The story begins with God’s messenger announcing John’s pending conception to a skeptical priest, Zechariah. Considering the life-long disappointment over his and Elizabeth’s inability to have a child, we ought not be too hard on Zechariah for his lack of faith. Though God chided him a bit, by leaving him mute for nine-plus months, he received no great condemnation for his weakness. 

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When did this great announcement occur and what was its probable setting? If Jesus was born on September 11, 2 B.C.—and we will argue for that later—then John would have been born at the end of February or early March. If that’s John’s time of birth, this announcement would have come in the late spring of 3 B.C. 

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On this particular morning Zechariah had the good fortune to be chosen by lot to offer the incense in the temple. It was a once in a lifetime event. The years of his and Elizabeth’s disappointment would have been the farthest thing from his thoughts on such an auspicious occasion. 

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As was the custom, Zechariah would have chosen two friends to assist him. The first would have removed the remains of the previous evening’s incense, backing away from the altar reverently and exiting the Temple. The second’s job was to place the live coals on the clean altar. It now being ready to receive the morning’s incense, he also would have backed out of the Holy Place in reverence. 

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The altar prepared; Zechariah next entered the Holy Place for the innermost part of the day’s worship. A short distance away hung the heavy curtain that separated him from the awesome Holy of Holies. 

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To his right on the north side of the room stood the bread offering and to his left the seven-branched golden menorah, offering its light. He waited, waiting for a signal that the time was right to spread the incense on the altar’s glowing coals. Outside, priests and people were prostrate, offering their reverent prayers to the Lord. 

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Now in silence, the worshipers watched as if to sense their prayers rising in the cloud of fragrance that would soon ascend from the incense altar. Zechariah placed the incense on the coals and waited for it to kindle. Normally, he would have then reverently backed out, his duty done, the honor completed. 

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To Zechariah’s terror, however, he was not alone. Rather, he was in the presence of Gabriel, “the might of God,” who promises not only a son, but one with a special purpose. He is to be a Nazarite like Samuel and Samson. Like them, he is to belong to God from his conception. 

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Zechariah asks for a sign by which he can know this is true and the angel grants it. It is, however, both an affirmation of the promise and a judgment on his doubt. It is that he will be mute until the child is born—the child to be named John, or in the Hebrew, Jehochanan, meaning “the Lord is gracious.” 

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Outside, the people waited with growing concern. The high honor also carried risk. A casual attitude or disregard to duty could cost one his life—and Zechariah had waited longer than normal to reappear. Soon they saw him emerge and move to the top of the steps that lead to the Court of the Priests. Relieved, they waited for him to pronounce the benediction preceding the morning sacrifice. Everything was prepared and the people waited. Zechariah tried to communicate but was mute.

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Shortly, Zechariah and the other priests of the Abijah division completed their time of service and went home. All told of the strange mystery that had occurred on their watch—all except the one who knew what had actually happened.

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