<TITLE>14. Par 42-44</TITLE>L-42 Look at Zechariah. Now, the Angel Gabriel came to him. He was in the temple ministering, and when he did, burning incense was his lot, standing at the altar. And he happened to look at the right-hand side, the right-hand side of the altar. I guess you always wonder why I bring the people this way. It's where He stands. So, at the right-hand side of the altar, and there stood an Angel, and told him that after the days of his ministration there, he was going home and be with his wife, and she'd conceive and bear a son, a child.
And that preacher doubted that Word. Why, he had many times... If he was going to be the father of the child... Look at Sarah. He had some examples in the Bible. Look at Hannah at the temple, many examples like that. And still he doubted.
How much difference it was from that calloused teacher of philosophy... How much difference there was from that seminary minister, than there was from that little virgin. She never questioned. She said, "Behold the handsmaid of the Lord." That's all. She took Him at His Word and that settled it. But this man couldn't believe it.
He said, "I'm Gabriel that stands in the presence of God. My Word shall be fulfilled." He knowed what He was talking about. He said, "Because you've doubted Me, you'll be dumb until the day the baby's born." He went home. His wife conceived and hid herself six months.

L-43 Mary thought, "Oh, isn't that wonderful? Now I'm going to have a baby, and there Elisabeth, my cousin (Jesus and John were second cousins), there... I tell you, it's going to be wonderful, because that she's going to have a baby, and I'm going to have a baby. I just can't hold it any longer. I'm going right up to tell her." Right up to the mountain she went, hard as she could go. I can just see her pretty little face shining--she was just about eighteen years old, I imagine--and her black hair blowing back like that. And she was on her road, this little robe wrapped around her.
And you know, Elisabeth had hid herself. I kind of like that. I think it looks so disgraceful to see women out like here with these shorts on, and things, when they're to be mothers. It looks pitiful. What a difference. That's horrible. (I know you oughtn't... maybe not oughtn't to say that. If I offend you, you forgive me. But you'd listen to your doctor; I'm your brother, see. ) So there the woman in that condition; but she hid herself. I can imagine her setting back there, you know, kind of snubbing a little, with... knitting some little... what is it? Little booties, you know, getting them all ready like that, and knitting a little blanket. But she was... feared, because she said, "Now, I'm old and..."

L-44 Notice, the Angel of the Lord... They were righteous, the Bible said, her and Zechariah. They were righteous, keeping all the commandments of God. That's were Angels appear-always appears in a righteous family, somewhere where God can use something, something to work with.
And then, she was making these little booties. And I imagine there was a little window-like it is in Palestine sometimes, no window light in it, but just a little shade hanging down. And she heard something. She raised up and she looked coming up, and she said, "You know, I believe that looks like my cousin Mary. Look at her little face shine. Why, she's growed up. I hear she's going to get married." So it must've been, "Well, she's a young woman, but that's Mary." So she slips her little robe on, you know, and runs out to meet her.


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