Luke opens on a darkened scene. Herod, a despotic ruler installed by Rome, sits on David’s throne in Jerusalem – a powerful symbol that Israel is far from where she expected to be. The first character we meet is Zechariah – an aged priest of a childless wife – coming to due his religious duty in the Temple. It all speaks of hope abandoned, promises that will never be fulfilled.
This, of course, was not how it was supposed to be. God had declared a proper king would reign with justice over his land and that abundance would flow from Zion (the temple mount). And yet, by every visible measure, there was as much chance of the kingdom of God being established on earth as a coming child for Zechariah. And then…
