Zacharias, Elizabeth and John
A detailed Account - Gospel of Luke • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 44:29
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Handout
Words can bring doubt
Words can bring doubt
The days of Herod (1:5)
Luke 1:5 “5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.”
The days of Zacharias temple service (1:8)
Luke 1:8 “8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,”
An unlikely visitor speaks to Zacharias (1:11-17)
Have everyone read with you (do not put on the screen)
Have you ever had anyone speak an unlikely, illogical thing to you that brought about questions?
Briefly look back at (1:11-17) what were the illogical claims the angel spoke?
Your petition has been heard, what petition? (v.13)
My wife is going to bear a son? (v.13)
Your son will be great in the sight of the Lord (v.15)
Filled with the Holy Spirit even in the womb (v.15)
He is going to be a forerunner before God, in spirit of Elijah.
He will make people prepared for the Lord
Transition: This brings us now to our passage this morning. How does Zacharias respond to the unlikely, illogical words from the angel. Oh, and the angels response back too.
Our text
Our text
18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But 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.
23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home. 24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”
Where is Zacharias when the angel appears? How do you know?
In the temple, see (vv.8-9)
What was the question that Zacharias posed (v.18)?
How will I know what you are telling me for certain
What do you learn about the angel (v.19)?
Name: Gabriel
Stands in the presence of God
Messenger sent to speak to you, about good news!
What was the consequence for not believing (v.20)?
Unable to speak
What did the people think when Zacharias was mute (v.22)?
That he had a vision while in the temple
How did Elizabeth feel when “the proper time” came (v.25)?
The Lord dealt with her in taking away her disgrace among men. Looked with favor upon her.
Heavenly words, earthly doubts
Heavenly words, earthly doubts
Great message Mr. Angel, but I’m old, wife advanced in years, how can I know this is true?
One commentator wrote on this section:
“You would think that the presence of an angel and the announcement of God’s Word would encourage Zacharias’ faith, but they did not. Instead of looking to God by faith, the priest looked at himself and his wife and decided the birth of a son was impossible. He wanted some assurance beyond the plain word of Gabriel, God’s messenger, perhaps a sign from God.”
This announcement(Lk1:13, 18) was not something that had not happened before (Gen18:9-15); did Zacharias’ not know, did he forget?
There is nothing that is impossible by God, nothing outside of His limitations
You want to believe good news don’t you? I’m sure that Zacharias’ wanted to believe, but the good news was too good to be true, unbelievable and unbelief was going to be judged.
Zacharias looked logically first, then to God. He looked at the circumstances then looked at the good news from God. God does things at times that are illogical.
Who, from where, with what comes (v.19)
What are angels but God’s servants, messengers (Heb1:14)?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
The message is “Good News” the The word itself comes from a Greek word euangelion, which literally means “good news.”
It was all good news to Zacharias’
You will have a son (1:13)
He will be great in the sight of the Lord (1:15)
He will turn many back to the Lord (1:16)
He will have a very special part to play in God’s scheme of redemption (1:17) - forerunner!
Faithless consequences
Faithless consequences
20 But you have not believed my message, which will come true at the right time. Because you have not believed, you will be unable to speak; you will remain silent until the day my promise to you comes true.”
21 In the meantime the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he was spending such a long time in the Temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and so they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Unable to say a word, he made signs to them with his hands.
Because of unbelief Zacharias was struck mute (v.20) (ref Num6:22-27)
Being mute made it where he could not give the normal benediction after burning the incense. (see Num6:22-27)
A little Jewish history note here:
The people would be waiting outside for the priest to exit from burning the incense. They would have been praying (1:10)
The people would be waiting to know that the priest was not struck dead (See Exo28:34-35)
Exodus 28:34–35 “34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around on the hem of the robe. 35 “It shall be on Aaron when he ministers; and its tinkling shall be heard when he enters and leaves the holy place before the Lord, so that he will not die.”
The priest would exit temple through the great doors and the other two priests were waiting for him along with the crowd.
The priest would lift up his hands and give the benediction as Aaron did.
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 lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’
After the benediction was given then the praise got going starting with the congregational response “Blessed be the Lord god, the God of Israel, from Everlasting to everlasting.”
OK, now back to the passage exposition
Yes, he had a vision, one that he could not tell anyone for 9-months. It was very personal to him. Good news that the people need to hear, but he could not speak.
Consider God still used Zacharias even when there was unbelief.
Without Zacharias there is no John the Baptist.
Without John the Baptist there is no forerunner (herald)
Without the herald there is no fulfillment of the O.T. prophesies about the coming Messiah
If the prophesies are not fulfilled by Jesus then He did not fulfill all things and Gods scheme of redemption would perish with our sins. Even in unbelief God used Zacharias in a mighty way for His plan of redemption.
“When we do not believe God’s promise for our lives, we do not necessarily destroy the promise; but we do destroy our ability to enjoy the promise. What made this such a severe punishment was that Zacharias had such great news to tell.” - Guzik
Zacharias still had work to do, he had the rest of his priestly service time. He still could not speak and that must be frustrating, but then he wanted to go home and tell Elizabeth the good news too.
Zacharias did make signs (1:22) so he did pass on information, was it just the benediction? Was it what the vision was about? Look at next verses.
Too good and is true
Too good and is true
24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”
The good news passed onto Elizabeth. They had relations and she becomes pregnant (1:24)
She hid herself for five months. Why, we do not know exactly, we know how she viewed it (1:25) with joy!
Some commentators say there was too much excitement and people wanting to see if it is true for if it is then the Messiah is coming.
Other commentators say she kept herself in seclusion not in hiding, but in time of meditation about how this Good news that is true will impact many.
This was exciting times, the Messiah was coming, the Messiah was coming. - -
Good news, you read it this morning. It is still Good News today. Zacharias had a major part to play in God’s scheme of redemption, even when he had unbelief.
You are a part of God’s plan. Be willing to take the mute off and speak the Good News that is available to all men.
(Prayer) (Close)