In today’s passage, we see two sets of parents who could look ahead into the future and predict what would happen with their children: Zechariah and Elizabeth and Joseph and Mary. Both sets of parents were; given a child through miraculous and supernatural means, told what to name their child, and both couples were told the future role for their child. Imagine expecting a child and already knowing the major role he would play in the salvation of the world!
Zechariah and Elizabeth were told their son (John the Baptist), would become a deliverer of light to a dark world: “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High” (v.76). He would also be given a special task: to prepare the way of the Lord—to go before Jesus and prepare people for the Messiah, giving them “the knowledge of salvation” (v.77) and would baptize and teach the forgiveness of sins.
Joseph and Mary were told of their son Jesus, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (v.32-33).
Since the writting of the Book of Malachi it had been over 400 years without the prophetic voice of the Lord being heard. And now here in chapter 1 of Luke's gospel, God spoke through Gabriel (Luke 1:13, 1:28), through Elizabeth (Luke 1:41-42), through Mary (Luke 1:46-55), and through Zacharias (Luke 1:67-80). When God spoke again, it was all connected to the theme of Jesus and His work.
While we do not have the same luxury of knowing the future of our children, we can rest assured that God does and is working out His plan for them. As parents all we can do is our best, then commit the rest to God through prayer knowing that, "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
The Truth: "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
