Waiting...

Saturday, December 20, 2014                                                                                Luke 1:5-25    

Junior High Youth Group

We read this passage during Junior High Youth Group and discussed what happens in the passage and what it might mean for us.  Here’s a summary of this passage from our wonderful 7th and 8th graders:

In this passage, the angel Gabriel comes to tell Zechariah he’s going to have a baby even though he’s insanely old. Zechariah doesn’t believe Gabriel and even go so far as to question him. Because of his doubts, Gabriel tells Zechariah that he’ll be unable to speak until his son, who is supposed to name John, is born. Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife, did become pregnant.

Here are a few additional observations the junior high youth made about the text:

This story is really similar to the story of Abraham and Sarah. They were both really old when Isaac was born, just like in this story. And, neither Abraham nor Sarah believed God when God told them they would have a baby.

It must have been hard for Zechariah and Elizabeth to wait and prepare for their baby to come, especially since Zechariah couldn’t talk. He might have felt very isolated and alone.

Zechariah and Elizabeth must have felt a lot of different emotions – joy because they were going to have a son, fear because they didn’t understand how this was possible, doubt that it was really going to happen, and frustration and impatience because they couldn’t speak to each other.

Youth then discussed how these passages might apply to our lives.  Here are some of their responses:

We are supposed prepare for the birth of Jesus like Zechariah and Elizabeth must have prepared for John’s birth. We prepare for Jesus by what changes during worship during Advent.

Waiting isn’t easy and can sometimes be frustrating or boring. But, God was with Zechariah and Elizabeth and God kept the promise that they would have a child, even though they doubted. This must mean that God is with us in our doubts and confusion and frustration as well.

Prayer: God, thank you for the ways you surprise us. Please help us to trust you while we wait and prepare for the birth of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Daily Challenge: Spend some quiet time today thinking about how God might be working in unbelievable ways in your life. Reflect on how you your preparations for Christ’s birth this Advent season.