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When God Moves in the Darkness: The Untold Story of Zechariah and Elizabeth
The Christmas story holds more wonder than we often realize. Somewhere between the nativity scenes and the familiar carols, we’ve lost the raw, breathtaking reality of what actually happened two thousand years ago. These weren’t fairy tales or bedtime stories—they were real people, living in dark times, desperately hoping for God to show up.
Before Mary. Before Joseph. Before the manger in Bethlehem, there was an elderly couple whose story sets the stage for everything that follows.
A Dark Beginning
Picture the scene: Israel under Roman occupation. King Herod the Great—a paranoid, murderous tyrant—rules Judea with an iron fist. This is the man who would later order the massacre of innocent children to protect his throne. Women weren’t safe around him. His own family wasn’t safe around him. He killed three of his sons because he suspected conspiracy.
It had been over 400 years since God had spoken through a prophet to His people. Four centuries of silence. Four centuries of wondering if God had forgotten them.
In this darkness, we meet Zechariah and Elizabeth.
The Weight of Unanswered Prayer
The Bible describes them as “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.” This was the model Jewish couple—he was a priest, she came from a priestly family. They did everything right.
And yet they carried one of the heaviest burdens a married couple can bear: they had no children.
The text tells us they were “advanced in years”—at least sixty years old. In a culture where people married around fourteen or fifteen, that means forty-five years of marriage. Forty-five years of hoping. Forty-five years of praying. Forty-five years of asking God for a child, only to receive “no” or “not yet” month after month after month.
Can you imagine the weight of that disappointment? The quiet grief that settles in after decades of unanswered prayer?
Maybe you don’t have to imagine. Maybe you’re living it right now.
When Heaven Breaks Through
One ordinary day, Zechariah was chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense—a once-in-a-lifetime honor for a priest. While the multitude prayed outside, something extraordinary happened.
An angel appeared.
Not just anywhere, but on the right side of the altar of incense. (Notice the detail—this really happened.) And Zechariah did what every human does when encountering the divine: he was terrified.
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah,” the angel said, “for your prayer has been heard.”
Your prayer has been heard.
Those five words carry the weight of forty-five years. Every desperate plea. Every disappointed hope. Every moment when it felt like prayers were just hitting the ceiling—God heard them all.
“Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord.”
The angel went on to describe how this child would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb, how he would turn many hearts back to God, how he would go before the Lord “in the spirit and power of Elijah.”
Zechariah knew his scriptures. He knew the prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi. He understood exactly what the angel was saying: his son would be the forerunner to the Messiah.
The Sting of Doubt
But watch what happens next.
“How shall I know this?” Zechariah asked. “For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
It’s almost the same question Mary would later ask Gabriel. But there’s something different in Zechariah’s tone. Maybe there’s an edge there—forty-five years of pent-up frustration finally spilling out. *Really? Now you’re going to give me a child? When I’m old and tired? Where were you twenty years ago?*
The angel’s response is swift: “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words.”
Nine months of silence. Nine months to think about the promise. Nine months to watch his wife’s belly grow and remember that God keeps His word, even when we doubt.
The Promise Fulfilled
Elizabeth did conceive. She hid herself for five months—perhaps afraid to tell anyone, perhaps protecting herself from the pain of potential loss, perhaps simply savoring the miracle in private.
When the time came, she gave birth to a son.
On the eighth day, family and friends gathered for the circumcision. They assumed the child would be named Zechariah after his father, but Elizabeth insisted: “No, he shall be called John.”
They turned to Zechariah, still unable to speak. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: “His name is John.”
John. In Hebrew, it means “the Lord is gracious.”
The moment he confirmed the name, his mouth opened and his tongue was loosed. But this time, there was no edge in his voice, no cynicism. He burst into worship, blessing God.
The whole region buzzed with the news. A sixty-five-year-old woman having a baby. A priest struck mute for nine months. And now everyone was whispering the same question: *Could the Messiah be coming?*
What This Means for Us
This ancient story speaks directly into our modern lives in at least three profound ways.
First, God is at work in the dark times.** The first domino of redemption fell not in pleasant, peaceful times, but in the midst of political oppression, spiritual silence, and personal heartache. When life feels heavy—when the diagnosis is bad, when the relationship is broken, when the prayers seem unanswered—God is still moving. We can live in the tension of saying, “This season is really hard, AND I trust that God is with me.”
Second, God will be faithful to every one of His promises, even when it feels like He won’t come through.** The prophecies about John the Baptist were given hundreds of years before he was born. God takes His time, but He’s batting a thousand—He has never failed a single promise. Not one. For those of us walking with Jesus today, we can bank on His promises: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “I will complete the good work I started in you.” “All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Third, John the Baptist makes crystal clear who our Savior is and what it means to follow Him.** Years later, when John saw Jesus coming toward him, he declared: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Salvation isn’t about being good enough—it’s about trusting in the One who removes our sin. And after we trust Him? John gives us the roadmap: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” More Christ in our homes, our thoughts, our finances, our work, our relationships. More of Him, less of us.
Here’s the paradox: the more Jesus increases and we decrease, the more joy and peace we find. Not necessarily easier circumstances or constant happiness, but deep joy and peace rooted in Christ.
The Invitation
As we enter this Christmas season, may we remember that the story isn’t just about a baby in a manger. It’s about a God who hears our prayers, keeps His promises, and breaks into our darkest moments with hope.
Whatever darkness you’re facing today—whatever prayer has gone unanswered for far too long—don’t lose heart. Your prayers are heard. And the same God who gave Zechariah and Elizabeth a miracle is still in the miracle business.
The Lamb of God has come to take away the sin of the world. That includes yours. That includes mine.
Will you trust Him today?
COVE GROUP GUIDE
Opening Prayer & Icebreaker
Icebreaker Question: What’s one Christmas tradition from your childhood that filled you with wonder? Do you still experience that same sense of wonder today?
Sermon Overview
This week, Pastor Chad took us back 2,000 years to explore the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth—the first domino to fall of redemption in the Christmas story. Their journey reminds us that God works in the darkness, keeps His promises even when delayed, and points us to Jesus, the Lamb of God.
Key Scripture Passages
– Luke 1:5-25, 57-66
– Isaiah 40:3
– Malachi 3:1 & 4:5-6
– John 1:29
– John 3:30
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Story
1. The Setting of Darkness: The message described three types of darkness—political (Herod’s reign), spiritual (400 years of prophetic silence), and personal (Zechariah and Elizabeth’s infertility). Which of these resonates most with you and why?
2. 45 Years of Waiting: Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed for a child for approximately 45 years. How do you think their faith was tested during this time? What might have kept them faithful?
3. Different Responses: Both Mary and Zechariah asked “how?” when told they would have a child, but Gabriel responded differently to each. Why do you think Zechariah received a harsher response? What can we learn about how we approach God’s promises?
Personal Application
4. Don’t Lose Heart: Pastor Chad said, “God is at work in the dark times.” What dark season are you currently in or have recently experienced? How does this story encourage you to not lose heart?
5. Living in Tension: The sermon mentioned living in tension—acknowledging “this season sucks AND I trust the Lord is with me.” Is this tension difficult for you? Why do we sometimes feel pressure to pretend everything is fine?
6. God’s Timing: The message emphasized that “God will be faithful to every promise, even when it feels like He won’t come through.” Share a time when God’s timing felt painfully slow, but He eventually came through. Or share a situation where you’re still waiting.
Theological Reflection
7. The Lamb of God: John the Baptist declared Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” How is this different from the cultural idea that we must be “good enough” to earn God’s acceptance?
8. He Must Increase: John 3:30 says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” What does this look like practically in your daily life? What areas of your life need “more Christ, less me”?
Christmas Application
9. Wonder Restored: The series aims to restore wonder to the Christmas season. How does understanding Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story change your perspective on Christmas this year?
10. Invitation Opportunity: With 11 Christmas services coming up, who in your life needs to hear about the Lamb of God? How can this group support you in inviting them?
Key Takeaways
1. Don’t lose heart—God is at work in the dark times. Even when circumstances seem hopeless, God is moving behind the scenes.
2. God will be faithful to every one of His promises, even when it feels like He won’t come through. God’s timing isn’t our timing, but He has never failed a single promise.
3. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away our sin. Salvation isn’t about being good enough; it’s about trusting in the One who removes our sin.
4. Christian maturity means: He must increase, I must decrease. The more Jesus increases in our lives, the more joy and peace we find.
Practical Applications
This Week:
Personal Reflection:
– Identify one “dark time” in your life right now. Journal about how God might be working even when you can’t see it.
– Memorize John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Prayer Challenge:
– Make a list of prayers you’ve been praying for a long time. Thank God that He hears every prayer, even when answers feel delayed.
– Pray specifically for one area where you need “more Christ, less me.”
Christmas Mission:
– Write down 2-3 names of people who need to hear about Jesus this Christmas.
– Fill out the Christmas service invite cards and pray daily for courage to invite them.
– Consider which of the 11 Christmas services would be best for your guests.
Group Accountability:
– Share your invite list with one other person in the group for prayer support.
– Text each other throughout the week with updates on your “He must increase” journey.
5 DAY DEVO
Day 1: When God Feels Silent
Reading: Luke 1:5-7; Psalm 13:1-6
Zechariah and Elizabeth lived through 45 years of unanswered prayers. Israel had endured 400 years of prophetic silence. Yet God was working in the darkness. When your prayers seem to hit the ceiling, remember that God hears every brokenhearted cry. His silence doesn’t mean absence; often He’s orchestrating redemption behind the scenes. Like Elizabeth, you may be carrying a promise that feels impossibly delayed. Don’t mistake God’s timing for His faithlessness. He is batting a thousand—He has never broken a single promise. Today, acknowledge your pain honestly before God, but also declare your trust that He is present and working, even when you cannot see or feel Him.
Reflection: What prayer have you been waiting for God to answer? How can you hold both your honest disappointment and your trust in God’s faithfulness simultaneously?
Day 2: The Lamb Who Takes Away Sin
Reading: John 1:29-34; Isaiah 53:4-6
John the Baptist’s declaration—”Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”—reveals the heart of Christian salvation. We cannot earn our way to God through good behavior or moral achievement. Like the tax collector beating his chest in the temple, we must simply cry out, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus didn’t come for those who think they’re good enough; He came for the broken, the distant, the deeply flawed. Your past doesn’t disqualify you—it’s exactly why Jesus came. The Lamb removes your sin as far as the east is from the west. Stop trying to clean yourself up before approaching Him. Come as you are, and let Him do what only He can do.
Reflection: Are you trying to earn God’s acceptance, or have you truly received His grace? What sins do you need to bring to the Lamb today?
Day 3: He Must Increase, I Must Decrease
Reading: John 3:22-30; Galatians 2:20
Christian maturity is summarized in five words: “He must increase, I must decrease.” This isn’t about self-hatred or worthlessness—it’s about discovering that life centered on Christ brings more joy, peace, and purpose than life centered on ourselves. The paradox of faith is that the more we die to self, the more we truly come alive. What would it look like to give Jesus more space in your finances, relationships, work, thoughts, and time? This Christmas season, don’t just add Jesus to your busy life—let Him transform it. More Christ in your home means less selfishness. More Christ in your thoughts means less anxiety. Decreasing self doesn’t diminish you; it liberates you into the abundant life Jesus promised.
Reflection: In what specific area of your life does Jesus need to increase while you decrease? What practical step can you take this week?
Day 4: God Works in Dark Times
Reading: Luke 1:8-17; Romans 8:28-39
God’s first domino of redemption—John the Baptist’s birth—fell during Israel’s darkest political, spiritual, and social period. Herod’s tyranny, prophetic silence, and personal heartbreak formed the backdrop for God’s miraculous intervention. Your dark season isn’t evidence of God’s absence; it’s often the very place where He does His best work. Whatever you’re facing—broken relationships, financial stress, health concerns, depression, or addiction—God is present and active. You can live in the tension of acknowledging “this season is really hard” while also declaring “I trust the Lord is with me.” Cast your anxieties on Him because He genuinely cares. The God who remembered Elizabeth after 45 years hasn’t forgotten you.
Reflection: What darkness are you currently walking through? How might God be working redemption in ways you cannot yet see?
Day 5: Every Promise Will Be Fulfilled
Reading: Luke 1:57-66; 2 Peter 3:8-9
When John was born, God fulfilled prophecies spoken hundreds of years earlier. The Lord kept His word to Zechariah and Elizabeth despite the decades of waiting. Our God takes His time, but He never fails. Every promise He has made to you as a believer stands firm: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “I will complete the good work I started in you.” “All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” When it feels like God is taking His sweet time, remember that His delays are not denials. Zechariah’s nine months of silence ended with songs of praise. Your season of waiting will end with testimony of God’s faithfulness. Hold onto His promises—they’re as certain as His character.
Reflection: Which of God’s promises do you need to cling to today? How can you cultivate patient trust while you wait?