The Prophet and Forerunner

Intro

Game of mercy. Twist each other’s arms and yell mercy. Do not condone this game. Display of strength and power. You asked them to stop doing what they could continue to do to you.

Need: Doesn’t this feel like how we are in relation to God? We might keep on sinning, experience the consequences, and beg God for mercy. It doesn’t have to be this way. We beg for mercy because:

We know we are sinful.

God is merciful.

Main Idea: God is merciful

God does not display mercy. He is mercy. Mercy is used throughout this entire passage.

Luke 1:57-80

Truth #1: Mercy leads us to submit to God’s plan (57-66)

Exp. John is born. Neighbors and relatives are around. Remember, miracle conception. First instance of mercy. Verse 58. Relatives heard of God’s mercy. God’s hand intimately involved. Leads them to rejoice. Nearly named him after Zechariah. Unusual in this time. Likely because of old age. Verse 60. We will name him John. Family didn’t understand. Ask Zechariah. He was still mute. He was also deaf. He answers in verse 63. Zechariah is accepting God’s plan. Result in verse 64. Finally able to speak and blessed God! Zechariah has suffered these 9 months.

Ill. Our suffering will make us either bitter or better. It made Zechariah better. - Thabiti Anyabwile. His suffering led him to trust in God’s plan.

Arg. His suffering was not the catalyst. It was God’s mercy. Providing for them in their old age. They lived righteously, but their sin, like anyone’s deserves punishment. Instead, God gifts them with a child with a divine plan! The first step in submission is to name the child as they were instructed. Doesn’t seem like a big deal.

Christ - Naming him as the angel said is submitting to God’s plan. It is such a small step. We’re called to this. We can submit because Jesus submitted. Jesus submitted to God’s plan as he went to the cross for us.

App. What do we do? Submit to the plan of God.

Are you submitting to God? Not submitting to God displays a lack of faith in God.

How do you know if you are submitting? Fruit from submitting?

What’s your first step? Saying no to some things. Saying yes to others.

Truth #2: Mercy is at the core of salvation (67-75)

Exp. After Zechariah praises God, he begins the Benedictus. Verse 67. Not deaf or mute anymore. Filled with HS. He first gives blessing to God. Verses 68-70. Visited and redeemed. Horn symbolizes strength. Horn of salvation is not John, but Jesus. Line of David. Spoke through the prophets. We knew he was coming. Verse 71. Likely a callback to Egypt. Verse 72-75. Here’s mercy again. Promised to fathers. Holy covenant. He swore this to Abraham. All of biblical history is about one thing: salvation. God came to get his people. That’s always been the plan. What lies at the heart of that? Mercy.

Arg. Justice and Mercy can stand in contrast to us. We are satisfied when someone is punished for crimes they committed. Yet, we are also moved when forgiveness is offered to someone who doesn’t deserve it. This is at the core of salvation.

Ill. We are defendant awaiting the verdict. We know we are guilty. Yet, we are offered innocence. Our innocence comes because someone took our guilty verdict. Someone took what we deserved. And he gave us his innocence. Jesus gave us his innocence. That’s mercy.

1 Peter 2:22–24

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Christ - To take it a step further, we see here that it was the plan all along. God’s plan has always been about salvation. From the Garden to New Jerusalem. The pinnacle is Christ. Christ is the fulfillment and the avenue in which it is enacted.

App. What do we do? Live in holiness and righteousness. Verse 74-75.

Serve without fear. Jesus is with us.

Serve with holiness and righteousness. In Christ, we are called to be set apart.

Truth #2: Mercy is given where there is darkness (76-79)

Exp. Now, Zechariah moves to John’s role. Verse 76-77. John’s role:

Prophet of the Most High. Speaking the words of God.

Go before the Lord and prepare his ways. Quite literally to do ministry before Christ. Preparing the people.

Give knowledge of salvation through forgiveness. His message would be one about forgiveness of sins.

Exp. Verse 78-79. Mercy again. This passage is filled with mercy. Sunrise refers to Jesus. To give light to those in darkness. Mercy can only come where darkness resides. Without darkness, there is no need for a sunrise.

Ill. You cannot give mercy where it is not needed. Courtroom analogy. I cannot offer a pardon to someone who is not guilty. God sent Jesus because there was darkness; because mercy needed to break through.

Arg. That’s why John’s job was necessary. John would begin to confront people about their sins to let them know forgiveness was coming. Repentance was necessary in order to receive forgiveness.

App. What should we do? We should prepare the way too.

Tell others about the forgiveness of sins.

Show them how to receive it.

Christ - We can only do this because of Christ. John would teach about the forgiveness of sins that is found in Christ. The forgiveness we teach others about is a forgiveness we have experienced. Mercy is something we experienced.

Conclusion

Quite the story from someone who deserved death to someone who tells others where to find life.