The One in the Wilderness

Introduction

Main Point: God calls us to live in faith

Body

Luke gives us a great introduction to His Gospel in Luke 1:1-4

Luke 1:1–4 CSB

1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. 3 So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

Luke opens his gospel with a simple introduction. Luke is writing this Gospel specifically to a man named Theophilus.

Theophilus literally means “Friend of God!” Theophilus was a man who Luke knew and Luke sent him this gospel and its companion book- the book of Acts- in order to instruct him on WHO JESUS WAS AND TO HELP DISCIPLE HIM!

Theophilus is referred to as “Most honorable” which is a title only used one other time in scripture- to describe Felix and Festus who were Roman governors.

As such, it has been passed down in Church History that Theophilus was influential and was potentially involved in Paul’s first trial in Rome!

Luke gives a very clear thesis statement for what he is writing. Luke is writing an ORDERLY SEQUENCE of what has gone on!

And he is doing it after CAREFUL INVESTIGATION!

Luke was a doctor and was a detail oriented man. This much is clear from his writing! Each Gospel is written with a different style and Luke’s style was VERY DETAILED! He wanted to make sure that Theophilus knew EXACTLY WHAT WAS TRUE!

So this morning, if you are here and you are not sure of your faith; if you are questioning God and who this Jesus guy is; if you just aren’t sure; then this is a book for you! Luke is a BOOK FOR YOU!

Luke starts his orderly account of the LIFE OF JESUS before Jesus is born.

Luke 1:5-7

Luke 1:5–7 CSB

5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

Luke now gives us a time that this is all going on.

This is during the reign of King Herod of Judea, who was sometimes called King Herod the Great. Herod the Great wasn’t called “The great” because of his power, but rather because he was really good at rebuilding cities. Anyways, he was reigning during this time and during the time of Jesus’s birth!

Luke introduces us to a priest named Zechariah. Zechariah is part of Abijah’s division.

The priests used to rotate to the temple for one week at a time twice a year to serve the people of Israel.

Abijah was the 8th division of the Israelite priests.

Now, I want to bring something out about Zechariah and Elizabeth- they are both said to be RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S SIGHT, LIVING WITHOUT BLAME!

In other words, they embraced God, they walked with God, they LOVED GOD and they OBEYED GOD!

We just wrapped up our series in Haggai by seeing this great triumph of the Israelite people following God!

But here we are a little over 500 years later and the people of Israel have stopped following God again! That’s why it’s NOTEWORTHY THAT THEY ARE RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S SIGHT!

It’s noteworthy because the majority of Israel IS NOT!

And listen, Israel has had a hard history. After Malachi prophecies, the Israelites leave God quickly. The downfall is maybe most clear when Antiochus IV offers a pig to Zeus on the altar in the temple that Haggai had helped rebuild.

Remember, a pig is unclean. So, the temple had been “Desecrated.”

Then from there the Israelites rebelled under the Maccabee’s and formed their own kingdom again. Hannukah actually comes out of an event from this time- but that’s a conversation for another time.

Yet the kings did not lead the people back to God, but rather, the kings led the people towards sin.

The most notable example being the kings essentially selling the high priesthood to whoever would follow them the most!

And this was a dark chapter for Israel. There are historical records of mass murders from kings towards their enemies, of division, of confusion, and essentially of Israel losing their way again.

Let me be clear- this is going to matter for all of Luke 1-2!

And one way that it matters is that Zechariah and Elizabeth are DIFFERENT!

Zechariah and Elizabeth LOVE GOD AND THEY SERVE GOD GENUINELY!

There’s one thing that we are told that this couple doesn’t have. Zechariah and Elizabeth do not have a child.

And they could not have children anymore because they were too old!

Before we go any further let me remind us of another couple that faced this- Abraham and Sarah. Just keep that in mind.

So the scene is set. Zechariah and Elizabeth love God and Zechariah is on his way to the temple.

Luke 1:8-17

This next section of verses is a little longer, but it’s really all one section.

Luke 1:8–17 CSB

8 When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 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 fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

Zechariah is in the temple serving GOD one day. And he is chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of God to burn incense.

Remember- lots were a way to say, “God choose who you want.” The Israelites did not have the Holy Spirit, so lots were their equivalent.

The sanctuary was also called the Holy Place. It was divided from the Holy of Holies by a curtain. Only selected priests could enter the holy place.

And Zechariah goes into it to burn incense in worship to God. As he does, people are standing outside praying!

While Zechariah is in the sanctuary he SEES AN ANGEL OF THE LORD!

immediately Zechariah is filled with fear. Another way to translate this would be DEEPLY DISTRESSED! ZECHARIAH DOESN’T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON!

I think there’s two reasons for this response.

First, Biblical angels do not look like what we often picture angels looking like.

Biblical angels were not dudes with two white wings. We aren’t going to dive into WHAT angels looked like deeply, but it wasn’t this at all! It would have been a terrifying sight!

And secondly, God has been “silent” since the end of Malachi’s prophecy about 400 years earlier!

God hasn’t been sending prophets, God hasn’t been speaking to Israel, God hasn’t been doing any of that!

God has been seemingly silent!

Malachi itself lays out three things- first, God loves Israel but was disappointed by their lack of faith. Second, God warns the priests who have abandoned true worship- that’s a HUGE theme for the Hasmonean dynasty! In fact, there’s record of JULIUS CAESAR appointing a JEWISH HIGH PRIEST!

Trust me- that’s not allowed under the OLD COVENANT!

The third thing that happens- and this really matters for today- is that God promises to send someone like Elijah to Israel!

So Zechariah is scared and the angel immediately tells him to HAVE NO FEAR!

DON’T BE AFRAID!

Rather than fearing, he is to rejoice because his prayers to have a son will be answered.

Elizabeth is going to become pregnanta nd they will HAVE A CHLD!

Remember, they are TOO OLD TO HAVE CHILDREN!

Does this sound familiar?

It does! This is JUST LIKE ABRAHAM AND SARAH! THIS IS JUST LIKE THE FOREFATHER OF ALL THE ISRAELITES WHO WAS “TOO OLD TO HAVE A CHILD!”

Guys, this isn’t a coincidence; God does this on purpose!

God is MIRRORING the start of Israel as he is about to CHANGE THE WORLD FOREVER!

The angel also says that many will rejoice at the birth of JOHN- which is the name for this baby!

And then, the angel starts to talk about he son!

The angel says that the son will be “Great in the sight of the Lord.”

John will “Never drink wine or beer.” This is essentially a Nazirite vow. The most famous Nazirite is Samson!

But unlike Samson, he won’t be focused on his fleshly desires! Instead, HE IS GOING TO TURN MANY CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO THE LORD!

This is almost an exact fulfillment of the final prophecy of the Old Testament- Malachi 4:5-6

Malachi 4:5–6 CSB

5 Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible 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. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Understand- Zechariah isn’t just told that he will have a son. That would be remarkable enough.

Zechariah is told that his son IS THE PROMISED ELIJAH WHO IS COMING TO PREPARE THE ISRAELITES FOR THEIR MESSIAH!

THIS IS A HUGE DEAL!

Luke 1:18-20

Luke 1:18–20 CSB

18 “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

In confusion and in a lack of faith, Zechariah asks how this can happen!

Zechariah hears the angel, but he doesn’t believe the angel!

And the angel tells him his name and his mission. The angel- Gabriel- WHO STANDS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD- or is a SERVANT OF GOD- was sent with a message!

Remember, angelos in Greek, which we transliterate as Angel just means MESSENGER!

An angel is literally a messenger from God!

And the angel tells him this.

But the angel also gives Zechariah a sign!

HE WILL NOT SPEAK UNTIL THE BABY IS BORN!

UNTIL JOHN IS BORN HE WILL NOT SPEAK!

Luke 1:21-23

Luke 1:21–23 CSB

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

People were waiting for Zechariah because he had been in the presence of God!

They are also AMAZED at how long it has taken. Understand- they haven’t heard from God in 400 years! They never would have thought that God was going to be speaking to them all of a sudden!

But when he comes out, he CANNOT SPEAK! HE IS MUTE!

The people figure that he’s seen a vision at this point, but notice what they don’t do.

He makes signs but no one brings him a tablet so that he can explain what just happened!

The people don’t know what to do!

They honestly just kind of move on. This is the spiritual state of Israel.

The Israelites are SLEEP WALKING THROUGH LIFE!

And I want to challenge that you may be here today and you may be SLEEPWALKING THROUGH life! WAKE UP TODAY! SEE WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU!

Zechariah finishes his week of ministry and goes home! Then we read this:

Luke 1:24-25

Luke 1:24–25 CSB

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”

True to HIS WORD- that is GOD’S WORD SPOKEN BY GABRIEL, ELIZABETH CONCEIVES AND BECOMES PREGANT!

Look at her response- this is poignant and MAY BE ONE OF THE KEY VERSES OF THIS ENTIRE PASSAGE!

“THE LORD HAS DONE THIS FOR ME.”

What does she do?

She immediately PUTS ALL THE FOCUS BACK ON GOD!

GOD HAS DONE THIS GREAT DEED!

But she doesn’t stop there!

Instead, she echoes Rachel in Genesis 30:23 when Joseph is born!

And HANNAH, the mother of Samuel in 1 Samuel 1!

Hannah gives praise to God upon having Samuel!

Listen- here’s the connection. Here’s all these people who are famous Israelites and they are extremely important to the Israelits.

They are MODEL ISRAELITES EVEN!

And there’s SO MANY SIMILARITIES between them and ELIZABETH AND ZECHARIAH!

The crossover is SIGNIFICANT!

GOD HAS TRULY DESIGNED EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON IN THIS PASSAGE!

Application

Scripture Shows us the Coming Messiah

Be Light in a dark place (Fruit of the Spirit- response of Zechariah to his culture)

God has done this for me (Give thanks and praise)