The Characters of Christmas - week 1

Main idea: The birth of Jesus is good news for Zechariah, Elizabeth, and any other person who lives with shame, embarrassment or unmet expectations.

Even though Zechariah and Elizabeth were faithful to the Lord, they struggled with unmet expectations in life.

Luke 1:5–7 ESV

5 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. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

There is a lot of history in their story that would take a long time to unpack, but isn’t that true of our lives also. History takes time to unpack. Zechariah is a priest and he married the daughter of another priest. Jewish women believed they had a much better chance of giving birth to the Messiah if they married a priest. Not only were they in the correct families, but they were righteous according to God’s standard. This couple had been viewed as the ideal couple to parent the Messiah. They and their village had high hopes and big dreams.

A year goes by, no pregnancy. Oh, they must be waiting because want to travel and see the world. Several years go by, no pregnancy. They begin to pray for a child. Year after year, no pregnancy. They keep praying for a child.

Those high hopes and dreams were losing focus. They grew to an age that giving birth and raising any child, especially the Messiah, was no longer an option. They were walking with the Lord and struggling through life.

Verse 7 says, “both were advanced in years.”

I imagine they had lots of questions about why they wouldn’t be parents. Others claimed there was an undisclosed sin issue in their marriage and no pregnancy was their judgment.

I imagine they were embarrassed because they were set up for human success only to fail.

I imagine they expected life would be much different.

I imagine the year came when Zechariah stopped believing God would answer their prayer for a child.

Why are we starting our Christmas series with a couple that struggled with unmet expectations? Two reasons.

First, all of us have struggled with unmet expectations in life. Or we will struggle with unmet expectations. Or we are in the struggle of unmet expectations right now. In those moments, we have a lot of questions. We might feel a little embarrassed. We thought life would be much different. We wonder if God still listens to our prayers. All of us know the feeling. They were walking with the Lord and struggling through life.

Second, something amazing happens in our life when we aren’t necessarily expecting God to show up, but he makes an appearance like a fireworks display in a dark summer sky. Ignoring it is impossible. Standing in silence and soaking in the moment is acceptable.

This Christmas season, I am praying that God would make himself known through the unmet expectations that we might be hanging on to.

Even though Zechariah and Elizabeth lost joy over unanswered prayer, the Lord gave reassurance after a long absence.

Luke 1:8–17 ESV

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And 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 the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Verse 7 says that Zechariah and Elizabeth were advanced in years, but we aren’t talking about two old people like Abraham and Sarah. We aren’t even talking about two people that should already be retired but haven’t met their financial goals yet. We’re talking about a husband probably around age 50, who got up and went to work every day, who remained faithful to the Lord, but had lost his joy and gladness because of unanswered prayer.

How do we know this couple is in the middle years of their life?

Numbers 8:24–26 ESV

24 “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. 25 And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. 26 They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties.”

In Jewish history, the demands of the priesthood required a certain fitness level. Unless a person works hard to maintain certain fitness levels, they naturally go away as we age. When most priests aged into their fifties, they began to serve in advisory roles or mentoring roles. Because verses 8-9 tells us Zechariah was serving with his division and chosen by lot, we know he had not been withdrawn from the duty of service yet. Either, he wasn’t old enough or he worked to maintain a fitness level that would allow him to continue serving. He got up every day and went to work, just like many of us.

This day of work was like no other. Listen to the words of Norval Geldenhuys:

“While Zechariah was engaged in presenting the incense-offering on the golden altar in the holy place, a great multitude of the people were praying in the outer temple court. After everything had been prepared for the incense, all the other priests had left the holy place and only Zechariah waited there for the sign that it was time. When the signal was given, he immediately offered the incense on the altar. As soon as the people saw the ascending smoke of the incense, they fell down before the Lord and spread out their hands in silent prayer. For several minutes there followed a dead silence in the temple sanctuary and in the surrounding temple building and courts. To Zechariah, as to every other priest, this was one of the most solemn experiences of his entire life - especially since the privilege of offering the incense fell to the lot of a priest only once in his lifetime.

During these moments of impressive silence there suddenly appeared to Zechariah an angel of the Lord. He had not seen the angel approach, but all at once he noticed him on the right side of the golden altar on which he was engaged in offering the incense.”

The silence toward Israel had been broken after centuries. Not only were the prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth spoken into, but the prayers of the nation of Israel. The angel declared that God heard the prayers and is about to do something that you’ve been waiting for. It will be great joy for all people. Zechariah, you’re going to have a son and your joy will return. I haven’t forgotten about you.

It seems like for Zechariah and Elizabeth, it was normal to dwell on the silence and forget the promise. It was normal to think their prayers were not heard. It was normal to get up and go to work every day without the joyful expectation that God would intervene.

The Lord was intentional about reassuring Zechariah and Elizabeth. He was intentional about restoring their joy. He is intentional about reassuring and restoring you and me.

Even though Zechariah had doubts, the good news was graciously delivered.

Luke 1:18–25 ESV

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

The good news for Zechariah and Elizabeth was personal. Zechariah’s doubt did not eliminate the good news God had for him.

The good news for Zechariah and Elizabeth was evident to others. Verse 21 tells us that people were waiting for him to exit because it was longer than normal. Verse 22 tells us, when he came out there was evidence of a vision. Encountering the good news of Jesus requires time.

The good news for Zechariah and Elizabeth removed shame. Verse 25 records Elizabeth declaring the Lord has taken away her disgrace and dishonor.

All of those are true for us.

God uses the present days to prepare us for the good news concerning our future days. That is true no matter what stage of life we are in.

If you’re struggling with unmet expectations in life, don’t quit sitting at the feet of Jesus.

If you have lost joy over unanswered prayer, remind yourself about your past answered prayers.

If you have doubts about what God is up to in your life, keep looking for evidence that he is working in the background.

If you are not a Christian today, I encourage you to surrender your life to Jesus Christ this Christmas season.