As a child, Santa’s arrival filled life with great anticipation. When’s he coming? Why can’t it happen sooner! Does he have a special gift for me? There’s always been a sense of anticipation around Christmas. The first Christmas was no different.
For centuries the Jewish people had longed for the arrival of the Messiah - their long prophecized saviour who it was tought would return Israel to her past glory. But for so long - 700 years in fact - God had been silent and many Jews had walked away from their faith asking themselves "what's the point" as they assumed God had abandoned them.
In all our lives - whether we choose to have faith in God or are wondering if putting our faith in Him is worth it - there are seasons where God seems silent and we may assume He's also inactive or unconcerned about us.
Zechariah and Elizabeth are a husband and wife that embody the messy journey of faith in God and show us that faithful hope isn’t easy. They got up each day with the anticipation that day could be the day the Messiah arrived. They show us that faith - although agonizing when there is silence from Heaven - is also never in vain. Christmas is a reminder that God is active in our world and that He does keep His promises.
