After 400 years of silence, today we will see how Zachariah comes in contact with the angel who informs him that he will have a son with his barren wife Elizabeth. This encounter in the temple begins the ministry of John the Baptist - the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth who will be the forerunner to Jesus. Today we will be reminded that God has always controlled history which centers around the birth of Jesus. Zachariah and Elizabeth loved God even though they could never have children so with the announcement that they would have a child - Zachariah is very skeptical which renders him mute until John is born.