The Birth of the Forerunner
Notes
Transcript
Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
If you accept the first four words in the Bible—
“In the beginning God”—
Believing miracles comes easily.
A miracle is an act of God.
It is an act contrary to natural law as we understand it, but not contrary to natural law as God understands it.
Miracles are actions He performs for the furtherance of His benevolent and redemptive purpose.
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One of those amazing miracles was the miraculous birth of John the Baptist...
The Forerunner of the Messiah.
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So, please turn your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke.
We will conduct our study in Chapter 1 and focus on verses 57 through 66.
Our message this morning is called, “The Birth of the Forerunner”
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As you are finding your place in God’s Word...
I would like to share that this message will focus on three main points:
The birth of John the Baptist...
The naming of John the Baptist...
And the ministry of John the Baptist.
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Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we consider our text, please join me in prayer...
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Thank you Heavenly Father for your perfect redemptive plan...
A plan to save your children even when we did not deserve it.
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We praise you and bless you for who you are...
The Alpha and the Omega...
The great I Am!
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Equip us...
Equip your saints with the whole armor of God...
And help us to be overcomers in the spiritual battles we daily face.
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Father, forgive those who persecute us and hate us...
And give us a heart of forgiveness...
Always remembering the great debt you have forgiven us of.
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We bless you and praise your holy and precious Name...
You are now and forever our good and loving Father...
slow to anger and filled with mercy.
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And it is in Jesus Christ’s name we pray all these things...
Amen.
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Let’s turn to our text for today:
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,
60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.”
61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”
62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.
64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,
66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
So, let’s look at our first point...
1) The Birth of John
1) The Birth of John
Verses 57-58: Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
Nine months ago...
Before the events our our passage today...
We witnessed The angel Gabriel visit Zechariah while he was performing his priestly duty in the temple.
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At this miraculous event Gabriel announced that despite the fact that Zechariah and Elizabeth were beyond the child bearing age...
God would open Elizabeth’s womb and give them a son...
A son who would be the Forerunner of the long promised Messiah
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Elizabeth, as promised conceived and after nine months we find ourselves at our passage we will be unpacking today.
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So, the statement “her neighbors and relatives heard” reveals that apparently Elizabeth remained in seclusion throughout her pregnancy...
So, her neighbors and relatives only found out that Elizabeth was to have a child when it was time for her to give birth...
This caused a joyful surprise to the community and great rejoicing for they knew that this was a truly miraculous event.
One only needs to look back at Scripture to see comparable events of barren women whom God opened their womb for the purpose of establishing a men of God...
Men who would be used by God in mighty ways.
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So, take a look with me at Genesis 18:11 which says:
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.
However, despite this fact God did the impossible as seen in Genesis 21:2:
2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.
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Just a little later in Genesis we see another similar situation in Genesis 29:31 which says:
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
However, Rachel too did not stay barren for long as Genesis 30:22 reveals:
22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.
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The Book of Judges contains its own amazing account as found in Judges 13:2:
2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children.
And again that was not the end of the story...
Judges 13:24 shows an answered prayer:
24 And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him.
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Hannah, the mother of the faithful Old Testament prophet greatly suffered from being barren as we know from 1 Samuel 1:5 which says:
5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.
And her cries and suffering where heard by God...
And as 1 Samuel 1:20 records:
20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”
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Elizabeth as seen in Luke 1:7 was first introduced to us in Luke’s Gospel as being barren and advance in her age:
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
However, let me repeat this truth...
Our God did the impossible...
And as our passage says: “Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.”
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Zechariah and Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives could not contain their joy...
They were eye witnesses to a miracle that was not just amazing but everything they knew from the Old Testament told them that this child would be special.
Even their joy was foretold as Gabriel said in Luke 1:14:
14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
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As Luke is presenting all these amazing events being fulfilled...
Any reader who is being honest with themselves regarding the text will conclude that when God makes a promise it is as good as accomplished.
This fact is a reminder that we can lean on the promises contained in God’s Word.
The announcement and fulfillment of John the Baptist is just one of a myriad of examples of God being true to His word.
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Next, we will take a look at the situation that occurs just eight days later...
And this takes us to our second point.
2) The Naming of John
2) The Naming of John
Verses 59-63: And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.
As we see in our text...
John the Baptist as a child was circumcised while only eight days old...
This is inline with the Old Covenant as seen in Genesis 17:10–14:
10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,
13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.
14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
Additionally, this passage is the earliest evidence for the custom of naming of a child at circumcision...
So it seems this become customary at some point...
The circumcision event brought together both family and friends...
And in this particular case we can see that they pressured the parents to name the baby “after his father”...
This was intended as a sign of respect to Zechariah.
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Volume 8 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary has this to say regarding the historical context of this practice and the response of the people to Elizabeth:
“Possibly the narrative reflects the Hellenistic custom of waiting a week or so to name a newborn child.
In any event there was obviously a considerable audience for the naming at the circumcision.
To choose a name after a baby’s grandfather or father, especially if one of them was highly esteemed, was natural.
The objection from Elizabeth was against custom and was apparently discounted, probably because she was only a woman.”
So, in ancient Israel, fathers held the final naming rights...
And that is why they ignored Elizabeth and go to Zechariah to confirm what the child’s name will be.
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As we recall from our previous study...
The reason Zechariah is currently deaf and mute can be found back in Luke 1:20:
20 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.”
So, in order to communicate with him the people gathered started making signs and gestures to him...
An the provided him with a “writing tablet” which was a wooden board covered with wax with the intention that etching was done with a pointed instrument to write on it.
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The ESV Study Bible has this great note we should take into consideration in our study:
“‘They made signs to his father’ indicates that Zechariah was deaf as well as mute, or else they would simply have spoken to him.
This is confirmed by the people’s amazement that he chose the same name as Elizabeth chose, something that would not have been surprising if he had been able to hear her.
Zechariah, using a writing tablet, affirms Elizabeth’s choice.”
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Additionally, Zechariah writing “his name is John” is in the present tense and has the ring of deliberate emphasis.
Zechariah’s wording is instructive...
He does not say his name “shall be” John, but “is” John for it is already determined and announced by divine decree...
For Zechariah, his son was named John ever since the angel Gabriel announced it in Luke 1:13:
13 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.
So, Zechariah’s reply indicates how he now has both full obedience and full submission to God’s message after he initially had some doubts.
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Next, our passage says, “And they all wondered”...
The word “wondered” in our ESV translation is “thaumazō” (thou-mad'-zo) in the Koine Greek...
It is also rendered in other translations as: astonished, amazed, surprised, astounded, and marveled.
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The Pillar New Testament Commentary on Luke contains this useful note that can help us further our word study:
“The Greek word thaumazein, “to be amazed or astonished,” is a preferred term in Luke, usually describing the reaction of crowds rather than of disciples or opponents of Jesus.
Luke uses the term thirteen times as a positive reference to Jesus, especially to his miracles or teachings or to something done by Jesus, including astonishment at the empty tomb.
Amazement is not faith, however.
Its four occurrences in Mark 5:20; 6:6; 15:5, 15:44, for instance, signify bewilderment that does not lead to faith.
In Revelation 13:3; 17:6, 17:7, 17:8 four more occurrences describe fascination with the satanic beast.
Likewise in Luke, thaumazein is a sense of awe that may grow into faith if it leads to knowing and following Jesus.”
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Finally, we witness another great miracle...
Zechariah’s muteness and deafness is removed...
And this takes us to out third and final point.
3) The Ministry of John
3) The Ministry of John
Verses 64-66: And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
The moment Zechariah’s muteness and deafness was removed...
A muteness and deafness he suffered with for nine month’s...
The moment this affliction was removed...
All he could do was praise and bless the Lord.
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The term “blessing” in our ESV translation or “praising” as found in other translations is “eulogeō” (yoo-log-eh'-o) in Koine Greek.
It is in the imperfect tense and implies continued praising.
In our next study in the Gospel of Luke we will go into depth on what Zechariah said while praising our mighty God.
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Next, our passage says all who witnessed and heard of this amazing account “laid them up in their hearts”...
This expression is a Hebraism, meaning that the events reached—and were registered—in the core of their being.
We see this expression used in describing how Mary did the same as seen in Luke 2:19:
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
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So, right from his birth...
The people knew something was special about him...
That God was going to use this child in a mighty way.
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Of course, we know from our previous study what some of that great work will look like as found in Luke 1:14–17:
14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 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.
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,
17 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.”
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The phrase “What then will this child be?” hints at messianic expectation...
Consider for example what we find in Luke 3:15:
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,
So many people could see there was something different about John...
Not only was he a prophet but he was part of something big...
A bigger story of the redemption.
Although the people where wrong in thinking he was the Messiah...
He did play a major role as the Forerunner of the Messiah...
Who we know will be revealed to be our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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Additionally, The New American Commentary on the Gospel of Luke has this to say:
“The use of ‘what’ instead of ‘who’ emphasizes John the Baptist’s role as the one who will go before his superior, i.e., the Messiah, and prepare his way.
John was important not in himself but because he assisted in preparing for Jesus.
Luke sought to help his readers, who knew of John the Baptist’s importance, to understand that his importance was due to his role in preparing the way for the One greater than he.”
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The last line of our passage says, “For the hand of the Lord was with him”...
So, That phrase...
The “hand of the Lord”...
It is a metaphor for God’s activity in creation and redemption...
This metaphor occurring more than 200 times in the Old Testament and continues to be used in the New Testament.
Here are just a few examples:
Ezra 7:6 says:
6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
In Nehemiah 2:8 it says:
8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Luke in his account is Acts records this in Acts 11:21:
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
So, we can see the significance of the terminology Luke uses in our passage regarding the “hand of the Lord.”
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God uses John the Baptist as the prophet that will prepare the way for His Son...
We even see prophesies of this in Isaiah 40:3 which says:
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
The New Testament confirms this reference in Isaiah is about John in Matthew 3:3:
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
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Jesus Himself has this amazing statement on John found in Matthew 11:11:
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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Truly the hand of the Lord was on John the Baptist...
And his birth is so significant as it was a sign of God keeping His promise...
His promise that mankind would not be lost forever...
That there is hope...
There is a Savior who will save His people...
A Messiah would come to crush the serpent’s head.
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Of all the promises of God this is the greatest...
And in order to fulfill it...
A prophet was called to make the way for the Messiah...
Preparing the people for the coming of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
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So, when we recall the wonderful and amazing details surrounding the announcement sand birth of the Forerunner...
We can share in the joy as found in the family and friends of Zechariah and Elizabeth...
Yet we can have a greater joy...
Knowing the role John would play...
A role that made way for Christ...
Who lived for us...
And died for us...
And was raised up again for us.
Closing Illustration
Closing Illustration
As this message comes to a close...
I would like to share this that I came across in my study this week:
An elderly Christian was in much distress as he lay dying.
“Oh, Pastor,” he said, “for years I have relied upon the promises of God, but now in the hour of death I can’t remember a single one to comfort me.”
Knowing that Satan was disturbing him, the preacher said, “My brother, do you think that GOD will forget any of His promises?”
A smile came over the face of the dying believer as he exclaimed joyfully.
“No, no!
He won’t!
Praise the Lord, now I can fall asleep in Jesus and trust Him to remember them all and bring me safely to Heaven.”
Peace flooded his soul, and a short time later he was ushered by the angels into the light of God’s eternal day.
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Beloved, remember this...
That the promises of God will never be forgotten by our God.
Every promise made will be kept...
Every hope we have in Him is a sure thing...
Just like the Father said He would send the Son to save us...
He will keep those promises still to be fulfilled in Scripture.
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Like the promise that our Lord and Savior will return...
Due to the past faithfulness of God...
We are confident that Jesus will come back again...
And His own eagerly await Him.
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To those who put their trust in Him...
They will rejoice at His coming!
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To God be all the glory.
Amen.
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Please join us for one more song from the Praise Band.