Something Was Up

One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week.  As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.  While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. [Luke 1.8-10]

The 'switch' from Old Testament to New Testament is interesting.  The last we saw of the Old Testament was that Israel had come back from captivity to Babylon - there had been intermarrying and other unacceptable practices as Judaism goes.  The prophets were at, what seems, an all-time high in number and messages.

Was there a revival of sorts?  I ask this because of the setting of the account above in Luke.  From Luke's account, Temple worship and protocol was moving along just fine.  Even more compelling is the fact that Luke records there was a great crowd outside while Zechariah was inside burning incense.  Great crowds don't gather for mundane, run-of-the-mill, boring routine!  What was going on?

It cold be possible that there was a buzz in the air - something had the people expectant about Zechariah's time in the Temple.  Something was up.

Father, help me to grasp a more clear picture of the Advent of Jesus Christ!  I know I've read these accounts over and over, but help me to get more and more from them!