Hidden Heroes in the Christmas Story: Zechariah, The Persistent Priest

by David Chadwick

Hidden heroes in the Christmas story. These may be more well-known names, but their significance in the Christmas story has a hiddenness that must be sought out.

Zechariah is today’s hidden hero in the Christmas story. His story is-found in Luke 1:5-25.

Zechariah was a righteous, blameless, and Godly person. He was a priest in the temple. As noted in Proverbs 16:33, the Jews believed that drawing straws was under the sovereign hand of Almighty God in decision-making. In the case of Zechariah, straws were drawn for him to serve in the temple. He was selected, which implied God’s sovereignty.

Zechariah, and his wife Elizabeth, were childless. Like many fathers do, Zechariah desperately wanted a son. He was older in years and the hopes of having a son seemed increasingly impossible.

One day, in the silence of his temple service, he begged God for a child. The angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that a child was coming. Upon hearing this news, Zechariah expressed disbelief, so the angel closed his mouth.

This child who would be born to Zechariah and Elizabeth would be John the Baptist. And I am convinced that John the Baptist was SO important to both the Christmas story and God’s overall narrative that God chose to silence Zechariah’s mouth as the child developed in his wife’s womb so that no doubting or negative words were able to be heard.

As a side note, do you think babies can hear words of unbelief in the womb? Do you think they can cause negative emotions within? It is powerful to think about the importance of those months in the womb for fetal development, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually!

How do you think Zechariah communicated the news to Elizabeth? Maybe he ran home with sign language and a writing tablet! But she surely understood.

Zechariah didn’t speak again until the birth came. He named his son John as instructed by the angel. He didn’t give him a family name, which was what was most often done, but the name God wanted. John means “grace.” The moment he wrote the name on a tablet, his voice returned. And he praised God.

I can only imagine how wonderful of a father he must have been to John. His son became the first cousin and good friend of Jesus, and the forerunner to declaring the coming life and ministry of Jesus!

Hidden Heroes in the Christmas Story: Adam, The One Who Paved the Way for Jesus

by David Chadwick

Hidden heroes. It’s a topic that has become near and dear to my heart. To find the people of the BIble who may be lesser known and dig out the treasures of their story.

We are jumping back into some more of the Bible’s hidden heroes. This time, we will look at heroes specifically tethered to the wonder of the Christmas story. In these cases, these are heroes who may be more well known, but I am referring to them as hidden heroes because they have significant, but more hidden roles in the Christmas story.

Adam. Today’s hidden hero. The genealogy of Jesus found in Luke 3:23-37 traces Jesus back through Joseph, all the way to Adam.

Adam, alongside Eve, was the one of the two who ate the fruit of rebellion in Genesis 3 and corrupted the world. Eve was offered the fruit by Satan and chose to partake, and Adam did not stop her. Some would say he was passive and silent in the face of temptation. He was not a vigilant steward of God’s instructions nor was he a protector of Eve in the face of Satan’s luring and cunning behavior.

Some have suggested that Adam will not be in heaven because he’s not listed in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Fame of Faith. His name is not listed among other Old Testament heroes who looked forward to the day of Jesus. Only God truly knows.

Why is Adam a hidden hero in the Christmas story? Let’s take a look at Romans 5:12-19. Paul bookends the story of salvation in this passage of Scripture.

Sin came into the world through Adam. “Death reigned from Adam to Moses” (Romans 5:14). The free gift of grace through Jesus brought justification for many. Through Adam’s disobedience, many were made sinners, but through Jesus’s obedience, many would be made righteous (Romans 5:18). 

Where Adam disobeyed and the world fell into corruption, Jesus, the second Adam, perfectly obeyed the will of God and brought redemption to the world. Where the first Adam failed, the second Adam succeeded.

Everyone in the world is either in Adam or in Christ. The way of Adam leads to eternal death. But the way of Jesus leads to eternal life. Jesus came as the second Adam to save us and give us the gift of eternal life (Luke 19:10).

Understanding the first Adam’s role in the Bible should give a whole new meaning to him being one of my hidden heroes in the Christmas story.

And Adam gives us the reason Jesus had to come into this world in Bethlehem.

Our Favorite Parenting Tips: Answer Two Questions

by Marilynn Chadwick

Children are generally asking two questions: “Do you love me?” and “Can I have my own way?” They seem to thrive on love and limits. So, David and I would regularly say, “Yes, I love you" and “no you can’t always have your own way.” Focused attention, eye contact, lots of snuggles, a listening ear. There are many ways to say I love you.

Limits are important too. Here’s a little secret: If it’s necessary to correct your children, give them consequences that are actually beneficial to them. For example, early bedtime; cleaning the bathroom; finishing a book instead of watching television; doing 50 jumping jacks to get the wiggles out. You get the point.

I also learned as the kids reached middle school to go easier with eye contact. Chill out. Don’t bear down too hard in serious conversations. That’s probably why our best talks—especially the hard ones—happened while driving in the car. They’d tell me most anything I wanted to know if I didn’t intrude. Conversations in the van seemed to turn into spiritual lessons—I dubbed our drive time “e-van-gelism.”

Faith is both caught and taught. I encouraged our kids to be on the lookout for signs of God at work—in big ways and small ones. We dared our kids to dream big and trust God with the results. But mostly, I wanted them to be able to hear God for themselves—to discern His voice from all the others.They didn’t know it, but I continually watched to see if they were shaping their views according to what they were learning at home or what the world was telling them.

We also tried to help our kids experience the laboratory of answered prayer. We included them in our faith journeys. When we were hoping for a third baby, we encouraged the older two to join us in prayer. It took years of waiting, but they prayed relentlessly. I finally told God I was going to be “really upset if you let these little kids down.” And they were thrilled when their persistent prayers were answered with the arrival of their little brother!

It really doesn’t matter where I travel. It’s the same in any culture—rich or poor. We can never underestimate the power of a strong and loving home. Home is where humans thrive and grow best. It’s where children should be nurtured. Instructed. Protected. It’s where they catch the faith. And where they’re free to dream. Especially when the home is built on the solid rock of faith in Jesus Christ.

When a woman is both warrior and nurturer to her household, when she seeks the Lord with all her heart, when honor and respect are present, a home can produce children who are likely to change the world.

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This Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick (Eugene: Harvest House, 2017). Click here to download a free PDF copy of Woman of Valor. If you enjoyed today's Moment of Hope feel free to forward this email or share this link with a friend so they can sign up to receive a Moment of Hope every day.