Prophecy Fulfilled Luke 1:57-80

One of the greatest comebacks in baseball history was by the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship Series. Boston and their rivals, the New York Yankees, played for the chance to go to the World Series. The Red Sox looked like they were to be humiliated by their greatest rivals, as the Yanks won the first three games of the best-of-seven series. The Red Sox found themselves trailing by a run in the ninth inning of game four. It looked like it was all over for another year. But an amazing stolen base by Dave Roberts helped him score a tying run. David Ortiz then smashed a home run for the Red Sox in extra innings to win the game. In astonishing fashion, the Red Sox won the next three games in a row to make it to the World Series, where they went on to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in four straight games. It was a time of celebration in Boston, and the legendary “Curse of the Bambino” was broken. As a baseball fan, I remember that series. I also recall the celebration that went on in Boston. Years of frustration were washed away in an amazing comeback. As joyous as that time was in Beantown, I don’t think it holds a candle to the celebration noted in the text for today. The Servant speaking here is talking about the day Zion will be restored by God. On that day “the nations shall see your vindication and all the kings, your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” The prophet was foretelling a day when the people of God would know vindication and be honored again. It would be an amazing celebration!

-Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s prophetic promises.

I. God Speaks Out of Silence vv. 57-67

As we pick up the Christmas story, God has continued to work to fulfill the promises that He made to Zechariah and Elizabeth

John has been born and Elizabeth is experiencing the joy of holding the son that God promised to her

She demonstrates this through continuing in obedience by naming the boy John

This was a bit controversial, because John was not a family name. However, it is the name that God commanded the child to have

Zechariah, still silenced by his earlier unbelief, writes to make sure that the crowd understands that he is in agreement: The boy will be named John, according to the Lord’s command

With this act of obedience completed, God opens Zechariah’s mouth and he will speak again

However, it will be a bit different this time.

Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and he speaks a word of prophecy that will signify what God is doing in this instance

I believe that we all face some of these seasons of silence, where it can be difficult to know exactly what it is that He is doing

We can trust that even when He is silent, He is working

We can also trust Him to speak and to make His way clear for us

God wants us to know His purpose for us much more than we want to know it ourselves!

II. God Promises to Keep His Promises vv. 68-79

Zechariah’s words are words of prophecy and worship

He looks around and ahead to what God is doing through the birth of Jesus

He looks back to connect this work with God’s promises in the Old Testament

What are the promises that God is going to keep?

He is going to visit and redeem His people, rescuing them from their enemies

While the people are looking for deliverance from Roman occupation, God has something much bigger in mind

He is going to rescue His people from the power of sin and death and deliver them to an abundant and eternal life as part of His Kingdom

He is going to do all of this through a Messiah, an anointed King from the House of David

There is a personal investment that He is making in bringing these things to fruition

Next, we see that He will show mercy to His people

This is an act of covenant-keeping, remembering His promises to Abraham

In spite of their sin, God is going to offer forgiveness and restoration

Through this offering, we will be able to serve the Lord in righteousness without fear or shame

Third, we see that He sends out a messenger

John the Baptist arrives ahead of Jesus to prepare the way, because God wants people to know what He is doing

Nothing that happens with Jesus is intended to stay a secret; God wants us to know about this saving work so that we can experience it for ourselves

This is more than the simple knowledge of the Gospel, it is His way “to guide our feet into the way of peace”.

Now, we experience this light and life through the Word, the Spirit, and the Church

I believe that this morning it is critical that we remember that God is keeping His promises to us!

He will rescue us from sin and death

He will show us mercy so that we can serve Him

He will make His will and way known

Ezekiel 34:11

[11] “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. (ESV)

The story is told that after Helen Keller's teacher, Anne Sullivan, had given her the names of physical objects in sign language, Miss Sullivan attempted to explain God and tapped out the symbols for the name "God." Much to Miss Sullivan's surprise, Helen spelled back, "Thank you for telling me God's name, Teacher, for he has touched me many times before." Helen Keller knew something of God's signature from nature, but it was wordless.

Luke 19:10

[10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (ESV)

III. God Sends His Servant v. 80

The passage concludes with a simple acknowledgment that the child grew and became strong in the Spirit, waiting for the time that his public ministry would begin

God keeps His promise by sending a servant

John’s birth and ministry are part of a greater plan that God is unfolding

Yet even John’s birth is just preparation for a better and greater servant who is coming

God fulfills His promises through Jesus

He is the One who conquers sin and death through His own sacrifice

He is the One who shows us the mercy of God and makes us righteous servants of God

He is the One who is the Word of God and who makes God’s ways known to us

Christmas is a time to look at the fulfillment of God’s Word through Jesus and to commit ourselves to Him

Pastor Clifford S. Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky, sent his parents a microwave oven one Christmas. Here's how he recalls the experience: "They were excited that now they, too, could be a part of the instant generation. When Dad unpacked the microwave and plugged it in, literally within seconds, the microwave transformed two smiles into frown! Even after reading the directions, they couldn't make it work. "Two days later, my mother was playing bridge with a friend and confessed her inability to get that microwave oven even to boil water. 'To get this darn thing to work,' she exclaimed, 'I really don't need better directions; I just needed my son to come along with the gift!'" When God gave the gift of salvation, he didn't send a booklet of complicated instructions for us to figure out; he sent his Son.