The Forerunner Announced

Introduction

Luke begins his gospel with anticipation of dramatic transformation

400 years of silence

Two birth accounts

The importance of Jesus

The plan of God in Jesus

The Parents of the Forerunner

Luke 1:5–10 NIV

5 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. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Luke gives us details

A faithful couple without children

God has been silent broadly

God has been silent particularly in their life

Faithful

Righteous and blameless

Old – their own lives had been long

The wait for God to do something had been even longer still

Barren

Barrenness primes the pump of salvation

Examples

Abraham

Rachel

Manoah (Samson)

Hannah (Elkanah)

Infertility today

To the infertile

This text gives a word of hope to the infertile

It may end

It is a good act of a good God

Hope – the gospel offers more

Isaiah 56:4–5 NIV

4 For this is what the Lord says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant— 5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.

Repentance – of the sin which grows from a broken heart

To the church – compassion

Sensitivity

Support

Help deal with isolation

God Speaks

Luke 1:11–17 NIV

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 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. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 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. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 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.”

An angel appears

Two responses by Zechariah

Fear

Doubt

Gabriel

3x

Dan 8

Dan 9

Lk 1

A messenger about things to come

Gabriel’s message

A description of John

Answered prayer

Joy to Zech

Many will rejoice

Great in the sight of the Lord

Nazarite?

Filled with the Spirit before birth (contra OT)

Bring back many people of Israel to the Lord

Go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah

Silencing Doubt

Luke 1:18–22 NIV

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

Zechariah responds with doubt

How can I be sure of this?

The angel gives him an ironic sign

Silence

Prevents him from sharing the good news

Telling people when Haddon was born

It’s the only time John is associated with silence

Pregnancy

Luke 1:23–25 NIV

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Conclusion

Little picture - blessed faithfulness

God was always doing something through these two faithful minor players in his grand story

In the same way you can be confident that in your sorrow and disgrace God is doing something – even if you don’t know what something is

Changing you

Impacting others

Accomplishing his purposes

Big picture - salvation history

In spite of 400 years of silence God had not abandoned his plan

Genesis 30:23 “23 She (Rachel) became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.””