The Forerunner

Intro

Good morning Bethel Church, and good morning to our network of rural churches that are joining us live online.

We believe that partnering with regional and global missionaries is part of our call to make disciples. Jesus said to go into all the world! We start here in our neighborhood, but we also must think bigger as to what God is doing in the church throughout the globe. Partnering with the Jankouski family is one way we do that. If you are interested, you can check out our missions board just outside of our sanctuary to see what other missionaries and ministries we support as a church.

Announcements:

End of Year Giving:

Giving as of 12/3/23 - now through the end of the year we will need $55k to meet our budget.

There’s been $12,000 given to the lighting project. We want to have this project paid off by the end of the year. We need $48k above our budgeted amount to reach this goal.

We’ve made a note in the bulletin about how and where to make end of year gifts and when the deadline is. Make note of that as you plan your giving, and I would challenge you to help us reach our goal so we can continue to be good stewards of our building and make disciples.

Link Tree:

We are working on streamlining communication and simplifying next steps. We have made what is called a Link Tree. This is a curated list of important links for new people, baptism, volunteers, and also quick access to our online giving and sermon library. In the bulletin we have a QR code. Scan that code by simply opening up your camera app and pointing it at the code, and a button will appear. If you’re unsure how to do that or if your phone doesn’t seem to be working, talk with myself or reach out to the church office and we can help you out.

Invitation Cards:

Our Christmas eve service is coming. We want to leverage this opportunity to invite neighbors and friends to our service at 10 am on the 24th. We also have our pastries and hot drinks that morning starting at 9 am. Grab an invitation card by the door or at the welcome center after the service.

Today we will be in week two of our series called “The Weary World Rejoices” for the Christmas season. If you are reading out of the Bibles in front of you, our passage can be found on page 855.

ladies stud at 11am

Pray

Setup and Payoff

Stories have a way of bringing truth, goodness, and beauty from the abstract or intellectual and into the practical. It’s one thing to talk about self-sacrifice, for example, it’s another to see that lived out in a story. One of my favorite recent stories is the story created by Marvel: Tony Stark. His character kicked off the whole Marvel universe in 2009. We find this hot-shot arms dealer, witty, crud, ladies man, billionaire. His is selfish and loves the attention. He is unlike other heros we’ve come to respect where it is not about them, it is about serving others, protecting others, and putting their life on the line for the sake of the innocent.

In the 2012 movie The Avengers, Tony Stark and Captain America have a critical exchange. Even when I watched it in theaters back then I knew the writers were setting up something very important. Captain America, the beacon of character, honor, and the American way, couldn’t stand Tony. He thought Tony’s sarcasm and selfishness were not charming. During a heated exchange, Captain America says this to Tony, “The only thing you fight for is yourself. You’re not the one to make the sacrifice play.” Meaning, Captain America was calling out the character flaw of Tony.

Years later, Marvel concluded Tony’s character Arc. Tony got married and became a father. His daughter was his whole world, and in the conclusion to his story he now had someone to fight for other than himself. It was Tony, when it all came down to it, who sacrificed himself to defeat the greatest enemy they had encountered.

The great stories set up a plot point, and later bring a satisfying conclusion.

I remember watching this conclusion and actually getting emotional. Over the course of 10 years, starting in 2009, I watched the writers of Tony’s character slowly break down that arrogant selfish man and transform into the protecting and self-sacrificing dad. The writers had the end in mind, and left little bread crumbs along the way that hinted at what would come.

The great stories follow the set up and pay off structure. There is something that is inside us that longs for good stories, for it all to work out, for people to grow and change. And when we see it happen, when all the pieces come together in the end, we feel a kind of relief. Goodness prevailed, the breadcrumbs brought us home.

TRANS: When we think about the Christmas story, we find something similar. We see prophecies being told, expectations being set up, and over time the story gets fulfilled. But unlike books, myths, or movies, the Christmas story actually happened.

The Christmas story is not only satisfying, it is true.

C.S. Lewis became a Christian largely through the influence of J.R.R. Tolkien, the writer of the Lord of the Rings. Lewis could not get over the fact that, though he was an atheist, he was drawn to the story of Christianity. He found it moving, satisfying, and beautiful, even if he rejected it in his mind. Lewis was drawn to stories of all kinds, including the pagan myths. Tolkien, in building a bridge to the gospel, challenged Lewis to think of Christianity like a “true myth.” Meaning, the story of Christianity has a flavor that seems mythical. Prophecies of old that are fulfilled, born of a virgin, miracle worker, and dying and rising God. But unlike the pagan religions where their pantheon of gods were all made up, the Christian story happened in reality. Jesus really did come, he really was a miracle worker, and he really did die and rise again.

It is in this sense that we say “Christmas story.” It is a narrative, we are following characters, there is set up and pay off — all like other stories we read or watch. But this really happened.

TRANS: it is this fact, the Christmas story happened in history, that brings great joy to a weary world. We rejoice at the coming of a savior.

With this in mind, let us begin our time in the word by starting in Luke 1:5-7

Luke 1:5–7 ESV

5 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. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Here the stage is set. We find Luke begin the story of Jesus with two God fearing people, who are older, and have no child. Let’s read on.

Luke 1:8–15 ESV

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 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. 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.

After centuries of waiting, God sent an angel to announce that the time had come. The one who would come before the messiah would be born. This messenger was Gabriel.

GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL (גַּבְרִיאֵל, gavri'el). One of two angels named in the Bible (the other being Michael). Gabriel interpreted Daniel’s vision (Dan 8:16), gave Daniel the prophecy of 70 weeks (Dan 9:21), and announced the births of John the Baptist (Luke 1:19) and Jesus (Luke 1:26). Identified as an archangel with specific duties in Second Temple Jewish literature and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Now the Jews knew what to look for, because centuries prior there was a prophecy that would need to be fulfilled.

Malachi 4:1–6 ESV

1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts. 4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Four centuries before this moment, God left a prophecy through the words of Malachi. Elijah would return. This set up an expectation. When Elijah comes, then the messiah would be next. Let’s go back to our passage in Luke:

Luke 1:16–17 ESV

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.”

TRANS: Finally, the story began to unfold

The Unfolding Story

The promised son would come in the power of Elijah.

Now John the baptist is not literally Elijah, although some commentators think it’s possible, the language here seems to indicate that John would be an Elijah-like figure - similar power and ministry.

Now who is Elijah?

ELIJAH THE PROPHET A miracle-worker and prophet during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah, kings of Israel (ninth century bc); known for his opposition to Baal worship and his ascent into heaven.

For the sake of time we can’t go over the entire story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. But jot down 1 Kings 18 16-40. Elijah essentially proves that the God of Israel is the one true God by seeing which God will strike down fire from heaven on an alter. The prophets of Baal do their ritualistic dance for hours, going in a circle and chanting. No fire. Elijah, man, what a guy, suggests maybe Baal is asleep. I can’t wait to meet Elijah that’s my kind of humor.

Then Elijah, when they are done, pours water over the alter to the Lord and this happened:

English Standard Version Chapter 18

37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 gThen the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, h“The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.”

Elijah would go on to purge idol worship from Israel, at times single-handedly, and Elijah never died. Rather, he was caught up in a chariot of fire sent by the Lord and he flew away to heaven. Again, I can’t wait to meet this guy.

Do you see how important it is that the Angel is saying that John would come in the power of Elijah? That meant something to Zechariah. John would pave the way, he would be the forerunner, to the promised messiah.

TRANS: Zechariah struggled to believe this would be true. He asked how this could happen because he and his wife were so old, and as a result Zechariah was unable to speak as a consequence of his doubt. The angel Gabriel assured him that this would happen, and soon later Elizabeth became pregnant.

Soon after this, the angel visited Mary and foretold that she would become pregnant, and we will follow Mary and Joseph next week. For now, jump down to when Mary visits Elizabeth in verse 39:

Luke 1:39–45 ESV

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

The promised son was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Recall our discussion of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians a few weeks ago. Prior to the beginning of the church in Acts, the Holy Spirit would only come upon key leaders, kings, and priests of Israel. To see that the Holy Spirit would come upon John was yet another sign that John was an important figure in the story, and it would be through the Power of the Holy Spirit that John would accomplish his purpose.

Notice the contrast at work in this moment with Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth, the one who had prayed for a child for decades and it never came. I imagine the weariness that came from years of praying and no answer, yet now the great joy in God answering that prayer with the one who precede the messiah. John leaps in Elizabeth’s womb! God’s sovereign and perfect plan was unfolding in His timing.

TRANS: and this moves us to the last key moment today. Zechariah’s prophecy. After a time of silence because of his doubt, after the baby was born, Zechariah wrote on a tablet that his name was to be John. At this moment God released the hold on Zechariah’s tongue and he was filled with the Spirit an began prophesying.

Luke 1:67–79 ESV

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Depending on your background with the church, some of these things Zechariah is saying may ring a bell. Zechariah is making clear connections between what was happening and the Old Testament:

Zechariah’s prophecy stood on the Old Testament.

New Testament (Second Edition) 1:67–80: Zechariah’s Prophecy

“Blessed be God” occurs in Old Testament praise (e.g., Ps 41:13; 72:18; 1 Chron 16:36; 2 Chron 6:4)

New Testament (Second Edition) 1:67–80: Zechariah’s Prophecy

Horn of salvation” parallels the meaning of “rock” and “strength” in Psalm 18:2

New Testament (Second Edition) 1:67–80: Zechariah’s Prophecy

Verse 71, for example, reflects Psalm 106:10 (God saving them from the hand of those who hated them)

New Testament (Second Edition) 1:67–80: Zechariah’s Prophecy

God often would “remember” the covenant with the patriarchs (Ex 2:24; 6:5; Lev 26:42, 45; Ps 105:8–9), with Israel (Ps 106:45; 111:5; Ezek 16:60) or others (Gen 9:15–16). The “oath” God swore to Abraham evokes a range of texts (e.g., Gen 26:3; 50:24; Ex 6:8; 32:13; Deut 9:5; 29:13; 30:20; 1 Chron 16:16; Ps 105:9), especially Genesis 22:16–18 (including triumph over enemies and blessing of nations).

New Testament (Second Edition) 1:67–80: Zechariah’s Prophecy

“Prepare his way” alludes to Isaiah 40:3 (predicting the herald of a new exodus) and probably also Malachi 3:1 (probably connected with Elijah in 4:5)

New Testament (Second Edition) 1:67–80: Zechariah’s Prophecy

Future “salvation” in Isaiah includes deliverance from political oppressors; but, as here, it is predicated upon Israel’s restoration to divine favor through forgiveness.

New Testament (Second Edition) 1:67–80: Zechariah’s Prophecy

“Sunrise” (NASB) or “rising sun” (NIV) could allude to God as the Sun of righteousness in Malachi 4:2 (cf. Ps 84:11), in the context of Elijah preparing the way (Mal 4:5–6)

Do you see how we cannot understand the New Testament unless we go back to the old? These are but a few of the references Zechariah is making in his prophecy. God had been leaving bread crumbs, or setting up the expectations, for his story to unfold.

TRANS: God’s plan was unfolding, and all the threads that had been hanging for centuries were coming together. With the coming of John, the stage was set for Jesus.

It is important to know the stories, to see how it all comes together, because it informs us today.

Application

When you pray, trust in His timing.

God’s redemption happens through families.

God’s redemption is preceded by repentance.