
Role: A priest from the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5)
Marriage: Husband to Elizabeth, herself from the priestly line of Aaron
Age: Elderly (Luke 1:7)
Character: “Righteous before God” (Luke 1:6)
Location of calling: Inside the Temple’s Holy Place
Unique experience: Struck mute for nine months due to momentary unbelief
Old Testament Prophetic Connections
Zechariah’s son, John, fulfills these prophecies:
Malachi 3:1 — “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.”
Isaiah 40:3 — “A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD…”
Zechariah becomes the hinge between Old Testament expectation and New Testament fulfillment.
Scripture Narrative (Luke 1:18–20)
“And Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man…’ And the angel answered him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God… And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.’ ”
Virtues Reflected in Zechariah’s Life
1. Faithfulness Through Long Obedience
Zechariah lived decades of persistent devotion—serving God even when his deepest prayers seemed unanswered.
Scripture for Meditation
“Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.” — Psalm 37:3
“Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 15:58
A Reflection
Where has God invited me into long obedience? What small acts of quiet faithfulness mark my days? Faithfulness grows not in dramatic moments but in steady rhythms of trust.
2. Humility in Correction
When God disciplined him with silence, Zechariah received it. That silence reshaped him. His first words after nine months were praise.
Scripture for Meditation
“Let the righteous strike me—it is a kindness.” — Psalm 141:5
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” — James 4:6
A Reflection
How do I respond when God slows me down, redirects me, or corrects a faulty assumption? Humility invites transformation.
3. Spiritual Sensitivity
Zechariah’s Benedictus (Luke 1:67–79) reveals a heart saturated in Scripture and attuned to the Messiah’s mission.
Scripture for Meditation
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” — Matthew 5:6
A Reflection
Am I cultivating a heart sensitive to God’s whispers through His Word? A spiritually tender heart recognizes Christ when He moves.
Personal Advent Reflection & Invitation
Like Zechariah, many of us carry long-held prayers, waiting seasons, disappointments, and unfulfilled hopes. Advent invites us to remember: God has not forgotten. He is always at work in silence and slowness.
Today, consider:
Where might God be inviting me to renewed faithfulness?
How can silence—chosen or given—become sacred space?
Where is God birthing something new in me, even if I cannot yet see it?
Let Zechariah’s story remind you that God’s timing is perfect, His promises certain, and His grace sufficient for every fearful or faltering heart.
Closing Advent Prayer
Lord God, You who broke silence with a word of hope,teach me to wait in trust as Zechariah waited. Cultivate in me the faithfulness, humility, and spiritual sensitivity that mark a heart ready to receive Christ. In this Advent season, open my eyes to Your unfolding work and prepare my soul for the joy of Jesus’ coming. Amen.
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