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Introduction
Here we are at the first Sunday in December and I am going to spend our time on Sunday evenings looking back at some of the events associated with those events around the birth of Jesus, both before and after...
This evening I want us to take our Bibles and look at one of these events and look at the Gospel of Luke and look at
Luke chapter 1, verses 5-25
But lets begin looking at verses 5-7
Now it came to pass, reminds us that it happens during a time when certain events were taking place, literally it was during the time of Herod the Great
We know this to be true from Matthews gospel and also here in Luke as well.
So the story unfolds that in the days of Herod, king of Judea there was one priest serving in the Temple area by the name of Zechariah.
Now it says that Zechariah was a priest from the division of Abijah, the service of the temple was divided into 24 divisions, and each provided for the needs of the temple service a week at a time, twice a year.
During the major celebrations, such as passover, Pentecost and the Feast of the Tabernacles they all served at the same time.
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So the story unfolds that in the days of Herod, king of Judea there was one priest serving in the Temple area by the name of Zechariah.
Now Zechariah had a wife, Elizabeth… she was a descendant of Aaron himself, the brother of Moses, And both were righteous before God, verse 6, they walked blamelessly before the Lord.
Now that is a great testimony… to be righteous says they were right, without wrong in their actions, Upright and holy in their conduct, in their life before God.
Blameless says they were ones that no one could be accusation against… None could lay evil at their feet.
Wow..
Righteousness is an important characteristic of God’s people in Luke-Acts.
Their righteousness was in the sight of God and not just in appearance as in the case of some Pharisees.
Righteousness is an important characteristic of God’s people in Luke-Acts.
Their righteousness was in the sight of God and not just in appearance as in the case of some Pharisees.
They were the embodiment of OT piety
That is a great testimony of a person is it not….
So here is a priestly family, but there is one sad point in their life, they were old, advanced in years and they had no children, verse 7.
Now this is particularly disappointing, we know children were important to families, they were then and they still are today for mean reasons, but they did not have this blessing….
At least not yet..
Now interestingly, the term no children is the phrase used of Sarah in and Rebekah in and Rachael in and even Samson’s mother in and
Now this is particularly disappointing, we know children were important to families, they were then and they still are today for mean reasons, but they did not have this blessing….
At least not yet..
Now why mention this at all, why not just say they didn’t have a child, why point out they are old as well.
Its not to humiliate them or anything.
I think it points it the truth that there was a impossibility there on man’s part.
Physically, apart from divine help they were without hope.
But we all know that with God all things are possible
It would be a miracle in their part, and that is what God does, He shows up and does miracles when everything else says it cannot be done.
So moving on...
Verses 8-10
So Zechariah was in the Temple, chosen by lot.
So Zechariah was in the Temple, chosen by lot.
This indicates that God’s providential leading caused Zechariah to be chosen.
For Luke this was not the result of “chance” or “fate.”
God was clearly in control of this event.
This indicates that God’s providential leading caused Zechariah to be chosen.
For Luke this was not the result of “chance” or “fate.”
God was clearly in control of this event.
See Introduction 8 (1).
Since so many priests served the temple (about eighteen thousand), entering the holy place to clean the altar of incense and to offer fresh incense usually occurred only once in the lifetime of a priest.
To go … and burn incense.
Let me take you back to the book of Exodus and hear the command.... Exod 30:7-8
1:10 Time for the burning of incense.
We are not told whether this was the morning or evening time.
Temple.
Temple (naos) here refers to the sanctuary proper and not the entire temple complex (hieron) as in , , .
Temple.
Temple (naos) here refers to the sanctuary proper and not the entire temple complex (hieron) as in , , .
Now Zechariah was serving in the temple, the hour of incense is upon them and Zechariah is tending to the altar.
People are praying outside…
1:10 Time for the burning of incense.
We are not told whether this was the morning or evening time.
This indicates that God’s providential leading caused Zechariah to be chosen.
For Luke this was not the result of “chance” or “fate.”
God was clearly in control of this event.
See Introduction 8 (1).
Since so many priests served the temple (about eighteen thousand), entering the holy place to clean the altar of incense and to offer fresh incense usually occurred only once in the lifetime of a priest.
To go … and burn incense.
Compare Exod 30:7–8.
Temple.
Temple (naos) here refers to the sanctuary proper and not the entire temple complex (hieron) as in Luke 2:27, 37, 46.
1:10 Time for the burning of incense.
We are not told whether this was the morning or evening time.
Now lets look at verses 11-17
Suddenly verse 11 says.. “And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.”
Now Zechariah was serving in the temple, the hour of incense is upon them and Zechariah is tending to the altar.
People are praying outside…
We know the angel is Gabriel, a archangel, who stands in the presence of God and was sent to Zechariah …verse 19 for a reference.
The right side is the favored side, like the right hand side of God, where Jesus sits..
And verse 12 tells us that Zechariah was troubled, … listen we would all be bothered inside of ourselves at this point
Suddenly verse 11 says.. “And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.”
And verse 13 the angel reassures Zechariah to not be afraid...
And then verses 13-17 we see what is said to Zechariah, what this promised child is said to accomplish for the Lord.
12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 for he will be great before the Lord.
And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,
17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
Listen to what is said….
A. Zechariah, your prayer has been heard… They had prayed for a child, much like Abraham and Sarah so long before them had prayed and now they have heard from the Lord.
Your wife would have a son and they could call his name John.
B. You will have joy and gladness, and so many others would rejoice at his birth.
John’s life, ministry and message would be a source of joy to the world.
C. In the Spirit and Power of Elijah, John would prepare the way for the Lord… John is the last of the prophets, a man between two times if you will.
He is the last of the ones who share the message of “one is coming whom God the Father has prepared for the world.”
He is the last of the Old Testament prophets.
And he is the first of a new call, the first New Testament prophet, he is declaring the message… He (the Lord) is coming quickly, prepare yourself to see the glory of God.
The message was a divine one, God sent his angel to Zechariah to tell him what was to come, and how he would bless the lives of many.
D.
Here is the best one, the message John declared verse 16 tells us “would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
The angel came as a visitor of preparation… Gabriel was telling these parents of a promised son, who would declare the glory and majesty of the Lord
After 400 years of silence….
As the Lord was silent for 400 years while Jacob’s sons, the children of Israel were in the land of Egypt…God raised up a person to lead them back to the Lord their God….
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