Dennis' Sermon Prep Workflow | Luke 1:5–7

Luke 1:5–7 ESV

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

Worldly Success vs. Godly Faithfulness

Luke’s Gospel begins by introducing Herod the Great, a figure who casts a long shadow over the first half of the book. Herod, an Idumean (descendant of the Edomites, traditional enemies of Israel and descendants of Esau), was a shrewd political leader. In 37 BC, he was appointed "King of the Jews" by the Roman Senate—an honor no other Roman puppet ruler received. Herod’s political skill and loyalty to Rome, particularly to Augustus Caesar, helped stabilize his reign. He adeptly balanced Roman interests with Jewish customs, gaining favor with both Rome and certain Jewish groups.

Herod was also a renowned builder. He expanded the Second Temple in Jerusalem, fortified cities like Masada, and constructed Caesarea, an important port city. These projects boosted the economy and displayed his power. However, Herod was notoriously ruthless. To secure his throne, he eliminated numerous rivals, including his wife Mariamne, her mother, and three of his own sons—Antipater, Alexander, and Aristobulus IV.

Herod is an example of someone whose focus in on this world. From a worldly standpoint, Herod was a success, though his success was short-lived and he was unable to create an empire that lived long after him, Herod's great works are still the highlight of any journey to Israel. Herod, because of his political machinations, and his sly maneuvering, was able to establish worldly greatness.

“Herod had everything the world could offer... but it meant nothing in the end. The Messiah came not in pomp and ceremony but in humility, and He established a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (John MacArthur, The Birth of the King).

Herod exemplified worldly success—power, political influence, and monumental building projects—but his legacy, though impressive, was fleeting. In contrast, Zechariah and Elizabeth show that true greatness in God's eyes comes through humble, steadfast faith. Their faithfulness set the stage for the coming of the ultimate King, Jesus.

Key Thought: Greatness in the kingdom of God is measured by faithfulness, not earthly accomplishments.

God’s Promises Fulfilled in Humility

Contrasted with the greatness of Herod, Luke next introduces a priest named Zechariah. Zechariah is the father of John the Baptist, and is introduced as a member of the Division of Abijah, one of the 24 priestly divisions established by King David (1 Chronicles 24:7-19). The priestly duties included officiating at worship, burning incense, celebrating liturgy, accepting sacrifices and offerings, hearing confessions, and above all butchery of animals for sacrifice. These divisions organized priests for their duties in the Temple on a rotating schedule. Zechariah is not the chief priest. He isn't even the chief priest in his own division. And the division of Abijah was known as one of the lesser divisions who served in the eighth week of each semester. There's nothing special about him except his priestly heritage. He was simply a faithful follower of Yahweh.

Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife, is described as a "daughter of Aaron," meaning she also came from a priestly family. This detail underscores their deep connection to the Jewish priestly tradition, highlighting their spiritual significance in the narrative.

We don't know much about the parents of John the Baptist except that they were faithful. Luke describes them as righteous and blameless.

Righteousness is an important characteristic of God’s people to Luke in his Gospel and Acts. This means, of course, that they served God faithfully, not that they were sinless. Leon Morris notes that their piety "made their childless state hard for them to understand, for people believed that God would bless faithful servants by giving them children."

Together, their lineage and faithfulness set the stage for the birth of their son, John the Baptist, a pivotal figure in the story of Jesus.

Herod’s reign was marked by ruthlessness and self-promotion, but the birth of John the Baptist, born to two faithful yet ordinary parents, ushered in a new era. John’s role as the forerunner of the Messiah was the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel, reminding us that God’s greatest works often come through humble beginnings.

Key Thought: God uses humble, ordinary people to fulfill His extraordinary promises.

The Breaking of Silence and the New Covenant

As men, the temptation is to make ourselves great through our own will and our own abilities. To strive against the world and all in it for our own glory. But the story begins not celebrating the greatness of Herod, but introducing a new era marked not by the greatness of kings, but the coming of the King.

The final mark we find about Zechariah and Elizabeth is that they had no children. This is significant because God often used those who it would seem impossible for them to conceive to signal his great work being accomplished.

Bible names are interesting, and Zechariah’s is equally interesting. Of all the priests God could have chosen to bring about the birth of the first prophet in 400 years, God chose one whose name means, "God has remembered again." Like Zechariah, Elizabeth's name is important, it means “oath of God." Put together, their names mean "God remembers his Oath." It's interesting because God in this moment is telling all of Israel, "I am your God, and I have remembered my oath to you.

The birth of John would herald the fulfilment of all of God's promises to Israel being fulfilled not in a nation, not in an earthly kingdom, but in a man: Jesus.

As R. C. Sproul noted, "A new epoch breaks through with the birth of John the Baptist. It had been four hundred years since the last prophecy had been uttered in Israel... God became silent. Not for a year, not for ten years, but for four hundred years... And now, Luke tells us, that silence is broken with the coming of a new prophet whose birth is announced here."

John was a prophet, like that of the Old Testament. He was the last of the Old Testament prophets, though his story plays out in the New Testament, but he was more than that. He was the first evangelical proclaimer of the New Covenant.

John the Baptist was not just the last of the Old Testament prophets, he was the first herald of the kingdom of God, announcing the coming of Jesus the King, who would fulfill all of God’s promises to His people” (J.I. Packer, Knowing God).

After 400 years of prophetic silence, God chose Zechariah, a humble priest, to announce the birth of John, who would prepare the way for Jesus. This signaled the breaking of the old era and the dawn of the New Covenant, fulfilled in Christ.

Key Thought: God's kingdom advances not through earthly power but through the fulfillment of His covenant promises, as seen in the arrival of John and the coming of Jesus

“In all the ways of providence, God remembers His promises. He is a covenant-keeping God, and the birth of the forerunner, John, reminds us that God’s promises are sure, even when it seems that He has delayed” (Charles Spurgeon, The Promises of God).

What are these promises:

The Promise of a Forerunner to the Messiah: In the Old Testament, God promised that a messenger would come to prepare the way for the Messiah (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6). The angel Gabriel tells Zechariah that his son, John the Baptist, will fulfill this role (Luke 1:16-17). John would "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children" and prepare the people for the coming of the Lord, echoing the prophecy of Malachi.

The Promise of God's Faithfulness to His Covenant with Israel: The birth of John the Baptist, to a couple well beyond childbearing age, reflects God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Israel. Just as God granted Abraham and Sarah a child in their old age, God miraculously enables Zechariah and Elizabeth to conceive, showing His ongoing commitment to fulfill His promises to His people.

The Promise of Redemption and Salvation: God promised throughout Israel's history to send a Redeemer. The birth of John the Baptist signals the imminence of that promise being fulfilled. John’s role was to prepare the people for the Messiah, Jesus, who would bring salvation to Israel and the world (Luke 1:68-75).

“John was the voice crying in the wilderness, the herald sent to prepare Israel for her King. His ministry was a fulfillment of God’s promises of redemption, signaling that the Messiah was near” (Alistair Begg, The Hand of God).

Zechariah and Elizabeth stand in stark contrast to Herod. Herod was the earthly definition of success. He is remembered for his great works and his treacherous reign, but Zechariah and Elizabeth are the example of how God uses the simple faithfulness of his people to accomplish not worldly success, but the breaking forth of HIS kingdom.

That's how God works.