Luke 1:5-25

Turn to the first chapter of Luke. It seems a little strange to be reading from Luke 1 in June. We’re usually reading these verses in December.

You’ll remember that the Gospel of Luke was written by Luke, a traveling companion of Paul and a doctor. Perhaps because of his medical training, Luke was very detailed in his writing. As I mentioned last week, Luke gives medical details the other gospels naturally omit. In fact, Luke used more medical terms than Hippocrates, the father of medicine, did in all his writings.

Luke was exact not only in his medical descriptions but also in his use of important people and places. Because of this exactness there were some in the late 1800s who began to doubt Luke’s accurateness. One such man was Sir William Ramsey. Ramsey did not believe the Bible was accurate and was a book like any other book and filled with flaws. To prove his point he took Luke’s two books – Luke’s gospel and the Book of Acts. He figured that since Luke was so detailed in his writing it would be easy to prove him wrong. So Ramsey traveled to the Middle East to prove the people and places Luke wrote about never existed. You know how this is going to go. When Ramsey got there he discovered just how accurate Luke was. He couldn’t find even one historical inaccuracy. He declared the Luke should be classified with the great historians of his day. Ramsey not only became a Christian, he became a great defender of the Christian faith.

Luke, unlike the other gospel writers, never met Jesus. He got his information by interviewing those who had seen Jesus. Luke is also the only Gentile author of a New Testament book.

Tonight we pick up in verse 5 but before we do I want to read the first four verses again. The first four verses were an introduction. Luke, writing to Theophilus, explains what he was doing and how he did it. In this book Luke is going to present to Theophilus the details of the life of Jesus.

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. (Acts 1:1-4)

In those verses Luke never actually spells out what he’s talking about. He never mentions Jesus’ name. He doesn’t talk about the church or scriptures or anything religious. Luke just says that he wants to write a researched account of the things Theophilus had heard stories about. But Luke never says what those things were. It’s not until we get to verse 5 that he starts telling what it is about.

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. (Luke 1:5)

Luke is careful to place his book in history and he does so by mentioning those in positions of authority. At that time, Herod was king of Judea. He ruled for thirty-six years. He was not a Jew, but he was a descendant of Abraham through Esau, the brother of Jacob. The Jews hated him and nicknamed him “the beast.” He killed thousands of Jews as well as members of his own family. Even the Romans said it was safer to be his pig than his son. He wouldn’t eat pork so the pig was safe, but if he even thought one of his sons was eyeing his throne he’d have him killed. Somehow this man is remembered in history as being great. It’s was his character that earned him that nickname but his many building projects. He did a lot of work on the temple and the temple mount enlarging and updating it.

The story begins not with the birth of Jesus, but with the story of a priest named Zechariah whose name means “remembered by Yahweh.” Because of his circumstances – we’ll find out that he had no children – it might seem as if he’d been forgotten by God. At that time there were many Jews who might have felt the same way. The last prophet of God was Malachi. It had over four hundred years since Zechariah laid down his pen, four hundred years of silence from God. That doesn’t mean nothing was happening in history, it’s just that God had not spoken to his people prophetically in all that time.

When the Old Testament ended the Persians were ruling over Israel. It wouldn’t be long before Alexander the Great conquered the know world for Greece. And by the time of Jesus, the Romans had taken over where Alexander left off. So, things were happening as God set the stage for the birth of Jesus.

Today, we might also wonder if God has forgotten about his people. It’s been almost two thousand years since the close of the New Testament and still we wait for the return of Jesus. But just like the silent years between the testaments, we know that God is working behind the scenes to bring about his plan. God is getting things ready to fulfill the prophecies he has made about the second coming of Jesus.

Luke tells us that Zechariah was a priest. That means that several times a year he would travel to the temple five times a year to serve for a week at a time. Because he was a priest he was forbidden from marrying a non-Jew. And, it would be even better if a priest married a woman also for the line of priests. That’s what Zechariah had done. His wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Elizabeth’s name means God is my oath or promise. Luke tells us this to set up his next important description of the couple.

6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. (Luke 5:6)

Luke is not saying Zechariah and Elizabeth were perfect and never sinned but that they wholeheartedly served God. Sinlessness is not an option in this life, but how much better would the world be if more people simply tried to serve God with all of their hearts. That was Zechariah and Elizabeth and it pleased God. However . . .

7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. (Luke 1:7)

To be childless was considered to be a curse. First, bearing children was thought to be a rule of God who commanded his people to have children and fill the earth. Second, children were considered to be a blessing from God. And third, childlessness was seen as a curse, unlike today when children are often viewed as a curse. Jewish Rabbis said there were seven people who were excommunicated from God and the list began with, “A Jew who has no wife, or a Jew who has a wife and who has no child.” So, as Elizabeth will say at the end of our passage, the couple lived in disgrace. However, Luke wants us to know it was not because of some sin they had committed. He already told us that Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous before God and carefully obeyed his commands.

Luke also wants us to understand that the couple is well past the years of having children. He refers to them as being very old. It is the same way he will describe Anna in the next chapter who was eighty-four. Since a Jew was not considered old until their sixties, like Anna, Zechariah and Elizabeth could very well have been in their eighties.

8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. (Luke 1:8-9)

As I mentioned, five times a year a priest would travel to Jerusalem to serve at the temple. Three of those times were during the feast when they would all be there. The other two times were only with their group of priests. There were twenty-four groups that would take turns taking care of the daily duties such as offering sacrifices. While only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and only then once a year, each day priests were selected to enter the Holy Place. The bread on the Table of Showbread was replaced each day. For the Golden Candlestick or Lampstand, oil was added and wicks were trimmed. And incense would be burned at the Altar of Incense. This is what Zechariah had been chosen to do.

It’s estimated that there were more than twenty thousand priests in the first century. There were way more than could ever be used. As a result, they would cast lots to see who would serve each day. Being chosen was such a privilege that you were only allowed to serve once in a lifetime and majority would never have an opportunity. But on this day Zechariah was chosen. Do you think it could have been because of God?

10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. (Luke 1:10)

In the Old Testament, the burning of incense represented prayer. It makes sense then that as Zechariah goes to burn the incense in the temple that the people worshiping outside are praying. As John spread incense on the altar that outside would see the smoke begin to rise and would start praying. Zechariah goes in by himself to perform this ritual but quickly discovered he was not alone.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. (Luke 1:11-12)

Someone compared this scene to going to the kitchen in the middle of the night. You’re standing there in front of the refrigerator in the dark and all alone when suddenly someone is standing there beside you. You aren’t expecting anyone else to be up. You’re going to jump. It’s understandable then that Zechariah jumped when he saw the angel. He was supposed to be alone but here’s this angel.

13a But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah. . . .” (Luke 1:13a)

As I mentioned, the last word from God was through the Old Testament prophet Zechariah. The very last word written by Malachi was the word meaning curse. And now, the first word from God in the New Testament is, “Do not be afraid.” Here’s was God’s final message to his people through Malachi:

5 See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction. (Malachi 4:5-6)

God is talking about one he would send to prepare the way for the Messiah. He’s talking about John the Baptist.

After telling Zechariah that there’s nothing to be afraid of, the angel says:

13b “. . . your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:13b-17)

There’s a lot going on in those verses.

1. Elizabeth would get pregnant. They had given up on having children but now she would have a son.

2. They were to give him the name John which means “Yahweh is gracious.”

3. This son would be the cause of joy and gladness. The days of their disgrace would be over. But not only would Zechariah and Elizabeth rejoice at his birth but many others would as well.

4. He would be considered great before God. The religious leaders would despise him and Herod Antipas, a son of the Great, would have him beheaded, but God would call him great. I think I’d rather be called great by God.

5. He would be a Nazarite. We find a description of a Nazarite in Number 6. A Nazarite was someone who took a vow to separate themselves for God’s service. As a part of that vow they avoided contact with the dead, didn’t cut their hair, and abstained from alcohol. Samson was a Nazarite. At some point Paul had taken the Nazarite vow which is why he was at the temple when he was arrested in Acts 21. John was to be a Nazarite as well.

6. John would be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the first person we read of in the Bible being filled with the Spirit. In the Old Testament God’s Spirit would temporarily come upon someone for a specific purpose and for a limited time. But John would be filled with the Spirit. Even more unusual, it would happen before he born. So John was set apart for God’s service from the very beginning.

7. John would be instrumental in turning the hearts of the people back to God. This lets us know that even among the Jews there were many who did not know God. They had probably been brought up following the Jewish laws and traditions, but they didn’t know God personally or worship him. John would help change that.

8. He would go before the Lord. This would be a fulfillment of Isaiah 40.

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)

He would minister in the spirit of Elijah. Some believed both John and Jesus to be Elijah. John would come in the spirit of Elijah and we read in Malachi.

He would restore families by turn the hearts of parents to their children and children to their parents. I think we can understand that second part. We’ve all know children who rebelled against their parents and wanted nothing to do with their families when they became adults. But God says that the hearts of parents – literally fathers – will be turned to their children. As I’ve already mentioned, we live in a time when children aren’t seen as a blessing but a nuisance. There’s no time for them and little patience. We need the hearts of parents turned to their children today.

And the purpose for all this would be to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah.

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” (Luke 1:18)

That doesn’t sound very nice of Zechariah to talk about his wife that way. I’d never talk about my wife like that. The Greek word which is translated as “well along” also means “to be well stricken” in years. Does anyone understand how it feels to be well stricken in years? The older you get the less things work as they once did. Understandably, Zechariah doesn’t understand how Elizabeth could possibly have a child. However, he’s forgetting about Sarah who was ninety when Isaac was born.

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” (Luke 1:19-20)

There are only a few angels mentioned by name: Gabriel and Michael, Abaddon (in Hebrew or Apollyon (Greek), and maybe Lucifer which means “morning star.” I say maybe because it’s not certain if that was his name or description.

Gabriel lets it be known that he has come from God with this message. Zechariah wants to know how this can be true. How can he know for sure that his wife will have a child in her old age? He was looking for a sign so Gabriel gives a sign. Gabriel says he can know it’s because this good news came straight from God. Gabriel then informs him that because of his lack of faith he will not be able to speak until John is born. The psalmist wrote:

I believed; therefore I said. (Psalm 116:10a)

Zechariah had served as a priest for fifty years, he was at the temple of God standing in the Holy Place, one of the most holy places on earth, he sees and angel and hears an extraordinary promise and he doubts. Because of his unbelief he wouldn’t be able to speak for nine months.

Mary asked a similar question when Gabriel informed her that she would have a child.

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34)

The difference is Mary’s question came from faith whereas Zechariah’s from doubt. Compare their reactions to that of Abraham and Sarah. When God told Abraham that ninety-year-old Sarah would have a child he laughed from joy. When Sarah heard that she would have a child at ninety she too laughed but it was from doubt. We need to always react to God with faith.

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. (Luke 1:21)

It didn’t take that long to put some incense on the altar. As soon as he was finished Zachariah should have come out but his conversation with Gabriel kept him a little longer and the people wondered if he was OK. There are stories in the Old Testament of people dying because they did things wrong. They had to have wondered if Zechariah had been struck dead as well. Faith is blessed by God but unbelief is judged.

22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. (Luke 1:22)

As he exited the temple, Zechariah was supposed to repeat the priestly benediction from Number 6.

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Number 6:24-26)

That didn’t happen. He was unable to bless them and he was unable to explain what had happened. He couldn’t even say his own name. All he could do was gesture and from that they concluded he must have had a vision from God.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. (Luke 1:23)

Zechariah’s time at the temple only lasted a week. We aren’t told what day of the week this was so we can’t know how much longer he stayed before being able to go home. Can you imagine Elizabeth’s reaction when her husband finally did come home and he’s mute? I wonder how long it took him to make signs to help her understand.

24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” (Luke 1:24-25)

God kept his promise and Elizabeth became pregnant in her well stricken years. As the prophet Jeremiah said, nothing is too difficult for God. I find it interesting that Elizabeth hid herself away for five months. She did gratefully acknowledge the grace of God in giving her a son. Not only was she finally having a child but it was evidence that the Messiah was coming. God had not forgotten about his people but was keeping his promise.

Bruce Larson, commenting on this passage wrote:

I think the thing God wants for us is not too unlike what he wanted for Zacharias and Elizabeth in verse 25 – to take away our reproach among men and women. He wants to restore that which robs us of dignity. He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. He wants to give us something too good to be true.

I want you to think about Gabriel’s first comments to Zechariah.

Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. (Luke 1:13)

If his prayer has been answered, just what prayer do you think that would be? Gabriel immediately says that Elizabeth with have a son so we can assume it was his prayer for a child. We can be certain that they both had prayed for years for a son. But how many years had passed since they’d given up on that prayer being answered? How many years had passed since they’d stopped making that request? That’s not generally a prayer you make when you’re in your eighties. Yet now, years later, his prayer had been answered.

While Jesus teaches us to pray and not give up (Luke 18), maybe one of the lessons we should from this is that our prayers don’t just go away after we’ve said them. We may stop asking and we may even forget that we ever asked but God does not. It may take years but promises to answer.