Here Comes the King.

Luke 1:5-38

Introduction

Anticipation waiting for a package to arrive - USPS, UPS, Fed Ex graphic meme

As we open up today’s passage, it was a dark time for the Jewish people. For four hundred years, the Lord had been silent. Let’s remember that just because God is silent, it does not mean that He is not working. Even during this silent period where God had not spoken to His people, He was working. The stage was being set for what was about to unfold. The people waited for the promised Messiah who they were told was coming by the prophets. And yet, silence. Then, just as the first light of dawn breaking over the horizon, the events of Luke chapter one occur. God speaks.

When people are confronted with the Word of God some respond in unbelief. How will I know this is going to happen? But we also see those who respond in belief and take God at His Word. In today’s passage we see these both of these responses at work in the lives of Zechariah and Mary. We are going to look at two announcements, the announcement of an announcer or forerunner, and a shocking announcement made to a simple girl.

Let’s pray before we dive in.

PRAY

I. The Announcement of the Forerunner (v. 5-25)

(Let’s get ready to rumble guy…)

A. A faithful and obedient couple serving God through disappointment.

They were older and Elizabeth was barren.

Culturally

Barren for the glory of God.

OT illustration Hannah

Suffering often heightens the spiritual sensitivity of the sufferer and brings them into a closer relationship with God.

B. Zechariah was carrying out his duties.

C. Gabriel gives a startling announcement.

Who will this child be?

D. Zechariah’s doubting response. (v. 18)

Zechariah understood the biology but not the theology. (Don’t let shock at what God is doing move into unbelief in your heart.)

Focusing on the problem.

Blocking out the sun with a quarter.

When you focus on the problem you take your eyes off of the one who is at the heart of working through the problem.

Why put this in here.. because Luke wants us to be certain...

II. A shocking announcement to a simple girl. (v. 26-38)

A. A strange greeting. (v. 28-29)

B. A special announcement. (v. 30-33)

Yes, Mary knew.... but her mother did not.

Neither did her father.

D. An obedient and submissive response. (v. 38)

she’s not asking if he can do it but how will he do it...

His will over my will.

We see this attitude exemplified in Jesus Christ as a man when He prayed in the garden.

Gospel here

The Takeaway-

God was using all of these things and working them together to bring about the birth of Jesus. This was in fulfillment of prophecy that there would be a forerunner coming before Messiah who would call the people to repent and prepare a people for the Lord. So the question for you today:

1. Are you prepared? Have you been made ready for the Lord? Repent and believe the gospel.

2. Christmas time is a part of the year when many are looking deeply at their lives. I invite you to look at your life and tell me: does the Lord have your heart? Look at your life, what you do, what you think, and how you make decisions. Is the Lord Jesus at the center of that? If not, I don’t want to leave you in despair, because I have some good news. Jesus died for those sins too. You can run to Him. He still changes people.

3. You may be encountering some unexpected life circumstances, like the folks in the passage today. What will your response be? Will you trust Jesus in the unexpected and the unknown? It’s not unknown to Him. We can have certainty in Him when we take Him at His Word.

Let’s Pray.