The Promise of a forerunner Luke 1:1-25

Introduction

In the first four verse of the book of Luke we find the purpose of Luke’s gospel and the credentials of his Gospel as well.

Luke begins his gospel by sorting out the facts from fiction, during this time and even today there were many people saying many different things about Jesus, but Luke wanted to make sure to note that the accounts in his gospel were eyewitness accounts of the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ the promised Messiah.

We don’t have any reason to doubt Lukes gospel, he wrote it so we could know with certainty of the things that happened while Jesus walked the earth.

This morning we are going to start a three week series entitled “the Messiah has come” and we will begin by looking at the promise of a forerunner.

The background of the book vs. 5a

In the first part of verse 5 we are given the time of this writing

They were in the days of Herod, who was the King of Judea

Herod was not a Jew, but he had a Jewish following because of some of the things he did to try to integrate himself with the Jews. The formed a political party called the Herodians, who along with the Pharisees and Sadducees were enemies of Christ.

Herod was an evil man though who throughout his time as king he killed his wife, her brother, her mother and several of his own sons, and he even stooped so low to order the murder of every male child under two years old out of fear of one “born king of the Jews”

Zacharias introduced vs 5b-7

After introducing us to the historical background through King Herod, one who opposed God, then Luke introduces us to Zacharias.

Zacharias was a priest of the course of Abia

There were 24 different courses and the course of Abia or Abijah.

The course changed weekly beginning on the Sabbath

After the Babylonian captivity only four courses returned and the returning priest would fill in the gaps.

He was married to Elisabeth who was of the daughters of Aaron.

Remember Aaron was the first high priest and it would be a great honor to not only be a priest, but to be married to a daughter of a priest as well

In verse 6 Luke with the help of the Holy Spirit describes both Zacharias and Elisabeths spiritual walk

They were both righteous before God

We don’t see this phrase used to describe many people in the Bible, it’s only used a few times for example Noah in Genesis 7:1 “1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.”

If this was written about you, would the Holy Spirit say the same about you?

They were both walking in the commandments and the ordinances of the Lord

Remember Jesus said in John 14:15 “15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

We show our love for God by walking in His commandments

They were both blameless

Even if people tried to find them doing wrong, the bible tells us they were blameless.

What a testimony both Zacharias and Elisabeth had.

In verse 7, we find out that they have no Children.

Notice the Bible doesn’t say they don’t have any children because they don’t want children but they don’t have children because Elisabeth is barren.

I can imagine the despair Elisabeth felt year after year wanting a child but never being able to have children. Remember in those days it was a big thing to not have children, and so I’m sure there was some shame and embarrassment.

Not only was Elisabeth barren, but now they were both well stricken in age.

Even if she wasn’ barren, now they were passed the age of child bearing, so the next part of the story will be even more amazing.

An Angel appears to Zacharias vs.8-17

Luke takes us to Zacharias executing his office as a priest, in the order of his course

1 Chronicles 24:19 “19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the Lord, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.”

His lot or assignment was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord

Zacharias was chosen by God to do this

2 Chronicles 29:11 “11 My sons, be not now negligent: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.”

The multitudes were praying outside the temple of the Lord at the time of incense

Leviticus 16:17 “17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.”

As he is fulfilling his role as a priest an angel of the Lord appears on the right side of the alter of incense

Notice in the first part of verse 12 Zacharias’ reaction

He saw him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him

This is a normal reaction to seeing an Angel in scripture, as almost every time the Angel says the same phrase found here

Fear not, Zacharias

Then we come to a phrase that should grab your attention

Thy prayer is heard

Then the angel tells us what the prayer request was

Your wife is going to bear a son and you will call him John

Isn’t it interesting in Lukes description of Zacharias and Elizabeth he makes sure to mention that they were “well stricken in age” but here we find that while that might’ve been true it didn’t keep Zacharias from believing that God is a God of the impossible and there is nothing too hard for God.

What are you praying for in your life that you believe is impossible? Here we see that God has his own timeline and his timing is perfect. Month after month and year after year they prayed and they never had a child, but they both remained faithful and kept their testimony before God and man. There is a lesson here for all of us, when we stop seeing our problems and start looking towards God we will see that our big problems are nothing for God to handle.

They would have joy and gladness at his birth but even more than that many would rejoice at his birth

Any one who had read the law or the Prophets would know about the forerunner who would prepare the way of the Lord and here the promise of the forerunner had come true.

There son would be great in the sight of the Lord and would never drink wine nor strong drink and would be filled with the Holy Ghost from his birth.

John the Baptist lived a Holy life from birth, this doesn’t mean he was sinless but he lived a life pleasing to the Lord.

John’s role was to turn the people to God, and John would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias or Elijah.

John was to prepare the people for the Lord’s arrival

Zacharias’ doubt vs. 18-23

Zacharias brings human logic into the promise he was just given

He asks the angel how he is supposed to know this, he tells the angel he is an old man and his wife is well stricken in years

Look at the Angels response in verse 19 and 20

I am Gabriel

I stand in the presence of God

He was sent to speak to Zacharias to show him these glad tiding

Because of his doubt he wouldn’t be able to speak until John was born

All the people were waiting for Zacharias to leave the temple and they marvelled or wondered what took him so long

He eventually came out and could not speak and they believed he had seen a vision in the temple.

When his job was done he went to his own house

The promise fulfilled vs. 24-25

Elisabeth conceived just as the Angel had promised and she hid herself five months

Conclusion

One thing that we can learn from this announcement is that God’s plan will always be done Gods way through people who are yielded to his will. Do you trust God’s timing?

Another thing is no matter how impossible the prayer request might seem, keep praying you never know when God will say yes, never give up.

If you have never placed your trust in Jesus Christ, John prepared the way for him. Jesus came to earth, died on the cross, was buried and rose again the third day, making the payment for our sins. You can trust him for your eternity.