The Hope of the World

Title: "The Hope of the World"

Text: Luke 1:5-24

Introduction

What is Hope? I think it’s related to faith, but how is it different? Is it a by-product of faith?

They really aren’t the same thing—

1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Confidence in what we hope for… That helps a little, since faith is named as the confidence for things we hope for… Hope here seems to be built upon faith.

[Faith and Hope in a pyramid]

We can look at some definitions to begin:

Faith is defined as: “complete trust or confidence in someone or something”

Hope is defined as: “A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing.”

It’s the assurance that something (that hasn’t happened yet) WILL indeed happen.

One of my favorite memories from childhood was to go out on Lake Michigan with my family and either go fishing, or watch the sunset, or even watch fireworks from the boat.

My parents would let my sister and I know that we were going to go to Grandpa and Grandma’s house the next day or next week. I had a great sense of joy and anticipation— as I got older, I was even able to drive the boat and “help” my grandpa as his assistant.

Now I trusted my dad’s word that we were actually going to go. He had never lied to me, or anything like that. I had faith in my dad telling me the truth—based upon his truthfulness and integrity in the past... and I had hope in the anticipation of going. Sometimes, I couldn’t even sleep that night before, the excitement and hope that I had was powerful.

In our next installment of the “Heart of Christmas” series, we will investigate the idea of “Hope”. I think the priest Zechariah’s story from Luke 1 is a great example--- a faithful man living faithfully in a time of silence (400 years since the last prophetic word), yet clinging to hope for the coming Messiah.

But something VERY strange happens for Zechariah— which leads us to the

Big Idea: Faith is based on the reality of the past. Hope is based on the reality of the future.

What happens when hope arrives, and we’re not ready or able to believe it?

I believe we have a great deal in common with Zechariah— He lived in a dark time— a time where his people were suffering, yet they had a promise. They still had faith, but they may have lost hope.

Given our definitions here, what I want to point out is that the people of God may have still trusted God— they had confidence in God— but they had lost hope- they had lost the feeling of expectation for a specific thing--

Christmas each year is a time where some people realize that they have lost hope. Maybe that’s you today. I’m here to help you regain hope.

I. Hope deferred: waiting

Luke 1:5–7 “5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.”

The context of his waiting:

Zechariah and Elizabeth are described as righteous yet barren—a source of deep pain in their culture. The nation of Israel is also barren, longing for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Emphasize that waiting can feel like God is absent, but He is always working behind the scenes.

a. Zechariah knew the public pain of Roman rule.

Long period of spiritual drought in Israel: Things were pretty bad for the nation of Israel:

Roman occupation under Caesar Augustus

Herod the Great ruling as a client king of Rome- dark, evil motives

Loss of national sovereignty

Heavy taxation and oppression

Constant tension between Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities

b. Zechariah knew the personal pain of childlessness (v.7)

He had probably dealt with this a long time before. The hope of seeing a child of their own was gone. What are we doing? What is going on?

Many of us wait for breakthrough—whether it’s healing, restoration, or an answer to prayer.

How do we hold on to hope during prolonged silence?

Psalm 130 is a powerful expression of prayer in the waiting.

Psalm 130:1–2 “1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; 2 Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.”

Psalm 130:3–4 “3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”

Maybe this is the very prayer that Zechariah is praying that day in the temple?

Watch carefully how Faith and hope are related.

II. Hope tested: silence (Luke 1:8-17)

Luke 1:8–17 “8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.

Luke 1:17 (NIV)

17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

400 years of silence— and an angel appears to Zechariah. He uses a very unique phrase here that should tip Zechariah off to the whole plan: He would have known this old prophecy!

Malachi 4:5–6 (NIV)

5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents;

a. The angel declares the nation will see the Messiah and Zechariah will have a son.

Zechariah’s faithful service in the temple sets the stage for a divine interruption. Gabriel announces both personal (a son) and national (the Messiah’s forerunner) hope fulfilled.

John’s role: to prepare the way for the Messiah.

Isaiah 40:3 NIV

3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

God’s plan is bigger than just one family—it’s for all people. Here’s an echo of what Owen preached a few weeks ago:

Zechariah, you’re worried about your people? You’re concerned about your family? God is working a plan that includes ALL people. God is fulfilling a hope for ALL families.

b. Zechariah’s long disappointment hinders his faith.

Proverbs 13:12 NIV

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

So many years of unfulfilled hope make it hard to believe when God moves.

God’s silence for 400 years — it wears on people. Contrast Zechariah’s doubt with Elizabeth’s eventual joy and Mary’s response later in Luke 1.

Do we sometimes let disappointment overshadow our ability to see God’s promises being fulfilled?

God’s timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t align with ours.

c. Doubt has consequences.

Luke 1:18 NIV

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

It’s very familiar---Where have we heard THAT before Zechariah?

Genesis 17:15–17 NIV

15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” 17 Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”

Luke 1:19 NIV

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.

Do you know who you’re talking to, buddy?

Think about that— It’s as if the angel Gabriel— who will also be the one to deliver the news to Mary— is sighing “these humans...”

Luke 1:20–24 “20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.”

d. Gabriel lovingly corrects Zechariah by taking his ability to speak. (v. 19)

This isn’t necessarily a punishment, but rather an opportunity to reflect— and grow trust back!

Think with me about this:

Silence can be an opportunity to refocus on God’s promises rather than our doubts. As if God’s silence about all these matters for 400 years were difficult. NOW Zechariah knows the truth of the outcome— knowing that he will be living in the time to see the Messiah come— and become a father to a son of his own, after all this time— AND HE CAN’T SPEAK ABOUT IT! Talk about waiting!

His faith was strengthened— like I said this was not punishment, but rather a privileged gift. Sometimes our faith and our hope are challenged. Zechariah’s challenge here in being kept silent made the HOPE grow.

Sometimes a period of silence might be a good thing to refocus and revitalize our faith. A by-product of this will be a growing sense of joy and Hope. Because that Hope may be deferred for a time, and even challenged— but ultimately in Jesus

Our hope is fulfilled.

III. Hope fulfilled: Jesus

Connecting the story to Advent:

Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story continues here and points forward to the greater hope in Christ.

Building our faith transforms our understanding, building hope provides us strength during suffering.

a. Jesus’ first coming fulfilled the hope of salvation.

b. Jesus’ second coming will fulfill the hope of restoration.

There is a powerful connection between that prayer in Psalm 130 and the words that come from Zechariah’s mouth when his speech and voice are returned:

Luke 1:68–70 “68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),”

That’s salvation for the nation of Israel: But there a personal side to his prayer as well: for his own son, John the Baptist:

Luke 1:76–79 “76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.””

Only a Christian has a right to hope, for only he has the power of God to give substance to his hope.

A. W. Tozer

The call for believers today is to live in the tension of the already/not yet—trusting God in the waiting.

Conclusion- Sarah is going to come and sing a song based on Psalm 130. If you can relate with the waiting— don’t lose hope,

Faith provides the foundation; hope provides the vision.

Faith trusts God’s character, hope trusts His promises.

Faith believes God can, Hope knows that He will.

Reflect on Zechariah’s journey: hope that was deferred, tested, and ultimately fulfilled.

Invite the congregation to examine their own lives:

Where is God calling you to trust Him anew? How can you and I specifically work toward cultivating hope in ourselves and in each other?

Daily reading and praying through Scripture. Drinking from the well that is nourishing and healthy for your soul. Focus on the promises that God has made to us in His word.

Also, study the life experiences of Abraham, Joseph Jacob’s son, Hannah. All these bible stories involved waiting and the loss of hope.

Journal your thoughts and feelings— write out three things that you are thankful for each day.

Join or even start a smaller group of people to share your story and your struggles with. Join with others who may have experienced or are currently experiencing the same struggles.

Shift from just passive waiting to active preparation- Zechariah was faithfully serving when all this happened. Serve someone else while you are working through the struggles.

View waiting as a season of growth, rather than punishment.

Surrender your doubts to God. Embrace the hope of Christ, even in the waiting.

Let’s pray:

Romans 15:13 NIV

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.