Zechariah and Elizabeth - The Christmas Miracle

Reading:

Isaiah 40:3–5 “A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.””

Introduction:

The most important piece to Christmas was Jesus Christ, there is no doubt about that. He fulfilled the hope for our eternity. Without Him coming to this world justice would be served to every sinner. Grace would never be extended to our world. His love couldn’t be accepted. The greatest gift would’ve been withheld.

Christ was the necessary sacrifice but there are more parts to the Christmas story that are very important to the savior’s plan. One that was necessary for the fulfillment of prophecy and to prepare the road for the Lord.

A forerunner who was meant to prepare peoples hearts and minds for when the messiah comes.

He would wave the banner loud and would be the best advertising campaign for Jesus when it is time that He begin His ministry.

People would be prepared to receive the Lord’s message when He arrived and would anticipate His arrival. (They would be looking for and hoping for Him)

Transition:

In the prophecy that was read from Isaiah 40 that important role for a man to play was fulfilled by John the Baptist.

We can find ourselves in the book of Luke chapter 1 for today

The account begins with Johns parents, we can read of:

Who they were (5-7)

The characters are:

Zechariah & Elizabeth

Luke 1:5 “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.”

Zechariah is introduced to us in a peculiar way.

We are provided with the ruler of the time.

Herod is the king of Judea.

This is Herod the great, the same king as when Jesus was born.

Herod had many different building projects he prided himself for:

The temple mount platform

The port at Ceasarea

This port was located on the coast of northern Israel. It was to be used for sailing to and from Alexandria, Egypt, and Rome for Herod and others.

The Herodium

It was located just south of Jerusalem. Josephus describes it in his writings.

Afterwards he built a citadel in memory of his great actions.

Masada

This was one of the most well known of Herod’s fortress palaces and focus of Josephus.

Renovations on the temple in Jerusalem

This is described as one of Herod’s “most imposing achievements” (Ritmeyer, “reconstructing,” pg31)

All according to the Lexham Bible Dictionary

If you remember Herod wasn’t a big fan of Christ.

Matthew 2:7–8 “Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.””

Do you recall what happened next?

The wise men worshipped Jesus and gave Herod the slip and didn’t return.

Matthew 2:16–18 “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.””

Herod was highly against any authority that threatened his.

Transition:

Herod played a role for the Lord’s will to be done.

He wasn’t the only one, Zechariah and Elisabeth were important and here are their:

Positions (Priest & Daughter of Aaron)

At the time there were so many priests that they couldn’t all minister at once.

David divided them into 24 classes or courses, where each one would officiate for a week.

1 Chronicles 24

Zechariah was on for that week of officiating.

What perfect timing the Lord orchestrated for John’s dad to be present in the temple for the message and announcement from Gabriel.

His duty was to perform all that the priests were to carry out.

For the people, and to the Lord.

Make intercession on behalf of the people.

Zechariah was a man of God, called to ministry.

Elisabeth is described in Luke 1 as well.

Luke 1:5 “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.”

She was a daughter of Aaron.

Aaron was the first high priest of the Jews.

There is something very awesome about this part.

The parallel of John and Jesus.

Jesus’ lineage was could be traced to prove his royal and spiritual right to all thrones.

John’s lineage can be traced back to prove his right as a priest.

Transition:

Their positions were important and authoritative.

Their positions were held up through:

Their Integrity

Luke 1:6 “And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.”

There are 2 points about their character that Luke brings up:

Righteous

They had both chosen to conduct their lives in moral purity.

Which would uphold and merit Zechariah’s position as priest.

One who is a representative to the Lord and for the Lord to the people.

They were considered righteous from their conduct.

They walked blamelessly in all the commandments.

They both continuously choose to uphold honoring the Lord by their choices

Transition:

The people are evident and their character, or reputations are synonymous with those who would hold the name of Christian.

For a little more into the point we are given:

The Situation

Luke 1:7 “But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.”

The situation was them desiring a child.

They lived their lives honorable to the Lord; but to be barren could be perceived as punishment from the Lord, by the community.

They have, according to the passage, grown beyond the childbearing years.

Here is the problem or situation:

They are doing all things right and have a desire that isn’t being fulfilled.

Transition:

We know the legitimacy of their desire, we understand their “right” to earning a child.

The Lord hears and gives:

The Miracle (11-13)

Zechariah was chosen by lot to enter the temple to burn incense before the Lord.

Luke 1:9 “according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.”

Casting of lots shouldn’t be foreign idea to us.

It has been done throughout scriptures.

To choose by Lot is to make a decision.

The evening ministry fell upon Zechariah to perform.

It would be like our leadership counsel casting lots to see who is going to preach.

? What was the purpose of the incense ritual?

That can be found in Leviticus 16 where God explains the purpose of it.

Leviticus 16:12–13 “And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.”

I’m sure you understand what an honor it would’ve been to be chosen to offer the incense in the holy place.

The incense was offered 2x a day, morning and evening.

Exodus 30:7–8 “And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations.”

The incense was to be specific.

Exodus 30:34–35 “The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.”

Zechariah was given the task to burn incense on the golden altar before the Lord.

It was the moment he would be before the Lord.

In that moment before the Lord Zechariah receives:

The Answered prayer (11-13)

Luke 1:11–13 “And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 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.”

Zechariah and Elisabeth conducted themselves before the Lord blameless and faithful to the Lord.

The Angel came to minister to and give a message to Zechariah.

How did Zechariah react?

I think the same way we all would’ve reacted.

Illustration:

Sam at DRBC as she cleaned. She was scared.

Imagine what she would’ve done if an angel showed up out of nowhere.

The Angel calmed Zechariah’s fear.

Luke 1:13 “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.”

Zechariah’s fear was changed into surprise and possibly excitement.

His family would be getting bigger!

The hope for an heir - fulfilled

The desire to be a mother - fulfilled

A recipient for your unconditional love - fulfilled.

Imagine all the emotions Zechariah must have encountered in those moments .

Than angels message was a miracle the Lord would perform!

The promise of a child to a barren woman and to proclaim a testimony through a couple who were past child bearing years.

They are told of what to expect in their family.

Luke 1:14 “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,”

That part of their lives that remained unfilled will be filled through exactly the right sized gift.

Their joy will be full.

Their gladness will be known.

They weren’t alone in their struggle for children.

1 Corinthians 12:25–27 “that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

The Body of Christ suffers together and rejoices together.

Illustration:

Those who rejoiced at the salvation of a former pastors dad.

People had prayed for over 30 years for his salvation.

Finally all those in the congregation could rejoice and find joy in knowing their prayers are answered and a soul is freed from sin and hell.

Transition:

But the Lord didn’t stop there with His message.

He told Zechariah what would be:

His Calling (15-17)

John’s plan for his life is laid out in front of his parents.

Zechariah is given what John will do.

He is given what expectations to uphold.

Luke 1:15 “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.”

have you heard this before?

Numbers 6:2–4 ““Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins.”

This is what it means to be separated to the Lord.

What was the Nazarite vow can be transposed into the New Testament.

If you wondered what it means to be “called out” or separated unto the Lord, this gives a pretty good picture.

John is to live his whole life wholly separated to the Lord,

Self denial to the things of this world that can distract from living a clean and holy in this world.

Not just through his years when he can make conscious decisions for himself; throughout his whole upbringing.

Connection:

John’s parents were tasked with helping him uphold the Nazarite Vow.

To disciple him into what he was called to.

This isn’t much different than what we are tasked with as parents.

Until my children reach an age when they choose to live their lives wholly separated to the Lord.

Katie and I are tasked with guiding them into healthy routines that will direct their lives.

Are we as adults, who have been saved by His grace, living our lives wholly separated to the Lord?

What routines have we placed into our lives that maintain our subjection to the Lord?

If we haven’t thought of these things, we should.

Our lives were bought with a price and are separated to the Lord.

Transition:

How did Zechariah accept this miraculous news?

With:

Un-Belief (18-20)

Luke 1:18 “And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.””

Zechariah was suspicious; not entirely sold into the belief the message was true.

Transition:

Because Zechariah didn’t believe the angel he incurred:

Consequences (20)

Luke 1:19–20 “And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 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.””

The angel decided to flex his spiritual muscles to Zechariah.

He wasn’t just any angel: He was Gabriel who is an archangel

Nelson’s Bible Dictionary (Archangel)

“in the celestial hierarchy, a spiritual being next in rank above an angel.”

He is chief or first angel.

He stands in the presence of God!

He deals out a condition to Zechariah:

Luke 1:20 “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.””

He is punished with silence.

Luke 1:21 “And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.”

Zechariah is in the temple for way longer than the time frame it takes to offer the incense offering.

People started to get concerned about him being in the temple for so long.

Transition:

He was given miraculous news about his family; but he couldn’t tell express it to anyone.

He would have to wait until:

John’s Birth (57-66)

Luke 1:57 “Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.”

The day is finally here.

There is cause for:

Celebration (57-58)

It was time to welcome John into the world.

Luke 1:57–58 “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.”

Time to celebrate the long awaited birth of a highly wanted child.

The celebration was together with relatives, and neighbors.

Everyone was grateful for the Lord’s mercy on Zechariah and Elizabeth.

They rejoiced that it was time.

After his birth do you remember how long or at what day the dad would choose a name or proclaim what it will be?

Eight days, since on the eighth day the child will need to obey in the process of circumcision.

Transition:

One problem:

Zechariah couldn’t speak, so what would be:

His Name (59-64)

Luke 1:59–64 “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. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.”

Zechariah couldn’t speak, so Elizabeth stood and gave the name: John.

What is the issue with this?

Zechariah was to give the name not Elizabeth.

The name of John wasn’t one of the family.

That caused a big problem for believing Elizabeth.

Elizabeth shows her faith in the message of Gabriel delivered.

Just to check they needed confirmation from Zechariah.

Luke 1:62–63 “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.”

What took place after Zechariah showed his faith?

Immediately his punishment was lifted and he could talk.

Luke 1:64 “And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.”

Transition:

Zechariah did as any of us would do:

Praise the Lord (65-66)

Luke 1:65–66 “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.”

Illustration:

This last few years has been ridiculous in regards to home sales.

There used to be a point when it was best to put your home on the market.

The point was to make a “big splash” with your listing, you get one chance to make that listing the most prominent in the area.

God made a splash into the world through the birth of John.

God states to the whole world He is still in charge and He is doing something great, watch and see!

Luke 1:65 “And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,”

Everyone gained a proper perspective of God that day.

not just in their local community; but in all the hill country of Judea.

What happened in the hearts of those hearing the news?

Luke 1:66 “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.”

The town would expect big things from this child!

concerning the way he came into the world.

By an angelic announcement, big splash through old parents and dad not talking until the announcement of the name which isn’t found in the family!

Conclusion:

John fulfilled a prophecy for:

The forerunner to his ministry and the Lord’s will.

John would prepare the hearts for the fulfillment of God’s plan for the redemption of souls.

The duty of Zechariah and Elizabeth to disciple him would demand,

Just like with all of us, that they rely on the Lord and for his wisdom and direction to do what they were called to do.

God provides everything we need to live out His will for our lives.

He wants us to live wholly separated to Him as Zechariah and Elizabeth; but more like John.

How will God be seen through your life?

Will the Lord acknowledge that you are righteous and walking blamelessly?

Mabye we can work on building new routines into our lives so that can be accomplished.

Zechariah and Elizabeth received a Christmas miracle and we are all blessed because of John’s ministry and their faith in God.