3: The Hero of the Story (Luke 1:56-79)

What kind of motorcycle does Santa ride? A "Holly" Davidson.

santa has to use special kind of glasses for night flying at high speeds. north POLE arized glasses

what’s Santa's favorite type of music? Wrap.

How does Santa do to make sure he doesn’t eat too many cookies? He uses elf control

What does Santa like to do in his garden? Hoe ho hoeing!

This is the time of the year that often frustrates followers of Jesus - a season of the year where instead of honoring the birth of Jesus...a fat dude in a red suit gets the credit.

Instead of honoring the One who came from heaven, we honor the concept of a man who came from the North Pole. Sometimes Santa becomes The Hero of the Story. But that’s not just true during this season.

ME God has dealt with me on over the last few years. As I listen to others tell stories I have an urge to tell one of MY STORY. Instead of celebrating how God has used someone else I found myself looking for an opportunity to share how God has used ME. In short, there are times I’ve walked away from talking with others & I have a sense of...”I talked too much.” Somewhere between my desire to honor Jesus and sharing my real life experience I realized…I made myself the HERO of the Story

Have YOU ever done that? Have you ever had the perfect chance to honor Jesus but - instead - you pushed Him out of the way - and YOU became the Hero of the Story?

Today we are going to see that - while God wants to use us IN the story - He deserves & desires to be the Hero of the Story.

PRAY Father, please help us to see how to better honor YOU as the Hero of the Story.

As we dive back into the context of our teaching from last week, we see that Mary stuck around for another 3 months (Luke 1:56), right up to the time when John was born.

Luke 1:56–59a (NIV)

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child…

And so the baby was circumcised on the 8th day in obedience to God's command in Gen. 17:12 & Lev 12:3. We will see the same take place for Jesus later in the story (Lk 2:21). It was at this time that the baby was made part of the covenant people, just as Abraham had done 2000 years before with baby Isaac (Gen. 21:4).

Although naming baby boys on the day of their circumcision wasn’t an OT command, by the 1st century naming boys on the day of their circumcision was a common practice.[1]

Sometimes babies were named because of a physical characteristic (Esau ‘hairy’), a parent’s response to God’s goodness (Samuel ‘asked for’), or to honor God (Elijah ‘Yahweh is God’).

But most often, the child was named after the father or grandfather. So, now it was time to name this little tyke & since Zechariah wasn’t able to talk...

Luke 1:59 (NIV)

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah…

Who is THEY? Evidently, “they” is referring to family members & friends. Imagine your neighbors & relatives picking out the name of YOUR child.

I have often recommended Judas for a boy & Jezebel for a girl...but for some reason...no one has liked those biblical suggestions.

The neighbors & relatives were going to name the baby after his father Zechariah.

This makes sense since many people are named after their father. Tonya’s father name is Tony - she is named after him. But Elizabeth wasn’t down with that...

Luke 1:59–61 (NIV)

…but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

This is breaking a cultural custom. The FATHER was to name the child, but Elizabeth is bypassing this custom, and giving him a name that no one in the family has.

The friends and relatives aren’t going to let her get away with this, so…

Luke 1:62 (NIV)

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.

And now we get more insight into Zechariah’s condition. They made signs to Zechariah, so evidently he was both mute & deaf.

Elizabeth couldn’t hear him & he couldn’t hear her. Married folks...does that sound like your house? Your spouse won’t talk or you have ‘selective deafness’? You might think, “That would be wonderful!” But after 9 months you would be missing the voice of your sweetie.

Before we go any further, we need to back up and remember what was going on 9 months before that, when Zechariah was told by the angel that the child would be born and was to be named JOHN (Lk 1:13).

Zechariah asked a question and the response literally left him speechless.

Luke 1:13b, 18 (NIV)

……Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.

[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 1:19–20 (NIV)

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. 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.”

And now was the appointed time the angel had spoken of. John had been born. Now the decision is made by the head of the household, and Zechariah was about to echo the words of Elizabeth.

Luke 1:62–63 (NIV)

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet [1st century iPad], and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”

The Hebrew name for John (Yohanan) is full of meaning - Yahweh has given grace. [2] Luke doesn't choose to interpret this for his Gentile audience, but the meaning of this name that there were commanded to name the baby is incredibly significant.

Not only has God given grace to Zechariah & Elizabeth - a barren couple,

but John’s life would direct people to Yahweh’s greatest proof of grace - Jesus Himself!

The couple was faithful to name him John, and now the appointed time was completed…

Luke 1:64–66 (NIV)

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Can you imagine that moment for Zechariah & Elizabeth? For 9 months their communication was squelched. For 9 months the priest could say nothing to honor God. But the first thing Zechariah did was to begin praising God...with his mouth!

On a side note, can you imagine what it will be like when those who have been sick, open their eyes to wellness on the other side of eternity?

Can you imagine the child born blind...opening his/her eyes in eternity & seeing the first face...of the King!

Can you imagine those who have been handicapped on earth being set free when they see their King!

Oh WE too will ‘begin to speak, praising God!’

Now, Zechariah will honor God with his mouth instead of questioning God with his mouth.

Maybe WE should do the same!

This miracle had a ripple effect throughout the community and beyond throughout the hill country of Judea.

This child was a special part of God’s plan, and everyone who heard about what had happened that day waited to see who Yohanan (John) would become.

And now…the man who God had been disciplined for his lack of trust, is now being greatly used to point others to God’s plan. This should not come as a surprise to us because it is the theme of the Bible. God rarely uses angels and visions to offer forgiveness to people. Instead…

God uses Forgiven People to Forgive People

Let me give you a couple of examples of God using forgiven people to forgive people. In Luke’s sequel to Theophilus, called the Acts of the apostles,

In Acts 8 an Ethiopian man who has likely traveled 1,000 miles to come to Jerusalem is reading Isaiah 53, but rather than the Spirit of God doing the work - no angel or dream - the Spirit chooses to include Phillip - Phillip is told where to go and as Phillip approaches he is given the opportunity to explain that Is. 53 is speaking of Jesus. Phillip has been forgiven...and now explains God’s offer to forgive the Ethiopian. The man quickly responds, surrenders his life, & looks for a place to follow the command of Jesus to be baptized.

God uses Forgiven People to Forgive People

In Acts 10 God gives an angelic vision to Cornelius, but the angel doesn’t offer salvation or forgiveness. Instead, the angel tells Cornelius to invite Peter to his home. But why not the angel? Why the process of bringing Peter to tell about the saving work of Jesus? But Peter does come...the one who personally knew Jesus & His forgiveness. Peter shares of God’s plan to forgive people...and the whole family of Cornelius bows their knee to King Jesus!

God uses Forgiven People to Forgive People

So now God uses Zechariah & Elizabeth in the same way. The baby they hold, John the baptist - will do the same. Those who have experienced God’s forgiveness, will offer God’s forgiveness to others. And rather than use angels or visions, God will use Yohanan, John the Baptist, to prepare the way of the Lord. And he will be one of our greatest examples that...

God uses Forgiven People to Forgive People

And like Mary’s praises to God, we now hear the first words of Zechariah as God un-mutes his servant. Listen as he rightly emphasizes who the Hero of the story really is.

Luke 1:67–68 (NIV)

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come to His people and redeemed them.

Zechariah’s first words in 9 months honor the Lord (Yahweh), the God of Israel who has come come to his people and redeemed them - meaning - buying them from bondage. But just HOW had the God of Israel come to his people?

Luke 1:69-70 (NIV)

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),

This horn of salvation is NOT referring to John. He wasn't from David's family...but Jesus was! Zechariah is prophesying about Jesus who would be born in the house [family line] of David, from the tribe of Judah.

In the Bible, the term ‘horn’ refers to the strength of an animal [3], as an animal could lower its horns and drive away its enemies, so this horn of salvation was raised up from King David’s family.

(Note: Zechariah would have come from the tribe of Levi in order to serve as a priest.)

Luke 1:71–75 (NIV)

salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember His holy covenant, the oath He swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

Salvation from our enemies was not referring to God’s plan to bring political freedom to the Jews since they continued under the reign of the Romans for years to come.

In fact, about 70 years later the Jewish War against the Romans ended in the destruction of the temple and over 1 million Jews slaughtered.

I think the late Richard Lenski got it right when wrote: “This is deliverance from our real enemies, sin, curse, damnation, all the power of the devil.” [4]

After all, the oath God swore to Abraham was a promise to give him many descendants, through whom ALL nations would be blessed. Of course, Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of this, and it was His coming that would enable His Jewish followers to serve Him without fear, to live in holiness and righteousness before him all their days.

Then the spotlight turns to Zechariah’s new son...Yohanan (John). Oh what a future lay ahead of him!

Luke 1:76–78a (NIV)

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God…

Zechariah’s hope for his son was not that John would rule and reign. Instead, Zechariah wanted his son to serve the Lord as the One who is worthy of praise to fulfill the words of Malachi 3:1 & Is. 40:3 to be the one who would prepare the way for Yahweh (Lord).

Just as was true with Mary, John is like the moon - having no light in and of himself - but brilliantly reflecting the glory of the Son. John was NOT the hero of the story, yet he would be used by God to point countless people to the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

Oh parents and grandparents, is that OUR hope for OUR children? Would we pray that our children will grow to reflect the glory of Jesus...to give people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins? As we have already seen, this is God’s plan for changing the world.

God uses Forgiven People to Forgive People

John was to point others to the salvation that was coming to bring forgiveness of sins. Look at the language used next by Zechariah - what a powerful image!

Luke 1:78–79 (NIV)

because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Ultimately, the rising Sun would come from heaven - What an incredible metaphor for Jesus coming to Earth - the rising sun will come to us from heaven. This is likely based on Malachi 4:2 that says this:

Malachi 4:2 (NIV)

But for you who revere My Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.

Of course, all this points to the HERO of the Story - Jesus who brings salvation - forgiveness, LIFE & peace.

This is how God’s showed mercy to His creation. The Rising Sun came to us from heaven and then we see God’s plan play out to communicate this message of mercy as……

God uses Forgiven People to Forgive People

VIDEO: Josh McDowell Forgives His Dad (5 min)

God uses Forgiven People to Forgive People

Have you experienced God’s forgiveness in your own life?

If not…we would LOVE to talk with you further about Jesus and the evidence that has brought us to trust Him. [STAFF, DEACONS, CHRISTIAN FRIENDS]

If you HAVE experienced God’s forgiveness, then it is your great privilege to tell your story and offer that forgiveness to others.

While Jesus is the Hero of the story he will use US - forgiven people to forgive people - that’s what he did with Zechariah & Elizabeth. It’s what He did with others like Mary Magdalene, SImon Peter, Phillip & the apostle Paul,…this list goes on.

God uses Forgiven People to Forgive People

FEET2FAITH

Ask God for an opportunity to share how God has forgiven you & take it! Make sure you focus on JESUS as the Hero of the story.

Could you imagine walking through the community and overhearing people chatting in a restaurant, at the grocery store, in homes, at the ball field...people who have experienced God’s forgiveness telling others about the Hero of the story.

As we head into this Christmas season, may we NOT let Santa, presents, or our own egos take the rightful place that belongs to Jesus alone -

He is THE HERO OF THE STORY.

PRAY

_______________

John F. MacArthur Jr., Luke 1–5, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009), 89.

Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 97.

Stein, 99.

R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961), 107.

Discussion Questions

Read Luke 1:57-64. The name John (Hebrew ‘Yohanan’) means "Yahweh has given grace”. How did John’s name prove to demonstrate what God had done in the life of Zechariah & Elizabeth? Name some ways that Yahweh (Hebrew name for God) has given YOU grace.

It is amazing that the primary way that God offers His forgiveness is this: God uses Forgiven People to Forgive People. Share an example about the power of a person who has been forgiven much offering forgiveness to others.

Who was the forgiven person/people who told YOU of God’s forgiveness? Who have YOU told about God’s forgiveness within the last few months? If you haven’t, why haven’t you? (This question is intended to challenge you to share with others who need forgiveness.)

Read Luke 1:78-79 & Malachi 4:2. Take some time to share how the characteristics mentioned in these passages are fulfilled through Jesus.

What did you learn from today’s study? What challenged you most & what can you do to live it out?

Ask how you can pray for one another. Then do it!