Week 3 — Luke 1:67-2:20 | THE Unexpected King

Promised | Luke 1-2  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  42:43
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God’s promises are fulfilled in humble and and unexpected ways that are worthy of all of our loyalty, adoration, and praise

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Ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go right? Maybe it’s the car breaking down, a stressful meeting at work, or a fight with someone you care about. Right? Those moments where, no matter how hard you try, doesn’t matter what you say or how you say it. Things just seem to deteriorate. Everything is off, you keep missing one another — something isn’t right.
Or maybe you’ve been watching the news or scrolling through social media, recently as one does, feeling the weight of all that’s wrong in the world. Wars, injustice, disasters, phantom drones nobody seems to know anything about—it all piles up, and deep down, you find yourself longing for someone to fix it.
We all feel this, don’t we? Sure we do. This deep sense that the world—maybe even our own lives—aren’t as they should be and a longing, a cry in our hearts for someone to step in and make things right.
This isn’t a new longing. The Jewish people in Jesus’ time felt it too. They were living under Roman oppression, clinging to ancient promises that God would send a Savior—a King who would finally make things right. But when God acted, He didn’t do it in the way anyone expected.
Instead of sending a conquering warrior or a politician, God sent His Son in the most surprising and humble of ways.
And in doing so, He revealed that God’s ways aren’t just unexpected—they’re better. And they aren’t temporary either, but rather, they are eternal.
You see, the Christmas story shows us that God is playing the long game, fulfilling our deepest longings in ways we never imagined.
That’s what we’re going to see today as we continue our series Promised, walking through Luke chapters 1 and 2. We’ll explore how God’s promises are fulfilled in surprising ways that stir our loyalty, adoration, and praise.
As we turn now to look at Luke 1:67-2:20 we’ll look at Zechariah’s prophecy and the events of Jesus’ birth, and I hope you’ll see three things:
God’s Pronouncement—God’s promises are fulfilled (Luke 1:67-80)
God’s Surprise—In Radically Unexpected and Humble Ways (Luke 2:1-14)
Our Praise—That stir our loyalty, adoration and praise (Luke 2:15-20)
So let’s dive into Luke 1, starting with Zechariah’s prophecy, to see how God’s long-awaited promises were fulfilled in Jesus.

I. Pronouncement: God Promises are Fulfilled (Luke 1:67-80)

If you’ll remember from where we’ve come in the text up to this point, Luke has been expertly telling us the origin story of 2 would-be heroes upon earth! He’s setting the stage for us, painting a world much like our own, filled with longing and strife—poverty, political tension, and the oppressive rule of a worldly empire.
People have been waiting for centuries for God to show up and fulfill His promise to send a Savior. And finally, the moment has arrived. Angels have appeared, speaking to two different families, announcing the coming of not one, but two heroes who will change the course of history.
One is born to an elderly couple who thought their childbearing days over, and the other is conceived of the Holy Spirit—born to a virgin, destined to be the Son of God. These angels' announcements set the stage for a world-altering story.
And if Luke 1-2 were a movie, after these announcements, we’d see the scene shift quickly. Imagine one of those silent, two-minute montages at the beginning of a film, you know one of those mashups that gives us crucial context for the unfolding story.
In it, we’d see the greeting between Elizabeth and Mary from last week. The tears, the joy, the wonder at the miracle of God unfolding around them. The scene jumps forward then to Elizabeth in labor—the anguish, the relief, and the moment when baby John is born, named, and dedicated. Then, after nine long months of silence, Zachariah, Elizabeth’s husband, speaks. His tongue is loosed, and in that moment, he praises God for His faithfulness, for keeping His promises, and for the coming Messiah. He prophesies not only about his own son John but also about whom John will prepare the way for!
Now we’re not told who had the foresight to record what Zachariah says in this moment but someone was so profoundly struck by his words that they wrote ‘em down! We know this because Luke includes this source material in His origin story of the Messiah!
Read it with me and you’ll see Zachariah pronounce that God fulfills His Promises!
Luke 1:67–80 (NIV)
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 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), 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— 72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 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.” 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
In this prophecy, Zechariah announces to those in his hearing—and to us as we read—that God fulfills His promises!
Through these two children—John and the coming Messiah—Zechariah declares that God is making good on promises made thousands of years earlier in the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7) and the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12). If you’re taking notes, jot down those references and take time to read them later. They’re support important.
Suffice it to say, Zechariah is proclaiming that salvation for Israel and blessing for the world are unfolding just as God said they would. Confirming the Angel Gabriel’s words to Mary from last week. No word from God will ever fail!
Which is awesome, but Zach doesn’t stop there. He goes on to explain that his son, John, will prepare the way for the Messiah—and that the Messiah will fulfill the promises to David and Abraham in three specific ways:
He says this Messiah, Israel’s rescuer, the horn of salvation from David would:
forgive people of their sins.
He will bring light to the darkness that overcomes even the shadow of death itself! and
He will offer a path to eternal peace with God and others, the ability to live life before God without fear!
And here’s the incredible part: these promises of forgiveness, light, and peace weren’t just for David’s descendants or a select few—they’re for everyone. As Zechariah prophesies, this Messiah would fulfill God’s promises to Israel through David and also be the blessing promised to Abraham, extending to the entire whole world.
This is the heart of God’s pronouncement: Jesus came to fulfill a hope far greater than anyone expected—not just for one nation, but for all nations, offering salvation and peace to anyone who would receive it.
For those weighed down by what’s broken in the world, for those longing for all that is sad to be made untrue—Zechariah’s prophecy reminds us that God always keeps His promises. Every time. Jesus is the fulfillment of the longing of every human heart! He will make all things new by bringing forgiveness, light and peace but don’t miss this: the fulfillment of these promises often takes time. Zechariah’s bold proclamation assures us that God’s promises are certain, but consider how they were unfolding.
The fulfillment was coming through babies—John, just born, and Jesus, still in Mary’s womb.
The Jewish people had waited centuries for the promises of David and Abraham to come to pass. And now, they would wait just a little longer for these babies to grow and fulfill their roles in God’s plan.
This reminds us that God has not forgotten His promises, even when it feels like nothing is happening.
Sometimes, as we pray, it may seem like God hasn’t heard or isn’t working. But don’t lose hope! Press on in prayer. God is not slow, as we often thing of slowness, He's patient and He's working to fulfill every word and promise he's ever spoke and answer every prayer ever prayed by His children. However, His ways are not our ways and His timing is perfect, but it ain't always on our schedule.
You see, God is not concerned with quit or temporary fixes. He’s playing the long game and his methods, well a lot of times they are not just different, they are completely unexpected and surprising!
Which brings me to my second point:

II. Surprise: God fulfills His promises...In Radically Unexpected and Humble Ways (Luke 2:1-14)

Imagine you were the one so profoundly struck by Zachariah’s words that you are the one who decided to write them down for posterity’s sake. If that was you, how would have you expected to see this all worked out?
In Zach’s pronouncement we have the announcement of a God King’s arrival to to fulfill ancient and epic promises! The plot thickens as they say and what comes next, well certainly, we can expect grandeur and power! There must be royal fanfare and fireworks!
And yet, God’s way of fulfilling His promises completely overturns human expectations. Let’s take a closer look at the actual unfolding of these events in Luke 2:1-14.
As we read, I want you to notice three key things:
The humility of Jesus’ birth—the circumstances surrounding it were shockingly lowly.
The radical inclusion of the shepherds—the least likely recipients of such good news.
The unexpected peace Jesus brings—different from the peace of human empires.
Let’s read together:
Luke 2:1–14 (NIV)
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Jesus, the Savior, was born into a scandalous and shame-filled situation, to poor, no-name parents from a backwater town. A town so backwater, the best accommodations that could be afforded to a woman in labor was a barn and after the baby was born the best that could be managed was not a gilded crib gold, but a feeding trough for livestock, and the baby was wrapped not in royal robes, but in simple rags.
This is radically humble and unexpected.
The only thing that’s marginally expected is the arrival of the angelic host. That is not surprising! Finally some fireworks and fan fare.
And folks think about this for a second. If 500 USA marines show up in your yard, that’s going to be quite a thing! Right, just 500 soldiers roll up at the orders of the President to inform you of some announcement or give you some marching orders. This is going to get your butt in gear!
And for the arrival of the ancient promised God King and Savior we would expect such fanfare. But it’s not just 500 human soldiers. Church it is the host of Heaven.
Holy Spirit help us imagine this!
The host of heaven, bursts upon the sky! Glorious warrior angels, divine beings of beauty, glory and splendor, they burst on the scene like fireworks booming forth the most beautiful song you’ve ever heard in angelic harmony!
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Now we’re talking, this is what we’d expect, but not exactly, these angels, they show up in some far off, no where place to a tiny group of Shepherds!?
They don’t go to New York City or Washington DC, they don’t go to the places of power and prestige, they don’t go to the people of status and wealth, God sends His army of Angelic Warriors to the middle of no-where, the fly over places, to Malinta, Corn City, Ohio, to a small group of land pirates, that’s what shepherds were. Filthy, nomadic, basically homeless, impoverished, no name, no matter, marginalized, outcast, shepherds.
Whoever you think is the least of us in our society, the shepherds were held in a lower standing than them. The angels to go these people. A host of them. Thousands. 10,000s of thousand, the army of heaven goes to the outcasts to announce the promised arrival of the God King, thousands of years in the making!
WHAT!?
This was a radical statement by God: the Savior, born in humility, was announced to the outcasts, the least and the lost. You see, the Kingdom of God doesn’t come through power or force but through grace, humility, and service.
Here’s the deal folks:Jesus came for everyone, including the marginalized. His Kingdom is not like the world’s. His peace isn’t about military conquest, like Caesar’s Pax Romana. No, the peace of Jesus is made by a King who gives up everything for us.
And just as Jesus didn’t overlook the shepherds, He doesn’t overlook anyone. Whether you’ve faced poverty, shame, or rejection, Jesus sees you. He shows no favoritism (Acts 10:34-35). The ground is level, equal at the foot of the cross!
And His peace doesn’t come through violence or threats. Instead, it is established through acts of love, service, and sacrifice, making a way for us to return to God and experience His love and acceptance!
We’ve all seen a lot of temporary solutions in our lives, we seek to have the longing of our hearts fulfilled in so many would be saviors and worldly solutions, but heres the deal, the only solution to what our hearts long for is the peace established through the surprising love displayed in the humble and unexpected arrival of the savior of the world!
Folks when you truly grasps this surprising and radical peace and love, well the the only response is what the shepherds and Mary show us: praise.

III. Praise: That are Worthy of Our Loyalty, Adoration, and Praise! (Luke 2:15-20)

Let’s take a moment to look at how the shepherds responded to the message they received. When the angel proclaimed the birth of Jesus, they didn’t just sit and wonder about it—they acted. They immediately set out to find Him. Their response was one of loyalty. Loyalty to the Word of God spoken to them. They didn’t hesitate or question it—they trusted it. And in that trust, they moved forward.
Luke 2:15-20 tells us:
Luke 2:15–20 (NIV)
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Did you catch that? The shepherds didn’t just hear the good news—they immediately responded to it with loyalty. They put their faith into action, trusting in the message they’d been given, and they went to go and see the Savior for themselves.
Faith, at its core, Church, looks like this. It’s not just believing; it’s belief lived out with loyal action. It’s trusting God’s Word and acting on it, even when we don’t have all the answers or clarity we desire. The shepherds’ loyalty to the Word of God led them to go and see. That’s the kind of faith we’re invited to have—a faith that leads us to move, to trust, and to take action with hope and the exception to see God make good on His promises in our lives.
And then we look at Mary.
Her response to all of this is a response of adoration. After the shepherds leave, she doesn’t just move on—she treasures and ponders all that has happened. She reflects deeply on God’s actions, on the miracle unfolding before her. It says that she “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Think about that for a moment. Mary didn’t rush past the moment. She didn’t take the miracle for granted. She took time to reflect on God’s faithfulness and to treasure what He had done.
This is such an important practice for us today. When we see God’s faithfulness in our lives, we need to pause, treasure, and ponder. When we take time to reflect on what God has done—how He’s fulfilled His promises, how He’s shown His love and grace—it strengthens our faith. Just like Mary, we can treasure those moments and let them build our trust in God and out loyalty to Him as well.
And then, from both the shepherds and Mary, we see the inevitable result—overflowing joy which completes itself in praise. The shepherds, after seeing Jesus, couldn’t keep the news to themselves. They went out and spread the word, glorifying and praising God. Mary, in her adoration, kept reflecting on God’s actions, her heart overflowing with wonder.
When we see God for who He truly is and what He has done, joy and praise naturally overflow!
Think about it—when you witness something truly beautiful, like a breathtaking sunrise, which is exactly what Zechariah says we’re witnessing in Christ: “because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death.” When we experience something as awe-inspiring as a sunrise, no one needs to command you to express your wonder. It’s a natural response, right? It would be unnatural to stifle the praise you feel.
In fact, refusing to express that praise would diminish your joy in the experience. And that’s because praise doesn’t just reflect joy—it amplifies it, making it fuller. It doesn’t only speak of the goodness of something; it perfects the joy within us. When we praise, we complete the joy in our hearts. And when we see Jesus for who He truly is—our humble, surprising Savior—our only fitting response is to praise, completing the joy made possible through the path to peace with God.
As we reflect on the humble and unexpected way Jesus came into the world, we are reminded that God’s promises often look different from what we expect. We can easily search for saviors in power, wealth, and status, but Christmas reminds us that God’s salvation comes in the most unexpected, humble form—through a King who gave up everything to serve us. The King we long for is not one who fulfills our immediate desires or comforts, but one who fulfills our deepest need—reconciliation with God and peace with others. And that is exactly what we see in the Christmas story—a King who came to give us peace, not through military might, wealth, or power, but through His humble sacrifice.
The question for us is: are we willing to receive the unexpected Savior who comes in humility, or are we still seeking rescue in the wrong places? I’ll leave you to unwrap that question for yourself this Christmas.
Let’s be a people who, like the shepherds and Mary, respond with loyalty, adoration, and overflowing joy to Jesus this season. Amen? And Amen.
Pray.
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