Advent 2: Luke 1:5-17, 68-80-Hope from an old, barren womb

Intro:

Hope and grief-these seemingly paradoxical feelings can co-exist. as Christians, we don’t grive as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13)

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

Isaiah 9:2

Main Text:

Luke 1:5–17 (NIV)

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. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 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. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 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. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 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.”

Israel-under role of King Herod of Judea-a Roman province.

able to worship freely at this point. Herod had built, expanded greatly on the Temple that was rebuilt when Israel returned from exile.

still longing for freedom and restoration to what they once had. Their own land divivded into the 12 tribes, the Temple as their centerpiece, their own King who would rule and reign in justice and righteousness. They are still hoping, longing, for their restoration.

Hope from an old, barren womb

The Couple-Zechariah and Elizabeth (1:5-7)

both from line of Aaron, righteous and devout, serving God faithfully, praying for God to deliver His people-to restore them

Yet, barren. We talked about this last week-we are caught in a spiritual war, a wicked world:

We too are caught in the cosmic crossfire of Christmas. We experience both “joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8), as well as burdens so great we despair of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8). Both are beyond our powers to comprehend because there is so much more going on in reality than we can yet understand.-Jon Bloom

When Darkness Falls at Christmas | Desiring God

children are a blessing from God-they would have felt the shame, feeling as if they were not favoured by God

C.S. Lewis: page 660

The Announcement (1:8-13)

John-offering incense at the altar in the temple, one his priestly duties,

A priest could not offer incense more than once in his entire lifetime (Mishnah, Tamid 5:2), and some priests never did receive the privilege. Thus the time when Zechariah offered the incense was the most important moment in his whole life. Leon Morris

join list with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Hannah

1:24-25-’removed my disgrace’

they would bare a child-more than an ordinary child (which would be incredible)-but the one who would go before God

The Child (1:14-17, 76-79)

no mere ordinary child but the one who would go before Jesus-the Messiah.

Malachi 4:5–6 NIV

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

Isaiah 40:3 (NIV)

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

can you imagine? not only receiving the news that you would miracously bear a child way past your biological clock, but also that this child would be a forerunner for the One who God would send to restore His people?

The Giver (1:68-79)

God is a promise Keeper. Remembering his promise to Abraham.

God would come through on his promise to rescue and restore His people. he would rescue them , forgiving their sin, defeating their Accuser, and shine light on those living in darkness.

Jesus will come in a Second Advent. He will make all things new. Christmases with empty chairs are numbered; these too shall soon pass. And the greatest chair that shall be occupied, the one that shall restore all things, and bring real joy to the world, is Jesus Christ, the baby once born in Bethlehem, now King that rules the universe. He shall sit and eat with us at his eternal supper of the Lamb.-Greg Morse

Christmas with an Empty Chair: When the Holiday Just Isn’t the Same | Desiring God