The New Testament opens with Jewish life that reminds us of the Old Testament. It also opens with righteous but struggling families. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth have long wanted a child but are now too old. While Zechariah performs priestly duties in the temple, the angel Gabriel appears to him and announces that Elizabeth will bear a son to be called John. Zechariah reacts with disbelief and is struck dumb. After the baby is born, the child is named “John” and Zechariah regains his ability to speak. God inspires three messengers: Gabriel (Luke 1:13-20), Elizabeth (Luke 1:42-45) and Zechariah (Luke 1:67-79). They announce John’s mission to prepare his people for the Messiah: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways” (Luke 1:76-79). John will prepare by calling the people to repentance. Notice how this is stated in family terms:
He [John] will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared (Luke 1:16-17).
The other struggling family is Joseph’s. He and Mary plan to marry, but she becomes pregnant. In Jewish culture, an engagement is so binding that Joseph considers divorce. But an angel tells him,
Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21).