Luke 1:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Nothing exists outside the decrees of the Lord; everything adheres to and fulfills His divine will. Scripture asserts, “Gave a statute, which shall not pass away” (Psalm 148:6), affirming that He who created all things at the beginning by His word can also renew creation through His word. He once commanded a parched rock to yield water, and it did so instantaneously: “He struck the rock, and waters flowed, and streams were poured out” (Ps. 77:20). The once dry rock transformed into a fountain of rivers, becoming a source of water (Is. 35:7) because nothing is fruitless when God ordains it to bear fruit. He who transformed the barren rock into a lake also commanded elderly Elizabeth to become a mother, enabling her to conceive despite her age. As she approached the grave, she readied herself for motherhood; though her biological capacity was diminished by age, the Almighty revitalized her womb. What time had robbed her of in youth, she regained in her senior years. As she neared death, she was called the mother of a son – a woman who had surpassed the age of childbearing yet was now blessed with the miracle of a newborn. The aged woman, who needed a staff to walk, touched the child she bore, and the once barren woman miraculously gave birth, illustrating the faith in the Virgin who conceived beyond nature. These occurrences are both wondrous and remarkable, for both the aged woman and the Virgin represent unexpected motherhood. When the angel observed Zechariah’s distress, he sought to dispel his fear with joyful tidings. “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for I come not to instill fear but to bring you glad tidings. What joy is this? “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”

The realization of the promise is extraordinary, and the gift of vision is remarkable. Indeed, Abraham was praised, for the revelation of Sarah’s conception was akin to that of Elizabeth’s. Yet, while the prophecies may be similar, the circumstances differ significantly.

Some interpret this to mean that since Zechariah prayed for the forgiveness of the people’s sins, yet a son would be born proclaiming, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), the angel rightly told him, “Your prayer for the absolution of the people’s sins has been acknowledged; you will have a son through whom sin will be forgiven.” Others perceive this differently: “Zacharias, your prayer has been acknowledged, and God has forgiven the iniquities of the people.” It is as if he asked, “How can this be evident?” The angel responded, “Behold, I give you a sign: Elizabeth shall bear you a son; and the assurance that Elizabeth will indeed bear a son will confirm the forgiveness of the people’s sins.”

If there is hope, why doubt? What indeed did the angel convey? “Your prayer has been fulfilled, for Elizabeth will conceive and bear you a son.” The reason is clear: “Because your prayer has been answered.” Suppose Zechariah questioned, "Did I truly request this blessing?" The angel would not have misled him, for he could have simply stated, “Your prayer has been fulfilled, for your wife will give birth to a son.” Why did the angel provide this explanation? Because Zechariah was serving in the temple on behalf of the people; he was offering sacrifices for them as their priest. At that moment, the people awaited Christ, and John was his herald.

Despite his humble entreaty to God and his affirmation through prayer that supplication has the power to request while God has the power to grant, his disbelief just before the realization led to the fulfillment of what he had not anticipated, since he dismissed what he had longed for. What he had never encountered became real, for he was naïve regarding the promises he had awaited. His ears failed to hear the response to his heartfelt plea, leading to a cessation of the divine flow of words, preventing him from receiving his message. “Your prayer before God is heard.” Prayer has asked, the Divine has answered, yet the will rejected. Hence, this situation illustrates that prayer can encompass all desires, the Divine can grant those requests, and the will alone can choose to accept or reject. It is equally important to acknowledge that vices need not be attributed to those regarded as blameless throughout their lives, for it must be noted that the brilliant brightness of the angelic presence left Zechariah in fear and confusion, not stemming from his heart, but solely from his speech, as recorded elsewhere: “His spirit was troubled, and he sinned with his mouth” (Psalm 105:33). Therefore, through his speech, the angel reprimanded him. Had he doubted sincerely in his heart, a greater chastisement would have occurred within. However, immediately following this correction, the priest was absolved of his guilt. The revelation to Zechariah occurred on the tenth day of the month Hori.

This account instructs parents to express gratitude for the birth of their children just as much as for their accomplishments: the ability to give birth is indeed a significant gift from God, fostering the continuation of the human family and the inheritors of spiritual legacy. Consider how Jacob rejoiced at the arrival of his twelve sons, how Abraham was blessed with a child (see Genesis 49:1-28, Genesis 21:2), and how God answered the prayers of Zacharias. Thus, a parent's fertility is a divine blessing. Therefore, let parents give thanks for the gift of their children, children for their very existence, and mothers for the honor bestowed through the fruits of marriage, for children are indeed the reward of their labor. May the earth flourish in glory to God through its cultivation, the world through its learning, and the church through the faithful community that grows within it. It is no coincidence that right at the start of Genesis, God commands the institution of marriage, thus refuting heresy. God sanctified the union of spouses and has rewarded it abundantly, restoring divine favor to those who had been burdened by infertility.

As repentance is essential for salvation, the one heralding that repentance was destined to precede Him who grants salvation. Thus, the Forerunner was born first, and the name given to him would be John. He was favored from his mother’s womb—beloved by God and a source of joy for both his parents and many others, as will become apparent through the subsequent narrative. The name John, in Hebrew, translates to a term meaning grace or joy in Greek.

Thus, Gabriel reassured Zacharias, "Do not be afraid" (Lk. 1:13); the angel at the tomb comforted the Myrrh-bearing women, urging them not to fear (Mt. 28:5); and the shepherds at the Nativity were told, "Do not be afraid" (Lk. 2:10). This trembling does not arise from the soul's cowardice but from the awareness of the divine presence. Such is the nature of the saints' vision. In contrast, the disturbance caused by evil is loud, filled with voices and uproar, much like the behavior of unruly youth or a band of thieves. This generates fear in a troubled soul, preventing it from calming its thoughts; chaos reigns in the mind, leading to resentment against the ascetics, falling into despair, anger within the home, and fear of death. In this state, one becomes drawn to wickedness, disregarding virtue, and may even descend into immorality.

The children whom God grants are given names by Him even before their birth: "And you will call his name John." This is not without significance; while our names often disconnect from their meanings and sometimes even contradict them, in God's perspective, a name holds true significance and reflects the essence of the individual. Furthermore, He names what is not yet in existence, as stated in Romans 4:17. Zechariah had yet to have a son; the act of naming signifies authority over those being named, much like how names are given to lands and properties today. Additionally, a name endures throughout a lifetime, serving as a constant reminder of the miraculous act of naming. The name "John" translates to "grace" or "mercy." This ties into the narrative of the Gospel that recounts the events surrounding the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, as well as the conception of John the Baptist.

Therefore, in response to this longing, he hears from the angel a message he could scarcely have anticipated: “your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son.” In light of this understanding, the angel's message can be paraphrased as follows: “You have prayed for the coming of the Messiah; your prayer has been fulfilled: He will arrive soon; your son, whom your wife Elizabeth will bear, will be His forerunner.”

And he shall stand before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to restore the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to present to the Lord a people prepared.’ The Incarnation of the Word of God unfolded ‘according to the fulfilment of the times’ when mankind, burdened by sin, finally recognized the limits of their spiritual and moral strength, realizing that life in such a fallen state could not continue and that salvation was necessary. This deliverance came from above, marked by prophetic events that signaled the moment of the Savior’s arrival. One of the foremost signs, as foreseen by the prophet Malachi, was the coming of a forerunner or angel to prepare the way for the eagerly awaited Messiah (Malachi 3:1). This forerunner was Saint John the Baptist; with the announcement of his conception and birth, the narrative of the new covenant commenced.

However, can we limit the focus of the righteous priest's prayer, as mentioned by the angel, to this issue alone? Was it reasonable to assume that the elderly priest, standing in the presence of God, had no aspirations beyond his own personal needs—no other hopes, desires, or prayers weighing on his spirit at that moment? As a righteous man, he undoubtedly belonged to the small group of devout individuals in that era who longed for Israel's consolation and prayed for the establishment of the Messiah's kingdom (Luke 2:38, 25). Would it not be more likely that this was indeed a central focus of his heartfelt prayers for the Messiah and His reign? The context of the narrative does not hinder us from considering this broader intention behind Zechariah’s prayer, nor does it necessitate viewing it as solely concerning the end of barrenness, despite initial appearances suggesting otherwise. The angel’s message primarily concerns the Messiah (vv. Lk. 1:16-17) and points to His Forerunner—the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth—and could be understood in this light: "Your prayer, Zechariah, along with those of others like you, pleading for the dawn of the Messiah's reign, has been acknowledged; in accordance with God's purpose, this kingdom will soon be established, and both the Messiah and His Forerunner are about to be born. Your son, John, whom your elderly wife Elizabeth will bear, is the one for whom you both so earnestly prayed." This interpretation is supported by the subsequent account of John the Baptist's birth, where the Messiah remains the central figure. "A son shall be born to you": To strengthen Zechariah’s faith, the angel announces that his wife will give birth to a son and even reveals the child's name before his birth, a similar promise that was made concerning the Lord Himself (cf. Matt. 1:21).

Your son will serve as His forerunner, born to your aged wife. This will bring you great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; your joy will intensify in proportion to the high calling of your son and the anticipated arrival of the Messiah.

He will be distinguished before the Lord—truly and undeniably great in life, in preaching, and in the redemptive mission set before him. He will abstain from wine and strong drink, living as a Nazarene (Num. 6:3), and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. Like the ancient prophet (Jeremiah 1:5), he will be bestowed with the abundant grace of God before his birth, and he will lead many of the children of Israel back to the Lord their God, encouraging them to abandon their sinful ways. He will be as the Lord's Forerunner, empowered by the spirit and might of Elijah, turning the hearts of the fathers toward their children, guiding the way of the righteous, and preparing the people for the kingdom of peace and love. Through his holiness, fervor for truth, and the power of his proclamation, he will reconcile inner conflict, uniting the hearts of fathers and children with a shared anticipation for the Messiah, transforming the impious into the devout.