Wednesday Advent Service - December 5, 2018
saw the video presentation for Luke chapter 1 thinking of even just what we saw. In those first 25 verses for Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth. It was a life-changing event. And I think sometimes either the expectations that we can have because of watching commercials about what Christmas should be like whethan Christmas should be this wonderful event that changes our life forever, right the husband and wife who give themselves Alexis's for Christmas Lexus a December to remember or the person who gets this ginormous, you know piece of jewelry, you know under the Christmas tree and your life is changed for the better for all of eternity because of that gift and sometimes even his parents. We think we want our kids to have a life-changing Christmas in to remember this Christmas. And so sometimes we even go to Great Lengths we find we're doing it more for ourselves. 10 / maybe what our kids will remember
a life-changing Christmas was exactly what Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth experienced. I just want to give a brief overview here. These accounts are written by Luke who was the physician and he sought to write an orderly account based on first-hand testimony. And did you notice that Luke said he himself is not an eyewitness, but that these items were delivered to us in verse to it says and so because of that then That he is writing these things to Theophilus. That's a Greek name and it means a friend of God or a lover of God. That's what he's writing to convey the following. He's writing to let them know other things that I accomplished Among Us. We need the events of the Life of Christ in things that were handed down to us and all things from the beginning of Christ life. And then in verse for that stuck out to me even listening to this reading tonight. He says that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught that you may know the exact truth. We can know exact truth not bring Safety and Security and certainty and it keeps us squarely rooted in history, which is God's story and we are introduced to a man named Zachariah who was a priest and there were a number of priests and those days they served in different divisions. And he served in the dark days of the rule of King Herod and the Roman Empire King Herod was an awful man. He had a reputation of Cruelty. So imagine what it was like to try to be someone who was living in the promises of God when times were tough and you were being oppressed by a foreign army foreign government.
Zacharias name means the Lord remembers and his wife Elizabeth's name mean means my God keeps his oath and so even their names or words of comfort and encouragement in Dark Times both Zechariah and his wife were from the line of Aaron. They were blameless before the Lord, but there were also childless and advanced in years and verse 7 says, but they were so advanced in years that given up any hope of having children. Inverse 8 then says that while he was serving each priest would have been on each division would have been on duty for 2 weeks a year. And his duty would be to enter the temple and burn incense and offer prayers once in the morning before Dawn and once in the afternoon. And while he is there that is when God begins to carry out his promise. Isn't it good to know that God never forgets his promises? As a parent. Sometimes we make promises to our children and we forget about them and don't follow through on them. I'm so glad that our heavenly father isn't like that. And so there are times in January and February when we are in the store with our kids and one of our younger kids will say I want that toy and we'll say put it on your Christmas list. It's kind of a convenient way of saying file it away for later. And I get this out of the store without a meltdown, but Mom and Dad aren't always so good to remember what those items were 10 months down the line. You could say that we're not always faithful to keep our promise to them. But God always remembers his promises. The first tree had like to point out this evening is that God's timing and how he fulfills these promises is never expected by us. God's timing is different than yours in mine and Sowell Zachariah was inside of the altar of incense a crowd was outside praying the incense for which Zachariah was responsible symbolize the prayers the entire nation Zachariah as the priest. What's the focal point of the entire Jewish nation is he was representing them before God and the holy of holies? Zachariah is met by an Angel and he's absolutely terrified literally fear fell on him and the angel didn't sneak in secretly from the outside. He was suddenly present in that Holy place beside Zacharias. God's timing isn't always expected by us. And you only see that even later on Luke Chapter 2 in a sleepy Tiny Town of Bethlehem. That's where God brought forth. His timing as Galatians 4 says when the fullness of time had come God sent forth his son. And because we don't always expect God's timing and know what he's going to do this message, then can be troubling to individuals. That's the second takeaway. I see in this passage. God's message in his way of fulfilling. This can be absolutely terrifying. If you have your Bibles and looking with me noticing verse 12, Zachariah was troubled when he saw this angel in fear fell on him.
Did you ever think why would Zakaria? Be filled with fear.
He was terrified I think fear is always a response when we come into the presence of God, and I think that's something for us to think through that if we come to church and it's just kind of well the thing that we do because it's Sunday morning would feel kind of awkward if we just stayed at home and washed Meet the Press or three hours of pre game for football. It wouldn't quite field the same thing as going to church or if we just come to church because that's what we do where it's what my mom or what my parents would expect me to do. That's not a really good reason for coming into the presence of God either.
I was reminded to think through if we've lost a sense of awe. About God and being in his presence. perhaps that points to the fact that maybe we don't understand God's holiness like we ought to
The words to the angel spoken to Zakaria and verse 13 do not be afraid Zachariah for your prayer has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall call his name John. It seems as though Zakaria had been praying for a son. Although because he was advanced in years. Maybe he hadn't prayed that prayer in sometime. Or maybe part of Zacharias prayer and pleading before God was asking for God to send the Messiah the promised one.
And so in answering this prayer not only sending a son but also preparing a way for the Redeemer and their significance in this child's name to the common name that usual name would have been. Zachariah I see this child is giving a different name John John means the Lord is gracious. And then skipping down a little bit Jack Ryan says to the angel and verse 18. It's a pretty good question. I think how should I know this for? I'm an old man. My wife is advanced in years.
Gabriel says I am the one who brings you at this good news. You can trust me. Cuz I am the Lord's messenger Gabriel. And I was sent to speak to you verse 19 says and bring you this good news and behold you will be silent on unable to speak until the date of these things. Take place.
Look at that in verse 20. Is that good news or bad news? think that through when I first looked at that, I thought you know what Zacharias kind of getting put in his place by God, how dare you not believe me just to just to make sure that you believe me from now on I'm not going to let you talk.
but if you look closely you'll see there's also good news and encouragement and verse 20 you will not be able to speak until the day that these things take place. There was a promise there was a sign that was given there.
This wasn't meant to be an encouragement this will happen and then you can speak. This was a sign and a sign in the Old Testament was often associated with something that confirmed something observable. Which had a word of Prophecy we see this in the New Testament Jesus not only made claims about who he was as the Son of God, but then he also performing Miracles that were signs John uses that word but these things were done that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ.
God's word just doesn't terrify us or scare us though and take us out of our comfort zone. It does do those things. But God's promise also brings true. Joy and gladness. If we back up to verse 14, you'll see the word again of the word of Zechariah. I'm sorry to Zakaria through Gabriel and you will have joy and gladness and many Will Rejoice at his birth. For he will be great before the Lord and he must not drink wine or strong drink and he'll be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb. I just wanted to any normal baby that we were talking about here with this child John. He will be great before the Lord many Will Rejoice at his birth will be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the explanation for joy and gladness. The Holy Spirit would already be at work in the life of young John? It speaks to the unique role of this individual and this is further described in verses 16 and 17. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah.
I'm not sure that we always understand our Old Testament prophets like we should we focus a lot of the New Testament and so we know Paul and we know Timothy and we know Barnabas and we know the missionary Journeys did Paul went down to churches that he plan to do we know Jesus and the disciples. What kind of loose sight a little bit of significance of some of these individuals these profits from the Old Testament it if you were to put up a Mount Rushmore if you will of respected Old Testament prophets Elijah would be on that group of four Moses David Elijah the ones they held in high regard. And so here this child John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah.
That's pretty high calling that's high praise and I feel feels the promise that was given in Malachi 4 5 and 6 to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children. I'm going to go forward to make ready for the Lord of people who would be prepared and he would emulate and some degree both in appearance and in Ministry the role of Elijah.
And so there was great joy that would come the gift of this child. And so we have quite a bit of time spent with Zakaria. And and his inability to speak then when he came out and all the people knew he must have seen something spectacular that he could not speak.
After this time of serving in the temple was over though. He went back home. imagine what that was like to go home to your wife and to be unable to speak about anything. Be kind of frustrating. And then we read that after these days in first 24 his wife Elizabeth even in her old age conceived in for 5 months. She kept herself hidden. Why would she keep herself hidden? Someone speculated she was scared or confused. Maybe others have said that perhaps she realized she was pregnant. She didn't quite know what to make of that. And so she kind of laid low for these months. And yet she herself was filled with joy, and I don't think she was with scared. I think she knew what was happening here because verse 25 says that's the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me to take away my reproach among the people. How did she know what was going on?
How can she live as someone who was pregnant and think of the normal things that happen when you're pregnant, you're not feeling well and you get morning sickness and things like that. How can she continue to live with a husband who couldn't speak? Was Zachariah her husband able to communicate some of these truths to her? We don't know for absolute certainty. But what we do know is that God showed favor and mercy in the perfect time and the most unusual of ways to Zacharia and Elizabeth. That's a word of comfort and encouragement for me. I hope it is for you to that. God is always faithful to keep his promises. And so what God promised to do in the Old Testament what God promised to do for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Moses and David and even in the ministry the Minor Prophets in dark dark times God carried out according to his word. I think that's a word of encouragement for you and me too when we are in difficult times and situations difficult places God's promises to us are yes in Christ Jesus?
And so yes, God was faithful and blessed Zacharia and Elizabeth, but we know that we all mankind was blessed because of God's grace and mercy and favor. We'll talk more about that on Sunday as we pick up in Luke chapter 1 beginning and verse 26. And look at another baby that would come in an unusual way and how God blesses us through that as well. Let's pray.
Got even in uncertain times just as who write about for Zechariah and Elizabeth. You were faithful to your promise and even though hundreds of years and even over a thousand years had passed you remembered your word and your promise to your people. Can we take cartoon that today that you know exactly what we need and you care for us. We thank you that we can take heart and your promises to that you are coming again and you promised that you are preparing a place for us and all who love you in heaven. I forgot to pray that you would change our hearts change my mind and my focus this Advent and Christmas season when there is 25 other things to think about that. I would remember and focus on all that really matters of your promises to care for me your child. I thank you for that. Wonderful. Hope and promise that you give to me to us and all who believe in place our trust and confidence in you through Jesus Christ. Amen.