Anticipating the Unexpected

Bridge Bible Church December 2022

From the beginning of creation God has progressively revealed Himself to mankind. First to Adam in perfect sinlessness. After the fall… after man’s rebellion against God in the garden, God still gave mankind information about Himself. Who He is… and how He would rescue mankind from their sin. God made a promise in Genesis 3:15 that a Deliverer would one day come to fix the sin problem brought into the world by man. From that point on, God’s revelation… His plan of redemption was laid out for mankind piece by piece… step by step throughout history. After Adam and his children, then to Noah and his descendants. Then to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. After Israel crossed the red sea and was led out of Egypt, God continued to reveal the details about His plan of redemption through people like Joshua, Rahab, Ruth, Samuel and the other Prophets like Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and others.

As God revealed His gracious plan of redemption .. His Divine Drama of salvation traces the development of the Promised Deliverer… the One who would come to pay the penalty for sin… and finally rescue mankind from their fallenness.... from our sin.... and give us an opportunity to have a restored relationship with God… our Creator. God’s prophetic Word develops the truth of a coming Deliverer… a God given Anointed One… A Promised Messiah all the way up until the end of the Old Testament.

Then...

When the writer of the last part of the Old Testament put down his pen, God pressed the pause button on the giving of HIs prophetic Word. For more than 400 years, no one heard a word from God. The end of the Old Testament leaves the reader waiting and wondering… when will the promised deliverer come…when will the Promised Messiah appear?

People were waiting… they were anticipating the coming of the Messiah,… but what God would do next was totally unexpected.

All of a sudden, after 400 years of prophetic silence, God begins to speak. He speaks through His messenger Gabriel... and the lives of one extended family were changed forever. There is no way they could have anticipated all that would happen to them.

As our focus shifts to the Christmas season, did you realize that the Christmas story actually involves the lives of 4 cousins… Elizabeth, a married woman who wasn’t able to get pregnant. Mary, Elizabeth’s unmarried cousin who shouldn’t be pregnant… and two baby boys, John and Jesus.

I want to share a little bit about one of these Christmas Cousins with you today. I would highly recommend that you continue this study on your own over the next few weeks. Just as God’s plan of redemption has a growing anticipation that leads to Christ… studying through the lives of each of these cousins will help us to eagerly anticipate the truth and celebration of our Saviors’ birth.

Please turn in your Bibles to chapter 1 of the gospel of Luke as we look at the first of these “Christmas Cousins”, as she and her husband live out the reality of Anticipating the Unexpected.

Most people think that Gabriel’s first message from God about the birth of a promised baby boy – was to Mary. But, Mary was not the first person in the New Testament to learn that her family would receive the gift of a promised child.

The angel first came to the family of Zechariah and Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin).

Let’s look at chapter 1 as we are introduced to the characters in this unfolding drama.

Luke 1:5–25 ESV

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he 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.” And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

To start out with in verses 5-7, Luke introduces the players that will be actively involved in this portion of God’s divine drama.

Introduction of the Players (5-7)

Verses 5 and 6 sets the historical context for the beginning of these Christmas events and introduces a godly couple that will soon be used to further God’s plan of redemption in a miraculous way.

The text tells us that these events are taking place during the days when Herod was King.

Herod was known as a brutal man. He had already ordered the murder of the Jewish high priest simply because the priest was more popular with the people than he was.

Herod was already 70 years old when these events in Luke chapter 1 took place. Before he died he would have two of his sons murdered simply because he couldn’t stand the thought of them taking his place. He imprisoned his third son and then had him executed after his son’s failed attempt to escape from prison.

He was extremely jealous and brutal, but because he had beautifully remodeled the temple, the people tolerated him.

Josephus, the first century Jewish historian tells us that this temple project involved 10,000 Jewish laborers under the direction of 100 priests. He wrote that the Temple was refurbished with imported cedar and white marble. Much of the temple was overlaid with plates of solid gold.

The people were waiting for – and hoping for God’s promised Deliverer… But for 400 years now it had only been darkness and despair with no sign of God’s Promised Rescuer. But now as God begins to speak again.... the darkness is beginning to lift… Hope is beginning to rise... God’s divine drama of redemption is being further revealed as Herod’s ungodly character is contrasted with the godly character of two people in verse 5.

Zechariah

Elizabeth

Luke 1:5–7 ESV

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

We’re told that a priest named Zachariah was faithfully serving in his division of priests.

We know from history that there were around 10,000 priests serving at this time who lived in and around Israel. They were divided into 24 groups. Each of the groups was assigned to work for one- week periods, twice a year.

Luke informs us that the division of Zachariah was under the heading of Abijah.

From these brief comments, we’re able to learn something quite interesting about this old priest.

Zachariah wasn’t one of the elite members of the priesthood. These priests in his division didn’t even live in Jerusalem. They were not among the well connected families of priests. Zechariah wasn’t considered to be anyone important.

He would have been referred to as an ordinary country priest – one of 8,000 who lived outside the city limits.

But, Zachariah was married to Elizabeth. She was a direct descendant of Aaron – Israel’s first High Priest.

A priest who was married to the daughter of a priest was considered a very big blessing – but for Zachariah, it was even more so, for she had directly descended from Israel’s high priestly family.

And by the way, once her son John is born, he would act in many ways as a High priest should act – calling them back to repentance – preparing their hearts to hear the voice of God.

Luke describes this couple with very gracious and warm words —

Verse 6 told us that they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

They weren’t perfect … but they were passionate about God and His ministry.

That’s why the next verse is so surprising.

Verse 7 tells us that they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren.

Wow! This is shocking news!

You would expect the next phrase to read, “And they had 14 children.” “And God was just blessing them left and right!”

That’s what you’d expect to read. Right?! — Not… they were childless.

The religious culture around them would have been unforgiving to them. Faithful believers expected to be part of the Covenant blessings of prosperity and fertility. But… Elizabeth was barren.

In that day, a woman who could not have children would have assumed that she had been somehow been abandoned by God for something that she had done. In fact, everyone around her would have probably thought the same.

That’s why Elizabeth says later in verse 25 that God had taken away her disgrace.

By the time of Christ, the Rabbi’s taught that several people were unable to enjoy close communion with God – one of them was a Jewish man who’s wife was unable to have any children. In fact, barrenness was considered valid grounds for divorce in this culture.

After 400 years of silence… with whom does God choose to communicate? — With this barren… childless family that no one expected....

Don’t overlook the last phrase of verse 7 –

7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Luke tells us a little bit more about Zechariah and Elizabeth because he knows that we need to understand how incredible this miraculous conception was. So, Luke gives us this side comment, “they were both advanced in years.”

The Jews categorized old age with several different phrases.

They believed the beginning of old age began at 65. So a 64 year old wasn’t old – but at 65 he began to enter old age.

I don’t know how that makes you feel – I hope it makes you feel young.

At the age of seventy, he was said to reach “hoary-headed age” – in other words, at 70 a person was now among the grey haired and wise. After the age of 80, they were considered “well stricken in years.” This is the phrase used here in Luke 1 to describe Zachariah and Elizabeth… “well stricken in years”.

Zachariah and Elizabeth are in their 80’s! I’m sure that they thought that they would never get to hold their own baby.

By the time we’re introduced to them, they most likely weren’t praying for a child . . . they had probably stopped praying children years ago.

They were faithful to God and to each other – even though for some reason it seemed like God wasn’t listening.

We are not told that they were living in sin or in rebellion against God– they hadn’t abandoned their faith. They were right where God wanted them – even though God had never given them their greatest desire.

It is interesting that the name, Zachariah means, “God remembers.” And the name, Elizabeth means, “The promise of my God.” (remember that for later)

Oh how Satan must have whispered in their ears, “God remembers His promise? Are you sure???? It seems doubtful.

Let’s pause for a moment and think about something: what does it take for you and me to stop serving God?… to stop trusting Him? … to believe the lie that God doesn’t care about you? … that His promises don’t apply to you?

What does it take to put our heads in our hands and ask God why His blessing seems to be on everyone else... but me?”

Friends, what is amazing about God’s plan of redemption is that God chooses an ordinary country priest – someone who really didn’t seem very important... in the eyes of his neighbors he was now just an old man about reach the age of retirement.

He was married to one of Aarons’ descendants, but everyone knew that even though this couple was living of life worthy of respect and appreciation, they were obviously under some kind of Divine disapproval and displeasure . . . people may have said… “we don’t know what they did, but God obviously isn’t blessing them”.

The amazing thing is, is that Zachariah and Elizabeth didn’t quit! The didn’t say, “Since God hasn’t given us what we have been praying for we are going to quit! . . . We have been doing everything right, but God hasn’t answered us . . .. . . let’s just give up.”

In today’s world that is what we expect to hear from someone who is not getting what they want. You would have expected them to just give up.

But..., this priestly couple would once again prepare for ministry. Zechariah would get his things together and Elizabeth would prepare for a week alone as her husband went off to serve a God that didn’t seem like He was responding to their prayers.

But they stayed at it . . . serving and worshipping God – only by now, in their 80’s, they had probably stopped praying for certain things – like children and grandchildren.

I came across an event from the life of William Carey, the great missionary to India who spent more than 20 years translating the Bible in to several Indian dialects. His biographer recorded how one day his warehouse caught fire and literally burned to the ground. He lost his manuscripts; entire translations of several Bibles in production; the type setting characters used in the presses had literally melted down into clumps of metal. The next day was Sunday and Carey was supposed to preach. He stood and said, “My text for today is Psalm 46:10, Be still and know that I am God.”

He went on to say to his congregation that he was confident of two things – first, that God has the right to act according to His will as He pleases; and secondly, that our duty as believers is to submit to His will.

That didn’t mean that all of life was going to be easy for Carey. He wrote to a family member that this was one of the hardest most hopeless times in his life...

Maybe in your life, there doesn’t seem to be any hope . . . it’s dark, there is no light . It doesn’t make sense . . . you can’t figure it out! You feel like no one is listening… not even God.

Remember, in the best of times and the worst of times… we are to know that He is God. He alone is in control… and He alone knows what is best for you according to His plans.

Luke has set the stage for us. For Zechariah and Elizabeth… their lives getting ready to change in a way that they would never have expected … as God extends to them a promise of Grace!

2. Promise of Grace (8-17)

Luke 1:8–10 ESV

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

Now it happened – Don’t you love that? – it just so happened… that it was Zechariah’s scheduled week of service in Jerusalem… it just so happened that Zechariah was in the middle of performing his priestly duties before God at that exact moment that something unexpected happened… coincidence… I think not.

Verse 9 tells us that He was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense while the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

here’s what’s happening… let me help set the scene for you.

To have the “lot” land on your name was a huge privilege that most priests never had. Thousands of priests over the years had never had the honor of entering the Holy Place – that inner sanctuary just outside the Holy of Holies – to burn incense before God – a symbol of prayer ascending to the very presence of God.

This was the ultimate high point of a priests career – he would represent the entire nation in prayer before God.

Zachariah would be able to choose two other priests to go with him into the Holy Place. Between the three of them, one of them would remove the remnants of the previous offering of showbread and then reverently back out of the Holy Place.

Another would clean the golden altar of incense and remove the ashes from the previous coals. They would bring hot coals from the outer brazen altar where the animals had been sacrificed and place them on the grid of the golden altar. Then, the second priest would also back out of the Holy Place reverently.

And, then, at that moment, all the priests and all the people outside the temple would kneel and pray.

Then, at that moment, Zachariah, who would have been all alone, walked over to the golden altar of incense and poured a costly liquid perfume over the glowing coals.

As soon as the liquid hit the hot coals he would have been engulfed with the cloud of sweet smelling smoke – That sweet smelling smoke was a symbol of the sweetness of prayers being offered to God

Zechariah would have been thrilled to be given this once in a life time opportunity. For a man that didn’t seem all that special, and for a couple that probably felt like they had been overlooked by God, … this was an incredible blessing and confirmation of his life’s work.

As the smoke cleared, Zachariah suddenly realized he wasn’t alone.

Luke 1:11–12 ESV

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

That’s the bible’s way of saying,... “He was scared to death!!!”

He’s in there alone with an angel – and the angel will identify himself later as Gabriel – the very same angel who had visited the famous prophet Daniel centuries earlier.... and the very same angel that would later visit a young girl named Mary.

Gabriel said to Zachariah what angels typically have to tell human beings when they first encounter them – look at — Luke 1:13

– “Don’t be afraid, Zachariah.” (Luke 1:13)

We can only imagine what is going on in Zachariah’s head.... “Okay . . . I’m not afraid . . . I’m not afraid . . . I’m not afraid . . . but, what are you doing in here!?!”

Listen – no word from God for centuries . . . no angel sightings for 400 years . . . suddenly . . .Hope is appearing... daylight is coming… God is progressing His Plan…

Gabriel says…, “Do not be afraid, Zachariah, … your prayers have been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.”

Your prayer has been heard!

Wait a second. I thought Zachariah was praying for the nation… I thought He was just praying for the people of Israel… He was in their praying on behalf of his nation – for the coming Messiah – for redemption – for national holiness.

He was more than 80 years old. He wasn’t praying for a son.

He had prayed that prayer 50 years ago.

He had offered up that petition to God a million times 40 years ago

He and Elizabeth had cried together often, praying for a child, 30 years ago.

And by now they had probably stopped praying about that.

Zachariah – God heard your prayer – 50 years ago. He knew Elizabeth’s feelings of shame 40 years ago; He knew all about your desire and disappointment 30 years ago.

And God knew when you finally stopped praying for children...

Gabriel is delivering this stunning revelation to this old priest –and to every one of us.

Friends, just because you feel like God never answered you, doesn’t mean He didn’t hear you.

God knew this couple wanted children – and He knows that they can’t have children now . . . unless He performs some kind of miracle that turns the clock back for both of them.

In a way Gabriel is informing Zachariah and Elizabeth that they are a part of God’s plan… that is progressing... Hope is on the horizon!

Just think about it. Their physical inability to have children became the perfect platform for God’s supernatural ability.

Can you imagine their family facebook page or Instagram story? – 80 year old Elizabeth and Zachariah . . . shopping for baby clothes . . . can you imagine the selfies that would have taken?

This promise of God’s Grace was not what they expected. But, it was exactly what God had planned.

And their son was to be named, John. Which can mean, “the grace of God.”

John would become a daily reminder to them that God’s grace had been enough to help them remain faithful through the darkness of their own disappointment and hopelessness when the voice of God had been silent.

And God’s grace would be enough to help them go through the challenging stages of parenthood, one day at a time . . . one step at a time . . . one challenge at a time. … —> And friends, God’s grace is definitely enough to help us go through the sickness, disappointments and discouragements of life

One Pastor I know pointed out something I thought was interesting. If we were to connect the meanings of these three names:

Zachariah (God remembers), Elizabeth (The promise of my God), and John (grace of God)... you could have this statement:

God remembered His promises . . . and His grace was enough.

Application:

If you are dealing with things in life today and you think that no one cares and that life is hopeless. Remember, God’s grace is enough.

God’s grace gives forgiveness of sins… God’s grace invites us to be reconciled to God... our heavenly father.

If you are here today and you have not heard about how God’s saving grace can be applied to your life through faith, please, talk with me or one of the other church members before you leave.

Remember, God always remembers His promises. But, unless you respond to Him in faith you will be the one missing out on God’s promises of family, fellowship, and freedom from the slavery of sin.

When we celebrate Christmas, we not only celebrate the birth of Christ. We celebrate the fact that God fulfilled His promises through Christ. And, through the birth of Christ, God opened access to be reconciled to Him and He opened the opportunity to have a relationship with Him. Because we can have a redeemed relationship with God, we have the ability to have a relationship with one another. Our relationship with God supports and strengthened our relationships, our friendships, our marriages.

Zachariah and Elizabeth were married for a long time. God graciously overcame their cultural shame of not having children. Their faithfulness to God strengthened their relationship with each other, and with God… and God counted them as faithful and included them as a key part in His plan of redemption.

I want to leave you with two thoughts to meditate on as we leave today.

No matter what kind of difficulties you are going through today… remember that God has not forgotten you… He always remembers His promises... and God’s grace is always enough.

God always remembers His promises

God’s grace is always enough.