A Christmas Couple

Luke 1:5-25

This morning, we begin a new series of sermons for the Christmas season. We will be looking at different characters who are included in the narrative surrounding the birth of Christ. We begin our series by looking at Zechariah and Elizabeth. You may not know who they are, but you have most likely heard of their son. They are the parents of John the Baptist. When Luke begins telling us about the coming of Christ he starts with them.

I studied this text and meditated on it for a while. I wondered what this couple might tell us if they could speak today. I’ve taken four lessons from this narrative. These lessons are timeless. As we officially begin our Christmas seas at JSBC I believe these lessons will help us have a more Christ centered season.

1. We are never too old to be used by God (5-10).

A. They were blameless.

“both righteous before God (6) Sometimes you have one who is godly and the other not. That wasn’t the case here.

“walking blamelessly in all the commandments” (6) They were not only justified. They were living a life of sanctification as well.

Zechariah was a priest.

His wife was in the priestly line as well. She was a descendant of Aaron and was even named after Aaron’s wife (Ex. 6:23).

They were both raised in the ministry.

They married someone in the ministry.

They lived righteously for many years.

Several times Luke tells us they were old.

“both were advanced in years “ (7)

“I am an old man & my wife is advanced in years” (18)

“in her old age” (36)

They kept living for God. It’s one thing to live for God:

When you are young

When you have a tough time

When you reach death’s doorstep

They lived for God from when they were young until they were very old.

B. They were barren.

It appeared Elizabeth could not have children. That was a stigma in those days. Most believed it was a curse. That’s why Luke clarifies they were a godly couple.

All hopes of a child had passed. “both were advanced in years”. I would imagine they had even stopped praying about it at this point.

Illust. Reading a book on Napoleon. He divorced Josephine because she was older and could not give him an heir. Said she was the love of his life, apparently not.

Not the case with this couple. They loved each other. They loved the Lord. Marriage isn’t based on children. It’s based on love for one another.

C. They were busy.

Zechariah still served in the priesthood. There were about 18,000 priests who served. They were divided into 24 groups (1 Chronicles 23 & 24). Each priest had a duty to serve the Lord for a period of one week twice a year. He would travel to Jerusalem and spend the week working for the Lord and His people.

In his busyness he was blessed. It was a privilege to light the incense Iin the Holy Place. The altar of incense was right outside the holy of Holies. The priest chosen to light the incense was chosen by the casting of lots. You could be chosen once in your lifetime and that was it. Most priests would never get the opportunity to do it. Zechariah was old and had not been chosen yet. By God’s grace He was chosen on this day!

Let’s put this together:

We have an old woman who has never had a child.

We have an old man who has never been chosen to light the incense.

Both of those things are about to change!

Christmas is not for the young only. It is for the old as well. The story opens with God doing great things in the lives of two old people. The greatest thing God does through you He may not have done yet.

If you feel barren here’s what to do:

Be blameless!

Be busy!

2. It may take years for God to answer some prayers (11-17).

A. The prayer was answered unexpectedly (11-13).

When John walks into the holy place he is caught off guard. Standing beside the altar is an angel.

“fear fell upon him” He is scared to death. He may think he is in trouble.

The angel reassures him “Do not be afraid”

“for your prayer has been heard”

Notice how specific- “Elizabeth will bear you a son”

Why does God take so long to answer some prayers?

God had been silent for 400 years. There had been no prophetic utterance since the book of Malachi. The truth is God not only answered the prayer of Zechariah, but He also answered the prayers of Jewish people who were praying for Messiah to come.

In fact, I believe it’s highly possible Zechariah was praying for both.

God send me a child!

God send the Messiah!

God promised to send a forerunner who would prepare the way before the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6). The child he sent was the son of Zechariah.

God’s ways are not our ways! God may answer a prayer in a way we don’t expect.

B. God’s timing was beneficial to this couple.

Let’s think of a few reasons this is the case:

The great privilege of having a child be the forerunner of the Messiah. He had to be born at the exact time ordained.

The blessing of knowing God has done a great work in your life. Their age made it more obvious God had blessed them.

Their age kept them from seeing the death of their child. He is only going to live about thirty years. If they had him when they were young, they would have likely lived to see his funeral.

God knows better than we do. He always answers prayers when they should be answered.

C. The answer to the prayer brought great responsibility (15).

They had a job ahead of them. They were required to raise the child in a special way. Some believe John was to be a Nazarite. That could have been, but the text doesn’t say that specifically. What does it day?

“he must not drink wine or strong drink”

Jesus said John was the greatest man he knew. John never touched a drop of alcohol. Here is some great parenting advice folks!

“he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb”

Here is some more great parenting advice, recognize the sanctity of human life!

Protect your child in the womb!

Pray for your child in the womb!

“he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God”

He is not to go along with the crowd or the culture. He will turn people away from an ungodly culture and to God.

This child needed godly parents. God prepared this couple for the child He sent. They were ready to be parents when they got him.

The truth is, sometimes prayer takes longer to be answered because we are not ready. Don’t give up!

Keep asking!

Keep knocking!

Keep seeking!

3. We never outgrow the discipline of the Lord (18-25).

A. He doubted God.

“How shall I know this?” In other words, give me a sign. Verse 20 says he did not believe the message. Look how the angel responds:

“I am Gabriel”- There are only a couple of angels named in the Bible. Gabriel is the messenger angel of the Bible. He is found in Daniel 8-9.

“I stand in the presence of God” God sent this message to Zechariah.

This catches us by surprise. He has been described as a righteous and blameless man. Listen folks: No one is perfect. Why did he doubt?

He doubted himself. “For I am an old man”

With age comes the temptation of pessimism:

Things won’t ever be as good as they used to be!

They are going to be better, friend!

All my friends are dead- You’ll have more friends in heaven than you can count!

I’ll always have these pains- You are getting a new body!

This world is going to get worse and worse- You’re going to inherit a new earth!

B. He was disciplined by God.

He would still have the child but he would not be able to talk until the child was born (20). Luke 1:62 shows he couldn’t hear either.

When the priest came out the first thing he was to do was pronounce a blessing over the people. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t talk (22). They could tell something had happened. Maybe it was the look on his face.

“he kept making signs” He didn’t know sign language and neither did they. He was doing his best to tell them what happened.

The difference between discipline and judgment is discipline is temporary, judgment is eternal. God disciplines us for a purpose. Zechariah needed to learn a lesson about faith. For nine months he couldn’t hear or talk.

C. He departed (23-25).

He went home. Elizabeth conceived a child. She kept quiet for five months. She was excited!

“the Lord has taken away my reproach” (25)

We don’t know why she kept quiet:

Maybe she had experienced miscarriages in the past.

Maybe she figured no one would believe her.

She doesn’t even tell her cousin, Mary. An angel tells her (1:36).

No matter how long we have been living for the Lord, we are required to continue. If we begin to fall away in old age the Lord will discipline us.

4. God can do more with our children than we can (57-80).

A. Zechariah & Elizabeth submitted to God’s authority in raising their child (57-66).

Most people didn’t know Elizabeth was pregnant until she gave birth. When they heard, the neighbors and relatives showed u to rejoice.

On the 8th day after the birth of a male child the child was circumcised. Oddly the child had not been named yet. Pressure is on Elizabeth to name John after his father.

Shows the respect people had for this man.

Elizabeth insists the child will be named John. Probably Zechariah had told her what the angel said.

“None of your relatives are called by this name” (61)

They appeal to Zechariah. He still can’t hear or talk. He carries a writing tablet around with him. He writes emphatically “His name is John”.

Not “shall be”. He was already named.

What is the significance?

It’s a matter of authority. In Genesis the Bible says Adam was given authority over the animal kingdom. Then he names the animals.

A parent’s right to name their child symbolizes the authority parents have over their children. In some cases, God names people Himself. That’s what happened here, and the parents yielded to the authority of God.

They know this is their only child. They don’t care. This is God’s child.

Immediately Zechariah is healed. He can hear and speak!

The people present are amazed. Notice what they say- “What then will this child be?”

What is your heart for your child?

Be what he wants to be

Follow her heart

I hope your heart is for your child to be a great man or woman of God! Give your child to God!

Raise your child the way God says to raise children.

In the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Teach them:

To study the bible

Pray

Serve God

Battle sin

Repent

Win souls

B. Zechariah praised Jesus more than he praised his son.

If you couldn’t talk for almost a year, I wonder what the first thing you’d say would be. The first thing Zechariah does is praise Jesus!

In verses 67-75 he talks about Jesus.

He talks about Jesus first.

He talks about Jesus more.

He knew the Savior was coming and he spoke of the salvation He brought.

Redeemed us (68)

Raised up a horn of salvation (69)

Fulfilled His prophecies (70) Saved us from our enemies (71)

Given us mercy (72)

Kept His promises (72)

Delivered us from fear (74)

Made us holy and righteous (75)

He loved his child, but he loved the Savior more. This is the key to being a good parent.

C. This godly couple raised a soul winner (76-80).

Now he speaks to his son.

“And you child”

A prophet (76)

Prepare the way for the Savior (76)

Tell people how to be saved (77)

Let’s look at verse 80. It says this child was raised in obscurity. Even after he became an adult. He spends his first thirty years in the wilderness, out of the public eye. His parents were likely already dead when he began his ministry.

My point is you don’t have to put your kids in front of the world for them to be great. Let God do it:

Not talent scouts

Not the internet

Not personal trainers

What is great? There is nothing greater than winning souls. John becomes a preaching machine. People come from everywhere to hear him. They repent. They are baptized. He points them to Jesus.

In heaven when folks are talking about their children what do you think the most important thing is?

My child was a singer!

My child struck it rich in banking!

My child hit homeruns!

My child had a huge social media following!

My child won souls for Jesus.

In this story we learn something about Christmas. God takes an old faithful couple and gives them a child. He uses that child for His own glory.