Luke 1:39-80 "The Magnificat & Benedictus"

Let’s Pray!

Good Morning, Calvary Chapel Lake City!

Yesterday… we hosted a Pro-Life Workshop with Mike Spencer… and he is a wealth of knowledge in understanding the attack on life… if you missed it… he has a number of resources on this website… Project Life Voice.

Our next learning event will be our Inductive Bible Study training on Jan 9th and 10th… mark your calendars.

Well, let’s open our Bibles to Luke 1. Luke 1:39-80 today.

Thus far in Luke, we have looked at an introduction to Luke’s Gospel, and the origin stories of the angel Gabriel visiting Zacharias… the father of John the Baptist.…

And Mary… the mother of Jesus… who showed great faith… when she was called to bear the Christ Child.

As a virgin, she asked, “How can this be?” And Gabriel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you...” Further, He said, “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Humbly and willingly, Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

With Gabriel’s presence… his message… and promise of the Holy Spirit… Mary open handedly offered her body and very life… in service to the Lord.

It’s interesting, but four adults… in the first two chapters of Luke… are filled with the Holy Spirit… Mary (V35), Elizabeth (V41), Zacharias (V67), and Simeon (Luke 2:25) .. and all four burst forth into Song.

One mark of a Spirit-Filled life (according to Eph 5:18-19) is “… speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord...”

And in today’s passage… as we continue to look at the back story of John and Jesus… we see their parents… filled with the Spirit and singing to the Lord.

The Song of Mary has become know as “The Magnificat”… which is Latin for “magnifies”… from her opening line, “My soul magnifies the Lord.”

The Song of Zecharias has become know as “The Benedictus”… which is Latin for “blessed”… from his opening line, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel.”

And, these songs frame the nativity narrative… both celebrating God’s work… and linking OT promises to their fulfillment in Christ.

So, let’s finish this chapter now is a message titled “The Magnificat & Benedictus.”

And, in reverence for God’s word, if you are able, please stand as I read our passage.

Luke 1:39-80 today, but for time’s sake… I will just read vv 39 to 45 to set the scene… V39 “Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Praise God for His word. Please be seated.

Upon the Angel Gabriel departing from Mary in V38… in V39-40 we read that Mary packs her bags and quickly makes way to a rural town in Judah… to the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth… her cousin.

Mary was living in Nazareth in Galilee… and Christian tradition holds that Elizabeth’s hometown in Judah was Ein Karem, a village about 5 miles southwest of Jerusalem.

Which is about a 90 mile walk… a 4-6 days journey with a caravan for safety.

But Mary felt compelled to go… for in V36… Gabriel revealed to Mary that Elizabeth… her relative who was old and barren… miraculously conceived a son and was six month pregnant.

And, it wasn’t like Mary could just text or call Elizabeth, “Girl, what? You’re miraculously pregnant too!?!”

So, Mary takes the long trip to celebrate with Elizabeth, and swap miraculous God stories.

And, I love that Mary quickly goes to Elizabeth. Probably no one on earth could possibly understand what had happened to Mary… except Elizabeth…

And, instead of isolating and bursting inside with all that was happening… Mary seeks solace in another believer.

There is power is the body of Christ… and comfort in sharing life together.

And, understand this… while Mary was pronounced twice now as “Blessed among women”… first by Gabriel in V28… and then by Elizabeth in V42…

Mary becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit… and not by her betrothed Joseph… caused some issues.

Which is another possibility why Mary left Galilee and went to Judah… to avoid what would appear as a scandal…

As Mary’s belly would grow… people would ask, and would want to know… ‘how did Mary become pregnant prior to the wedding?’

People like to talk… and they would…

Pro 26:22 reads, “The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into a person’s innermost being.” [one’s heart]

And rumors of Mary’s unfaithfulness… seem to come to surface in John 8:41 as Pharisees deliver a jab to Jesus saying, “We were not born of fornication… ”

So… in following the will of God, Mary’s reputation potentially was tarnished.

And, more… following God’s will almost cost her marriage… and could have cost her very life!

Mary’s unexpected pregnancy landed Joseph on the struggle bus… and he did not believe her story about the Angel Gabriel… and becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit overshadowing her…

According to Deut 22:20-21, if a man took a wife, and found her NOT to be a virgin… the men of the city were to stone her to death… to put away such evil of unfaithfulness from Israel.

And we read of Joseph’s struggle in Matt 1:18-21 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together [in marriage and physical intimacy], she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example [stoning her to death], was minded to put her away secretly. [divorcing her privately which was permissible according to Deut 24] 20 But while he thought about these things, [and just imagine what he felt… feeling gut wrenching betrayal… thinking she was out of her mind with this angel story. He likely felt confused and certainly felt fear as we read ahead. But, it was in these moments, God intervened. We read… ] behold, an angel [a messenger] of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. [Mary was telling the truth.] 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

And, with this supernatural intervention… scripture declares Joseph, “… did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.”

Sometimes we forget… that being in the center of God’s will for our lives… does not mean all sunny days and rainbows…

And, Mary… blessed among women to bear the Messiah… that was a calling that came with some very real challenges… for her and Joseph.

Sometimes following God… comes with a cost.

Mary’s reputation was damaged… she almost lost her marriage… and she could have lost her life…

The birth of our Savior came with cost. There was a sacrifice.

But Mary believed God… she didn’t doubt… and was open-handed to the Lord.

In Romans… after 11 chapters of theology… the application section begins telling believers how to apply all they have learned… and begins with these words…

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

For all that God has done for us… namely in justifying us and sanctifying us through faith in Jesus Christ…

… it is reasonable for us to offer our lives in total consecration to Him.

And, when the storms of life rise up… how important is it for us to remember that Jesus said, “… lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

How important for us to remember that He is the one who rebukes the wind and raging water… that with a word “Peace, be still!” … there is a great calm.

How important would it be for Mary to cling to Gabriel’s words when things got tough?

Remembering Gabriel said she “found favor with God”… that her Son Jesus… was the “Son of the Highest”… that He would receive the “throne of His father David”… and that “of His kingdom there will be no end.”

When Mary arrives in Judah at the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth… she would be carrying all kinds of emotions, but… she receives the needed encouragement immediately…

V41 tells us “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Upon hearing Mary coming into the house… which was likely an unexpected yet joyful visit…

Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit… and the unborn forerunner to Christ… leaped in her womb joyfully (V46)… he too filled with the Holy Spirit…

As Gabriel declared in Luke 1:15 “He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.”

What a special child to be filled with the Spirit prior to birth?!

“Filled” means to “be under full influence”… And there’s no better and loving influence than the Holy Spirit.

Now… prior to Pentecost in Acts 2… OT believers were filled with the Holy Spirit for specific tasks… like the Artisans for the Temple in Exo 31.

Men’s Bible Study just read that last night.

And, John’s parents would both be filled to prophesy, sing praise to the Lord… and to raise John.

What a blessed home he was raised in.

As he grew and entered ministry… Filled with the Holy Spirit… John announced the Messiah to the world… and prepared the hearts of thousands to receive him.

Jesus said, “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist...” (Lk 7:28)

John had the privilege to behold HE whom all the other prophets spoke of and pointed to… the Messiah Jesus Christ.

And it started with being Spirit filled… and being raised by Spirit filled parents.

Parents… be spirit-filled… and be led by the Spirit.

Your children will be able to accomplish great things for the Lord if they are raised in that kind of home.

We need more children raised in spirit-filled homes… where children are trained up in the ways and reverence of the Lord… praying to Him…

And, His word written on your hearts and on the doorposts of your house… and taught diligently to your children… when you lie down, and when you rise up…

For “such a time as this”… in these days… where society calls “evil good, and good evil.”

John… being raised in such a home… and being filled with the Spirit… impacted many in a nation that had drifted from God.

We need that today.

And, in vv 42-45… Elizabeth greets Mary in a loud voice… and some consider this a Song as well.

And, then Mary responds in song immediately following in V46…

All this singing… It’s like a “sung through” musical where all the characters converse in song…

Kind of reminds me of my home… I’m married to our worship leader and when all the kids are home… everyone’s singing… except for me.

vv 42-45 “Then she [Elizabeth] spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

When a teenager is found with child… often her older relatives do not rejoice.

But here… filled and inspired by the Spirit… Elizabeth indeed rejoices and draws attention to the faith of Mary and the faithfulness of God… who will fulfill His promises.… namely in bringing forth their Messiah.

Ps 119:89-90 reads, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.”

Generation upon generation waited for the coming Messiah, and this was the time… for His advent.

God was faithful. He promised a Savior… and Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Today we await His return again. And, God will again be faithful, as He always has been.

Elizabeth speaks out loudly in faith… and blessed Mary among women for having the privilege of bearing the Messiah.

The fruit of her womb was also blessed in that He is the Savior of the world and the Lord.

And, Elizabeth was humbled in V43 that she would be visited by Mary… and believed that Mary carried her Lord.

It was very likely revealed to Elizabeth by Zacharias (in writing)… what was given to him by Gabriel in V17…

.… that her son would “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And now that son leaps in her womb upon the hearing of Mary’s voice… and Elizabeth and John were filled with the Holy Spirit and joy… as she reflects in V44.

And then in V45… she blessed Mary for her faith and confirmed to her that what God told her through Gabriel would be fulfilled.

This was a message Mary needed to hear. Refreshing her soul…

And, what a blessing it is for us… when a word of wisdom or knowledge… is spoken to us through another believer.

Or when we sit under the word… or hear from a Spirit filled Pastor who is given a message from the Spirit… that clearly speaks into our lives.

There are moments when we are seeking direction… and seeking the Lord’s will… praying without ceasing… waiting upon the Lord…

And, then that blessed moment… when we receive a confirmation on the way we are to go.

In response to Elizabeth’s words… Mary makes a declaration of God’s greatness… what we call “The Magnificat.”

Mary’s song is filled with at least 12 OT allusions… if not more, and I’ll mention several verses that Mary may have had in mind…

… and this displays Mary’s reverence towards and knowledge of scripture.

Hannah’s prayer in 1 Sam 2:1-10… also has some similarities.

It would be good for you to re-read Hannah’s prayer… and compare it to Mary’s Song.

Mary’s song is one that testifies of God’s faithfulness, His character, His justice on the proud, His compassion for the least, and His eye on His people.

Look again at vv 46-55 “And Mary said: “My soul magnifies [or praises] the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

This is a marvelous song and declaration of the greatness of God and a true testimony to the character of Mary.

Mary displays her grasp on Scripture. Her heart is for the Lord… and she basks in the blessing of the coming Messiah…

In V47, Mary rejoiced because God had saved her.

This confirms Mary knew she was a sinner and needed a Savior. She did not rely on her good works, but believed in the Messiah to come… who surreally was growing in her belly.

The Catholic doctrine of the “Immaculate Conception” teaches that Virgin Mary was kept free of all original sin from the moment of her conception.

But, Mary’s own words in V47 refute that doctrine.

Her words reflects similar thoughts from Psalm 35:9 “And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation.”

Or, Habakkuk 3:18 “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

Mary explains why she praise God and rejoices in V48… for she came from a “humble state”…

She had royal blood flowing through her veins… but there had not been a king in Judah for over 500 years… not since the Babylonian captivity.

And she lived in an area of low repute… Nazareth… her betrothed was a humble carpenter… and she was simply his young bride.

And yet… she was chosen by God to birth the Messiah… thus all generations forward would call her blessed.

God so often works in such ways to call a person or start a work from humble origins.

Jesus Himself came from heaven and entered creation and time… taking the form of a baby… reliant on Mary.

And born in the humble town of Bethlehem fulfilling Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

The Savior of the world and King of kings… born in an insignificant town.

His earthly ancestor… King David… also came from humble beginnings… when God called him.

David was from that same insignificant town in the hills of Judah… Bethlehem.

He cared for sheep… he was the youngest of eight sons… and was so small in his father’s eyes that he wasn’t even mentioned to Samuel the prophet when he came to anoint the new king.

Samuel thought he would anoint one of David’s big brothers, but God told Samuel in 1 Sam 16:7 “… the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

And, God called David to be king…

And, still today… God often chooses the least likely… “not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Cor 1:26)

Some wise, mighty and noble… but not many.

More often… God choses the foolish… the weak… the base (or lowly… like Mary)… why? “… that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Cor 1:29)

How true this was in Acts 4… when two untrained and uneducated fishermen… spoke boldly to the most elite religious body?

Causing the Sanhedrin to marvel and realize that Peter and John had been with Jesus.

This is one of favorite things about Calvary Chapel…

It’s not about the letters behind the name… it’s about the encounter with Jesus. It’s about the calling upon one’s life for ministry.

Chuck Smith… Jack Hibbs… Joe Focht… Damien Kyle… Skip Heitzig… Greg Laurie… Jon Courson…

They have no college or seminary degrees… at most they had training at Bible College… and some not even that.

Which was also true of Jesus… Jews marveled one time after Jesus taught and asked, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?” (John 7:15)

I know for the Calvary Chapel guys… they studied to show themselves approved. They spent a lot of time with Jesus.

And, it’s pretty amazing to think… how many millions of people have been influenced by the ministries entrusted to them… despite them… and how the Lord gave increase to their ministries.

When God takes a drugged out hippy… and calls that kind of least likely person… to be used by Him… God gets all the glory.

And Mary was feeling this… not that she was a drugged out hippy… but she knew her humble origins and thus magnified the Lord for choosing her.

In vv 49-50, Mary draws attention to God mighty, holy and merciful.

She recognizes Him as the “Mighty One”… a Gk word that share a root word with dunamis (meaning “miraculous power”)…

Psalm 24:8 “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.”

Mary recognizes God as all powerful… how humbling that He did great things for her.

And He is holy… His name… His very being is holiness…

Psalm 111:9 “Holy and awesome is His name.”

Over 20 verses in the Bible speak about God’s “Holy name.”

And He extends mercy to all generations for those who fear or revere and trust Him.

Psalm 103:17 “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,”

Then in vv 51-53… Mary sings about God’s power to raise up the lowly and cast down the proud.

Many times in Israel’s history, God used that smaller nation to defeat literal and figurative giants.

God demonstrated His strength and power by scattering the proud and arrogant… nations and people.

In those days… it was thought that the rich were blessed by God… and the poor were not favored.

And Mary sings about a God who is doing something so radically different than the norms of society.

He “exalted the lowly”… He “filled the hungry”…

Instead of choosing a rich, influential and religious family to bring forth the Messiah… He chose a girl who was unknown in that society… who would have to bring forth the Messiah in a manger (a feeding trough in an animal stable).

And in Jesus’ ministry… He would continue to demonstrate these themes…

Just consider how Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount… with the Beautitudes…

“Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are the meek…”

These are those who are not full of themselves with pride… but “hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

Jesus indeed would “scatter the proud” and “put down the mighty from their thrones” and ‘send the rich away empty.’

Just consider how He called out the religious leaders… and was not partial to Herod or Pontius Pilate…

He told the rich young ruler, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

And, “… he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

In a society that trusted much in riches, self-achievement… in political power, and religion… (not so different from world today)…

Jesus came into that society and flipped the system on it’s head.

And, Mary is personally humbled and praises God that lowly her was chosen by God.

Mary closes her song in vv 54-55 zooming out to God’s faithfulness and mercy to the nation of Israel…

Psalm 98:3 reads, “He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

Mary recognizes that God was fulfilling, in part, the Abrahamic Covenant… in bringing forth the seed from Abraham… the Messiah Jesus Christ.

God promised Abraham all the way back in Genesis 12:3 “… in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

More specifically in Genesis 22:18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…”

In Mary’s womb… was that Seed promised to Abraham… who would bless the whole earth.

Can you imagine how humbling and surreal that must have been?

Paul, in disputing legalists and defending justification by faith alone… confirmed that Seed is Christ.

Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.”

From Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… the nation of Israel was birthed (the natural seed of Abraham)… and from that nation came the Savior of the World… Jesus Christ (the Ultimate Seed of Abraham)… and through Him… the earth has been blessed.

For at the cross He paid the price for sin (death)… and through faith in Him… one is justified before God.

Mary is in awe that she is living in the time… and personally was chosen to bear the Messiah…

… thus inspired by the Holy Spirit… and in response to Elizabeth’s salutation… and in remembrance of the many fulfilled promises unfolding before her eyes…

Mary burst into this song of praise “The Magnificat”… that we are blessed to have recorded by Luke.

What an amazing stone of remembrance… eternally captured in scripture.

Perhaps the next time you burst forth in song of praise to God for His faithfulness… write it down…

And, we’ll have you come up and sing it in front of everyone.

Not really. Don’t corner me after church and tell me you want to sing your song.

I could see this getting weird… real quick.

But in truth, most of us don’t burst forth in song… let alone in praise of God enough.

There are moments where we stand in awe of His goodness…

And what’s so beautiful about this passage today… is we have such moments captured here… where saints of old… can’t contain themselves…

… and, they sing praises to God for His faithfulness.

What a blessing to behold… and Lord help us to live out these moments... more frequently.

In V56, we read that “Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.”

So Mary stays with Zacharias and Elizabeth in a city of Judah… somewhere near Jerusalem…

Mary came to them when Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant (V36)… so Mary remained with Elizabeth during Elizabeth’s third trimester, but it’s difficult to tell if Mary left just prior to the birth of John or if she was quietly present during the delivery.

Regardless, after 3 months with Elizabeth, Mary returns back to Nazareth… in the Galilee region up North.

Mary is now at least three months pregnant… at the end of her first trimester… she may have a slight baby bump…

And as mentioned earlier, this will begin to pose a challenge for her marriage… and her reputation as rumors will circulate.

Now… beginning in V57 to the end of the chapter our narrative shifts focus back to Zacharias and Elizabeth… the birth of John. … and Zacharias’ song.

vv 57-58 “Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.”

In just one verse, Luke summarizes that Elizabeth is full-term, goes into labor and delivers John.

Ladies don’t you wish labor and delivery was just a one verse moment? Rather than pain in childbirth?

It’s kind of rough on us guys also… my wife squeezed my hand so hard… I tell you… it was rough.

And, Zacharias and Elizabeth are joined by “neighbors and relatives” (plural… so possibly Mary… and other relatives as well)…

And they rejoice… knowing Elizabeth was… as Gabriel said in V36 “in her old age… and barren” (not quite as PC as Zacharias who called her “well advanced in years”)…

But indeed this was cause to rejoice. A miracle was befor them… the Lord was very merciful to her.

And as Elizabeth declared in V25… he took ‘away her reproach among people.’

No longer did she have the social stigma of not producing an heir.

Interesting that neighbors were present… with our four deliveries… we had relatives present, but I don’t think we invited the neighbors.

I’m not sure how you do that… “Hey, if you’re not busy this weekend…”

Just feels awkward. But, times are different today.

When Mary delivered Jesus… it was even worse… strangers … shepherds came…

“Uh… Joseph… who are these guys? They smell like sheep.”

As least they brought good news as announced to them by an angel.

Moving on… back to John…

vv 59-62 “So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.”

Of course, as a Priest, Zacharias was careful to follow the Law to circumcise on the eight day (according to Gen 17:12 & Lev 12:3).

And now that it was the eighth day, as per Jewish custom… the name was also to be given to their child.

We name our children at birth typically… we already have names picked out… boy or girl… we know the names ahead of time…

But, Jews… especially for their male children… named on the eighth day.

We see this to be the case with Jesus as well in Luke 2:21… though Mary already had been given His name from Gabriel.

And, perhaps this gives us some insight as to how Jewish names often reflected the events at birth.

They had 8 days to decide… they weren’t on the clock… and being rushed like so often happens in hospitals today.

Custom at that time was to name a male child after his father, so well intentioned… relatives and neighbors would have expected this…

Thus they were shocked to hear Elizabeth suggest naming him John.

So they push back in V61. Luke didn’t record this, but they had to be at least one Jewish Aunt that said, "Vhat, nobody in the family is called by dis name? Oy vey, you’ve broken tradition already!"

There had to be one. I guarantee it.

So… in V62… they consult John for his opinion. Of course he’s still mute… so they gesture to him…

And… I would have loved to see this attempt at a conversation…

Signs in Gk lit. means “to nod at.”

Should we name him J. O. H. N. … (Nod “yes” or “no”)

“Sounds like”

What a mess! This probably was the inspiration for the game Charades.

I’m confused why they needed to make gestures at all… Gabriel said he would be “mute” in V20… NOT deaf.

Regardless… we read in V62, “they made signs to his father...”

Did they speak louder too? What a scene!

vv 63-64 “And he asked for a writing tablet, and [One translation adds, “to everyone’s surprise” he] wrote, saying, “His name is John.” [meaning “Jehovah has graciously given.”] So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.”

Welp. Zacharias lays down his authority… and definitely broke tradition here, but for good reason.

Silent now for nine months… Zacharias is obedient to the instructions from Gabriel to name his son John (V13)… and immediately (V64) his voice returned…

And, the first words from his mouth… He praised God!

We don’t read that Elizabeth praised God that Zacharias’ voice returned, but I wouldn’t read into that.

vv 65-66” “Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

So… the circumstances around John’s birth caused quite the stir… and word went out in the Judean hill country.

The people recognized God’s hand all over this situation… from Zacharias at the temple… to being mute… to the miraculous pregnancy… to a name that that broke tradition.

All setting the stage for his role as the forerunner to the Christ.

And, you can kind of sense the people holding onto hope… anticipating being on the cusp of God doing something really big.

I believe we live in similar times… anticipating the Coming One. Longing for His return! Maranatha! Come Lord quickly.

Well… wrapping up… Zacharias now bursts forth in the song known as the “Benedictus”)…

This song highlights God’s redemptive plan and John’s role as forerunner… with at least 16 OT allusions or quotes.

vv 67-80 “Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

The Holy Spirit moves once again in this chapter… now enabling Zacharias… not just to sing, but to prophesy.

And, it’s worthy to note… that his previous failure to believe Gabriel… did not result in permanent disqualification from ministry… once again he prophesies…

Beginning in V68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,”

To bless God… is to praise Him. And, Zacharias blesses God for the redemptive plan of salvation unfolding before their eyes.

vv69-70 “And has raised up a horn of salvation [symbolizing strength and alluding to Ps 18:2, 132:17] for us In the house of His servant David, 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began,”

vv 69-70 refer to Jesus who is from the house of David and raised up for salvation as foretold by the prophets.

vv71-73 “That we should be saved from our enemies [c.f. Ps 106:10] And from the hand of all who hate us, 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: [namely Ge 22:16-18]”

Jesus came first to save us from the greatest enemy… sin which separates us from God.

When He comes again… He will save the world from the political tyranny of the Anti-Christ and establish His kingdom on earth.

Both sin and Satan are enemies of God’s people and Jesus saves His faithful from both… as He is a covenant keeping God.

vv74-75 “To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.”

As Messiah delivers… there should be a response…

That response being… service unto the Lord without fear of the enemies persecution…

And in holiness… being set apart and dedicated to God…

And in righteousness… being right and pleasing before God…

And for as long as we live.

vv76-77 “And you, child [now focusing on John], will be called the prophet of the Highest [Mal 3:1; Isa 40:3; Matt 3:3, 11:9, 17:10-13]; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, [the forerunner] 77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission [dismissal or forgiveness ] of their sins,”

John would give knowledge… he would show the way to people of how they would be spiritually saved…

… and He did this by pointing people to Jesus… and through faith in Him sins are forgiven.

vv 78-79 “Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring [Lit. “Dawn”, the Messiah] from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

I love those two verses. Zacharias prophesies that they are on the cusp of the Savior coming which indeed was a tender mercy of God.

NLT reads, “the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us...”

There were many who were in darkness… but light was coming.

Many were spiritually dead… but life was coming.

Many were blind and without a guide… but Jesus was coming and He would open blind eyes.

Many did not know how to find peace… but through faith in Him… He would guide them to the way of peace… which is peace with God.

And, praise God for doing all of this for us… truly a tender mercy of God.

(worship team please come)

I encourage you to go back and study the Benedictus further on your own… and to look up and connect the many OT allusions… some which I just briefly mentioned.

What a beautiful song.

V80 “So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.”

John the Baptist would grow to be a strong man in character and personality… no doubt spiritually…

Like many prophets trained by God… John lived in the deserts of Israel… secluded from the world in preparation for his mission…

And when did publicly appear before the nation of Israel as the forerunner of Christ… he would preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Turn to Jesus… for He is coming.

Let’s Pray!

After those songs of praise to Jesus… I can’t think of anything better to do than take communion… remembering all the Lord did and is doing in our lives. Our communion passage is…

1 Cor 11:23-31 “...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.”

Please distribute the elements...

Communion is a time for us to look three directions…

We look back remembering Jesus’ sacrifice… His broken body and shed blood for the remission of our sins.

His new covenant. Salvation by faith through grace.

Look forward in hope of His imminent return… we proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. He is coming.

This is also a time to look inward for a moment of self-examination…

To reflect on our treatment of other Christians… have we been loving… and unselfish… (per the context of Paul’s passage)?

Reflect and also confess to God any unconfessed sin.

Examine yourself… in order to partake in a worthy manner.

But, the reality is… none of us are worthy… so Praise Jesus… because only in Him have we been made worthy.

Once you have prayed… take the communion elements individually.

Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer.

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If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord...

...either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion -or- the better option...

Pray and trust Jesus as your Savior today.

Believe that His death was the sufficient sacrifice for your sins.

… and then take communion.

Our prayer team will be available to pray with anyone who needs prayer as we close.

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