WEBVTT 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:11.759 If you were gonna tell the story of Christmas, where would you begin? 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:15.359 You know, for Mark, that that's not even a question. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:17.760 Mark, Mark ain't got no time for a manger. 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:22.800 You know, here's the Messiah, he's been baptized, we got things to do, people to save, let's go. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:23.839 That's fine. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:25.359 That's totally that's obviously very fine. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:27.440 That's divinely inspired, that's okay. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:33.920 Uh it just means that on Christmas morning, nobody's gonna like gather in their jammies with their cocoa and their kids and read Mark chapter two. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:40.560 Maybe Jesse's family would, but we would probably look for something a little more Christmassy. 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:49.200 Now, Matthew, Matthew, like a good accountant, begins the Christmas story by making sure that all the paperwork is in order. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:50.079 Right? 00:00:50.320 --> 00:01:01.200 There are covenant blessings for Abraham's son, there are covenant blessings for David's son, and here's a genealogy that is meticulously aligned to make sure you realize Jesus is entitled to both of them. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:03.119 All the math checks out, right? 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:05.120 That's a very Matthew-like thing to do. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:09.280 And the genealogy he gives you, by the way, is a royal genealogy. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:10.159 Right? 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:15.120 Matthew's got a very regal kind of Christmas to him. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:33.120 And just to make sure you don't miss how significant that Christmas is all about a king and kingdoms and the king finally showing up, just to make sure you don't miss that, Matthew tells the Christmas story by having three kings come from afar carrying gifts to meet a fourth king, to ask, where has been born the king of the Jews? 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:34.400 We saw his star. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:38.079 Like Matthew's Christmas has a lot of crowns in it. 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:39.599 And that's okay. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:45.519 John, John the theologian, he spreads the aperture as wide as it could possibly go. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:48.640 He broadens the scope to its maximum level. 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:51.599 His is a cosmic Christmas. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:56.959 He sets his story of the incarnation all the way back in creation. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:05.040 He begins in the beginning, with the Word who was with God and the Word who was God. 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:12.080 John's Christmas is the story of the divine light bursting into the darkness of humanity. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:21.360 The only begotten Son coming to reveal the Father by putting on flesh and dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:25.599 John's Christmas is eternity breaking into time. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:28.639 It is light dashing away darkness. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:36.639 It is divinity and humanity brought together in one glorious Son. 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:40.080 But that's not where Luke begins. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:41.680 No. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:50.319 Luke tells a Christmas story that's a little more personal, more intimate, if you will. 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:54.960 And he begins his story in a, I think, an unlikely place. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:03:04.639 You know, before you get to the manger, before you arrive in Bethlehem, before a decree goes out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be counted. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:08.560 Before any of those things happen, you gotta go to chapter one. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:24.400 But before Mary sings her song of praise, before even the angel Gabriel comes to visit Mary and announce to her the miracle that she is going to bear in her womb before all of those things, Luke begins the Christmas story like this. 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:36.960 Well, you see, there was this sweet elderly couple that lived in Israel named Zechariah and Elizabeth. 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:40.879 Why start there? 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:54.000 And I think it's because Luke is reminding us that the Christmas story begins with waiting. 00:03:55.360 --> 00:04:07.199 And before you get to Bethlehem and chapter two, you've got to get through chapter one, which, by the way, is the longest chapter in your New Testament Bible. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:09.199 There are 80 verses in it. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:19.279 Personally, I think Vitiwana should award a solid gold truth pin to any kid who is capable to get that one down cold. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:20.000 Right? 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:21.600 I'm feeling it. 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:24.639 I think we'd have three truth scripts in my house. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:27.680 80 verses to get there. 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:35.920 In a way, I think that makes Luke the most adventy of our Gospels. 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.040 Because it begins with waiting. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:44.879 And as we all know, waiting can be hard. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:49.360 It certainly is for Zechariah and Elizabeth. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:54.079 Here's how Luke introduces them to us in verse 5. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:05:02.800 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:07.759 And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:14.560 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:16.959 But they had no child. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:23.600 Because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:30.079 For Zechariah and Elizabeth, life was hard. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:34.959 Both personally hard, inside the context of their home. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:36.480 It was hard. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:40.240 But it was also hard broadly in their world. 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:47.040 Luke lets us know that this story we're reading is set in the days of Herod, king of Judea. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:53.199 And that puts it somewhere on the timeline between 37 BC and 4 BC. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:57.759 Of course, they didn't know to call it BC, but hey, we'll get there in chapter 2. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:02.079 And this Herod, who is the king, is known as Herod the Great. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:04.480 And by a lot of measures, he was very great. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:09.040 He ruled over Judea as a client king under Roman authority. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:12.240 He was appointed by Mark Anthony of all people. 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:15.600 He's not a Jew, by the way. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:18.240 He is an Edomite by descent. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:22.480 Edom, that historic enemy of the nation of Israel. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:25.439 But he did his best to play the part of a Jewish king. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:31.279 He put on pomps and he put on airs and he tried to present himself as if he was a good Jewish king. 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:36.319 And in many ways, he did great things inside of his reign. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:45.759 He built massive structures to include a remodeled temple right there in Jerusalem and what we now know as the famous fortress of Masada. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:48.560 Herod the Great built those things. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:52.079 So in some ways, he was great. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:57.839 But in person, he was a cruel man. 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:00.079 He was wicked. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:01.279 He was petty. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:02.240 He was paranoid. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:03.600 He was vindictive. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:06.160 He wanted power at all costs. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:10.319 In order to hold on to his power, he murdered his wife. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:12.480 He murdered his brother. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.519 He murdered at least three of his sons. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:18.319 He is a cruel and wicked man. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:34.000 In order to maintain his position of power with the Roman authorities, he dutifully carried out any restrictive policies that were imposed by Rome against the people who were supposed to be his subjects, the people he was supposed to protect and care for and lead. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:35.759 Instead, he oppressed them. 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:50.480 And in order to do that, he employed a 2,000-man personal bodyguard to function as a not-so-secret police, rounding up and brutally squashing any kind of dissension. 00:07:51.839 --> 00:08:09.759 Josephus, who is a Jewish historian who lived at this time, tells us a little bit about Herod, who, even though he tried really hard to make people think he was a good Jewish king, was just happy to bring in all of the vices of Rome and all the pagan entertainment. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:11.199 He had no problem with those things. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:16.319 In fact, he had no problem erecting pagan statues right outside the entrance to the temple. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:19.279 There were idols that Herod helped put together. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:25.920 So I guess, well, at least in that way, he's not all that different from the Jewish kings we read about in the Old Testament. 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:38.159 Nonetheless, this little detail that this story is set in the days of King Herod, this little detail reminds us that the world of Zechariah and Elizabeth was filled with hardship. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:40.159 It was exceptionally difficult. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:50.960 Everywhere they looked, every street they walked on, every gathering they attended, everywhere they were surrounded by constant reminders that their world was not the way it was supposed to be. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.120 This is not what it was supposed to look like. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:09:00.240 A Roman military state was always watching them and threatening to snatch away their freedom at any chance. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:05.759 A sham political apparatus that prized power over righteousness. 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:20.240 The constant pressure of oppressive taxes that were always being levied upon them to pay for blasphemous structures and the elite class, ruling class opulence. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:33.360 And in the midst of this sea of suffering and difficulty and hardship, there we find Zechariah and Elizabeth. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:42.000 A little island of faithfulness and a world of chaos and difficulty. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:49.039 Zechariah, we see, is a priest, a priest of the division of Abaijah. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:56.559 There were thousands of priests in Israel, something like 18,000 priests that were scattered all across the land. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:01.360 And they lived in the cities and in the towns and the hamlets, and they lived all over the place. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:06.080 And, you know, in order to keep them straight, they were divided up into groups, 24 different divisions. 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:28.480 And Zechariah belonged to the division of Abijah, named after uh one of the leaders historically in Israel's past of these priestly divisions, and he belonged to that division, and each of these divisions took their turns, as it were, a couple of times a year for the major festivals and through a rotation to come down to Jerusalem, and there they would serve inside the temple. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:34.799 There they would do all of the priestly functions the temple demanded, and there were lots of them. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:41.519 But most of the year these priests lived out in their cities and in their towns and in their villages and hamlets. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:54.000 And they would do things like teach the scriptures inside of the synagogues, and they would offer religious judgments about issues that came up, and tried to be faithful and point the people towards God. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:11:00.399 So we recognize that Zechariah has a noble calling. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:19.840 And Zechariah is married to a woman named Elizabeth, who was herself not only from the tribe of Levi, but was from the actual family tree of Aaron, the brother of Moses, the very first high priest in Israel. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:32.960 Next to the royal house of King David, there was no family tree more highly regarded in the nation than the people who were descended from Aaron, the first high priest. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:36.320 I tried to think about what this would be like for us in our setting. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:43.840 This would be like an American who decided to get married, and he married someone who was a direct descendant of George Washington, right? 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:50.799 Or he finds a wonderful girl down there in Virginia from the family of Jefferson, right? 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:58.799 Which I would imagine would do pretty well if you were going to, you know, run for office, run your fundraisers out of Monticello and Mount Vernon. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.000 That seems like a good choice. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:01.519 It's a big deal. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:04.720 Elizabeth is kind of a big deal. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:10.240 So Zechariah's got a noble calling, and he's got a noble wife. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:15.679 And together, the two of them lived out a noble life. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.519 That's what it says. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:24.240 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.799 They were the real deal. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:29.919 They were genuine, bona fide believers. 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:36.879 I think we're so conditioned as Christians now that when we open up our gospels and we bump into the priests, we think, oh, those hypocrites. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:38.559 I know what they're like. 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:41.120 But not Zechariah and Elizabeth. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:43.200 They're the real deal. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:45.279 They were faithfully following the Lord. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:48.559 Now, Luke isn't saying here that they were sinless. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:53.200 There's only one human who is ever sinless, and he's going to come in the next chapter. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:55.759 But they're faithfully following the Lord. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:57.200 They're obedient to his word. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:13:01.440 They're sincere in their walk and they're honest in their conduct and they're genuine in their godliness. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:12.559 They sought to live their lives obeying the command in Deuteronomy 6 to love the Lord their God with all of their heart and all of their soul and all of their strength. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:18.480 And they desperately longed to teach that commandment to their children. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:24.399 And that's what makes the situation in verse 7 so challenging. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:26.399 Because they had no child. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:30.559 For Elizabeth was a barren. 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:33.519 And both of them were advanced in years. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:45.919 Zechariah and Elizabeth had lived a long life filled with obedience and integrity and faithfulness, but not filled with family. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:57.600 And the common belief at the time was that if you were stricken with this kind of barrenness, well, that was obviously a sign that God was displeased with you. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:02.720 That was obviously an indication that you had done something to make God angry. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:15.039 Maybe you had some hidden secret sin tucked away in the corners that no one else knew about, but God knew about it, and he was demonstrating how displeased he was with you by keeping you away from having a child. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:20.960 I mean, after all, doesn't Psalm 127 say that children are a gift from God and a reward to the faithful? 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:24.559 Obviously, Zechariah and Elizabeth must not be as faithful as they appeared. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:33.039 Surely their neighbors were whispering, you know, they put on a good show, but I think Zechariah and Elizabeth must have some hidden scandal they won't tell us about. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.720 God is punishing them. 00:14:49.919 --> 00:15:05.279 Examples of godly and righteous women like Sarah and Rachel and Hannah, who should be crying out to Zechariah and Elizabeth and to us here today that that is not what is happening. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:10.960 The lack of a child in no way points to a lack of righteousness. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.399 Amen. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:29.039 But even if Zechariah and Elizabeth would read these stories and find some encouragement in them, nonetheless, it doesn't deny the reality that their waiting was very painful. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:41.600 In verse 25, Elizabeth, of her own mouth, describes what this situation and time of barrenness was like by calling it a time of reproach among the people. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:48.480 That for her, this was carrying a disgraceful burden of pain. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:56.320 And even though she knew it wasn't the result of her sin, it didn't make it any less difficult for her to bear. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:00.080 Perhaps in some ways it made it harder to understand. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.799 Do you know what the name Zechariah means? 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.840 It means God has remembered again. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:09.039 Do you know what the name Elizabeth means? 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:18.799 It means God, in my God I trust, or in my God is my favorite. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:26.000 I have to wonder how many times over those decades that those names just felt like a cruel taunt. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.679 Do you remember God? 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:33.200 I've been faithful my whole life. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:35.600 I've kept all the commandments. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:42.559 I've served in your temple, I've served in your synagogues, I've ministered to your people, I've taught your scriptures. 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:44.480 Have you forgotten me? 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.039 How can I trust you? 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:54.399 My family goes all the way back to the tabernacle. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.360 To the very first priest. 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:04.799 There have been generations and generations and generations of faithfulness, and you're just gonna cut it off here. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:15.279 Why does Luke begin the Christmas story here? 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:32.880 I think it's because they are the perfect picture of what it looks like to wait faithfully even when it's painful. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:44.799 And in this couple, this elderly priest with a historic family tree and a righteous wife, we find the story of all of Israel. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:52.559 Here, personified in one couple, is the experience of all of God's people walking the earth right there next to them. 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:55.680 They were oppressed by wicked rulers. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:59.759 There was not a king from the lion of David sitting on the throne. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:04.559 They were bent under the weight of personal sadness and tragedy in their lives. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:11.119 And the decades of Zechariah and Elizabeth's barrenness are now stretching back centuries. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:25.039 God's people waiting, always waiting for the fulfillment of promises whose echoes seem to be disappearing into forgotten whispers. 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:28.079 Does God remember us? 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:30.559 Is he really going to come? 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:33.200 It's been 400 years. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:37.920 400 years since God had spoken to them by sending a prophet. 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:45.519 400 years since Malachi had last told them on behalf of God that his salvation is going to come. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:46.720 Just wait. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:51.839 And before it comes, before the Messiah appears, he's going to send a prophet. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.319 And that prophet is going to come like Elijah. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:57.839 And he's going to bring the people and make ready a path for the Lord. 00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:59.359 Just wait. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:03.839 It's been 400 years. 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.839 Has God forgotten? 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:09.519 Is his promise still to be trusted? 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:11.759 Is salvation ever going to come? 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:17.680 When Christmas begins, Luke reminds us with waiting. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:31.839 Trust in God's promises even when waiting is hard. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:38.480 And God remembers. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:50.400 And in his perfect time, in his perfect way, he will bring every one of his promises to pass. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:57.039 And Zechariah is about to learn that lesson. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:06.079 Verse 8, it just so happened to be Zechariah's turn to go and serve in the temple in Jerusalem with his division. 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:08.559 Probably something he'd done lots of times. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:18.640 Now, while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:23.279 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:31.759 This is probably something Zechariah had done countless times before, a few times a year for several decades, he'd gone down there. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:34.000 But this time it was different. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:42.160 This time old Zechariah was chosen for a very special job inside of the temple to enter inside and to burn the incense. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:48.880 There were thousands of priests all over Israel, and there were just as many jobs to be done in the temple. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:55.759 And who knows how many times Zechariah had gone down there and fulfilled his duty and reached into the old bingo balls. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:59.519 Zechariah, you're on goat duty. 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.440 The goats are over there. 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:03.119 Um, have fun. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:06.319 Or how times he came down there, he pulled it out. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:11.680 Oh, Zechariah, you are on burning the entrails outside of the city duty this week. 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:12.400 It's great. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:15.039 There are shovels in the back, further back. 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:16.559 You'll find them. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:23.200 How many times he had gone and been faithful in discharging his duties, but now, oh now it's the big time. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.240 Right? 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:28.240 His name gets drawn to go into the temple and to burn the incense. 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:36.960 It is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because once a priest had had their name drawn to do this job, they were never allowed to do it again. 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:38.559 That was how special it was. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.799 A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:43.839 And I bet all of his friends thought, hey, good for old Zach. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:50.000 You know, I mean, he's juggling along, and this is a good way to finish off a long career. 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.599 It's good for the resume. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:55.599 I mean, I still think maybe he's a sinner, but you know, I'm happy for him. 00:21:56.559 --> 00:22:04.160 And so when the appropriate time came in verse 10, Zechariah enters the The temple and all the other priests and all the people stayed outside and they prayed. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:06.079 And that's kind of the whole point of the incense. 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.440 That was what it was there to do. 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:16.960 The sweet smelling smoke served as a symbol of all the prayers of God's people ascending to the Lord, where he would receive them and delight in them. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:25.359 And if you remember that diagram that some sweet Sunday school teacher showed you so many years ago, if you got into the temple building, there were two parts to it. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:33.680 There was the holy place, and that was where you found the temple of the showbread, and that's where you saw the menorah and the candle la and all the light was there. 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.799 And right? 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.839 Almost no one ever got to go inside there. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:42.559 It was just one guy that got his name drawn to go in and do it. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:23:00.000 And then there was a second place, the Holy of Holies, and there sat the Ark of the Covenant, on top of which was the mercy seat of God, where God's presence was manifested in its most profound way on the earth. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:03.119 And no one gets to go in there. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:14.559 Only once a year was the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place opened once a year that one high priest could go in and he could sprinkle the blood and skedaddle. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:18.160 And here's Zechariah. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:35.759 And he comes in and he gets to stand at the altar of incense, right in front of the curtain, feet away from the Holy of Holies, bringing the prayers of God's people before the Lord. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:45.759 And as he stands there, verse 11, an angel of the Lord appeared standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:50.559 It really wouldn't be a Christmas story without unexpected visitors dropping by. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:53.200 And this was certainly unexpected. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:24:00.240 It had been almost 500 years since the last time anyone had ever seen one of God's angels inside of his temple. 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:06.640 That was years ago when another Zechariah, the prophet Zechariah, had seen an angel in that exact same spot. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:11.599 And you gotta admit, God has got a literally glorious sense of dramatic irony. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:17.599 And Zechariah responds basically the way all of us would respond if we saw an angel. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.799 He's terrified. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.720 That's the appropriate response. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:25.119 Verse 12 Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:28.079 That is what you do when an angel shows up. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:36.559 And so the angel does what the angel does when an angel shows up and says, Do not be afraid, which I have to assume is covered on like day one of angel training. 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:38.960 Like all the rookie angels are like, listen, here's the deal. 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:42.480 You gotta tell them not to be afraid, otherwise, they're not gonna listen to anything else you say. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:43.119 Alright? 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:45.920 And so the angel says, Don't be afraid. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.880 Alright? 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:54.720 For your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:25:07.920 So apparently, when Zechariah entered into the temple, symbolically carrying all of the prayers of the people of God, he he brought one in for himself too. 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:10.240 And I can't say I blame him. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:19.440 If I was given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enter into the holy place and to give God all of the prayers, I would bring one for myself. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:26.720 And he learns once and for all that God really does remember. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:32.400 Now, Luke doesn't spell out for us exactly what Zechariah prayed for. 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:43.519 And admittedly, most of the commentaries will say that Zechariah was probably praying for a son because after all, Gabriel says the Lord heard your prayer and you're gonna have a son. 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:46.079 So I want to admit that makes a lot of sense. 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:51.440 But I think, personally, it's more likely that he was praying for something else. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:58.400 When you get to verse 18, it's pretty obvious that Zechariah was not expecting a son to be the answer to his prayer. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:00.319 That was not what he was anticipating to hear. 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:05.759 He's like, hey, angel, I think maybe you got the wires, the holy spiritual wires crossed a little bit, something's wrong. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:13.759 And the whole point, the whole point of Zechariah in this story is that he is the very model of faithfulness. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:16.640 He is the very picture of obedience. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:19.119 He always did his duty. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:26.799 And my guess is that when he went into the holy place, he was there fulfilling his duty, because that's what he always did, Zechariah. 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:35.039 And I think he went in there and he offered the prayers of the people, and he prayed the same prayer that they were praying for outside. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.799 God, bring your salvation. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:40.400 God, rescue your people. 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:43.519 God, end our suffering. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:46.000 That's what I think he was praying. 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:53.599 Now I think he's genuinely surprised to find out that a son is part of the deal. 00:26:55.279 --> 00:27:01.200 But either way, whether he's praying for a son and he gets salvation, or he's praying for salvation and he gets a son, it's a package deal. 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:04.319 And this son is going to be special. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.359 Right? 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:11.359 Verse 14, he is going to bring you joy and gladness, and many people are going to rejoice at his birth. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:11.759 Okay? 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.279 That happens to a lot of parents. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:15.039 But not verse 15. 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:17.759 He will be great before the Lord. 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:20.720 Now that is underselling it a bit, there angel. 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:32.960 Remember in Matthew 11, Jesus says, in fact, point of order, for every person who's ever been born, from any woman from the beginning of time up till this point, none of them are greater than John. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:35.839 So I'm saying, yeah, he's gonna be great before the Lord. 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:41.440 And it says here that in verse 15, he goes on, he'll be set apart. 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.960 He's gonna be holy for God's service. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:47.119 He's never gonna be defiled by drink, he's never gonna be defiled by action. 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:56.319 And from the time he's in his mother's womb, he's gonna be filled with the Holy Spirit, empowering him to do a great and mighty work on behalf of God. 00:27:56.480 --> 00:28:02.079 God is gonna give this young boy, John, a mighty task to fulfill. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:09.440 And that task, verse 16 and 17, is that he is going to prepare the people for their Messiah. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:24.240 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before them in the spirit and the power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.359 Do you get it? 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:28.079 John's an advent prophet. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:30.240 That's what he does. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:35.039 He preaches repentance from sin and preparation for salvation. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.720 That's what he does. 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:42.400 Zechariah and Elizabeth will have a son named John, and he's gonna be the one that Malachi promised. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:44.559 The prophet who would prepare the way for Jesus. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:46.079 God does remember. 00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:54.400 That is the whole hope of Advent, that God is faithful to come and faithful to his promise of salvation. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:29:00.240 It's been more than 400 years, absolutely, since God made his promise to send the prophet to prepare the way for salvation. 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:05.279 But you know, God never forgets his prayers, his promises. 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:16.880 It's been more than a thousand years since God had promised to David that one of his sons was going to come and sit on the throne and rule in righteousness for all eternity. 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:21.200 But God never forgets his prayer, his promises. 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:35.519 It's been 1,500 years since God had made his promise to Moses that he would send another deliverer, a greater deliverer, like Moses, who would rescue his people from an even greater exodus. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:39.680 But God never forgets his promises. 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:54.240 It's been more than 2,000 years since God looked at another childless, elderly man and said, Abraham, I'm gonna give you a son. 00:29:55.359 --> 00:30:06.640 I'm gonna make your son a nation, a mighty nation with princes and kings, and I will be their God, and they will be my people, and they will bring blessing to the whole world. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:10.000 And God never forgets his promise. 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:42.880 Since God had looked into the eyes of Adam and Eve and promised that I will send the seed of the Lord, and he will come and he will crush the head of the serpent, and he will undo the curse, and he will take away your sin, and he will put death to death, and God never forgets his promise. 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:48.240 That's the hope of Advent. 00:30:48.960 --> 00:31:05.759 That God will bring his salvation just as he promised, and neither time nor tyrants, nor tragedies, nor trials, nothing, neither height, nor depth, nor anything is going to stop God's faithfulness to his promises. 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:10.400 But that's a lesson that Zechariah has to learn the hard way. 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:17.039 Because you see in verse 18, Zechariah hears all this good news about a son and salvation, he's a little bit overwhelmed. 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:22.960 And instead of leaning on God's faithfulness, which he had done for his entire life up to that point, he slips into disbelief. 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:30.559 Listen, angel, no offense, but you're gonna have to give me some proof because this is just too incredulous to believe. 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:34.160 Because, you know, I'm pretty old, and my wife, you know, just between you and me, she's no spring chicken. 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:41.279 And listen, I how do I know, how do I know that this is actually gonna happen the way you said it is? 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:45.440 I mean, old Zachariah went from fearful to feisty pretty fast, right? 00:31:46.720 --> 00:32:01.119 And I cannot imagine the amount of chutzpah it takes to stand in the temple and to look the angel of God in the eye, or eyes, and say to him, you know what? 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.319 I don't buy it. 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:05.839 And some people wonder if there's sarcasm in the Bible. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:09.759 Listen, that's how I read the angel's response. 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:19.680 I imagine him blinking his four pairs of eyeballs a couple times, and then responding, I am Gabriel. 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:28.559 I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:32.640 Zechariah's like, hey, how can I trust you? 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:36.880 And the angel's response is basically, do you know who you're talking to? 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:41.920 I mean, he's one of only two holy angels that's named in the Bible, the other one's Michael. 00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:43.599 This is Gabriel. 00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.400 All right? 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:49.440 The same Gabriel that showed up and spoke to Daniel in captivity. 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:55.440 The same Gabriel who in just a few months is going to go visit Mary and announce to her the miracle that she's gonna bear in her womb. 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:59.359 And by the way, Mary takes the news a lot more gracefully than Zechariah does. 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:01.920 And Gabriel's like, You want a sign? 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:03.279 Oh, I'll give you a sign. 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:14.960 Verse 20, and behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time. 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:19.519 And here I think you're seeing another answer to prayer. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:36.559 Because not only does God answer Zachariah's prayer to bring salvation and a son, here we see God preventing Zechariah from speaking the whole nine months of his wife's pregnancy, which was probably one of Elizabeth's prayers. 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:45.440 And I know that's funny, but there's something that is absolutely serious about this event. 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:54.480 Something that is absolutely serious about the chastisement of Zachariah's punishment. 00:33:57.599 --> 00:34:01.680 And that is that God is going to fulfill his promise. 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:05.839 And it's a classic example of the punishment fitting the crime. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.920 Gabriel says, Well, you want to be dumb. 00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:09.280 There you go. 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:16.079 And even though Zechariah's words fail, God's never will. 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:26.960 Personally, I'm very grateful that the Bible is filled with imperfect saints being held fast by a perfect Savior. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:35.280 Because it helps me to remember that the grounding of every one of God's promises is always in him and never in me. 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:37.920 How do I know that God is actually gonna keep his word? 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:38.559 How do I know? 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:40.559 How can I trust that God is actually gonna do these things? 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:42.800 Because God is the one who's made the promise. 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:47.199 How do I know that even though my sins are like scarlet, he will make them white as snow? 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:49.760 Because God never forgets his promises. 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:56.639 How do I know that when Jesus says, I'm gonna go and prepare a place for you and I'm gonna come back to get you, how do I know he's gonna do that? 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:58.639 Because God never forgets his promises. 00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:07.599 How do I know that the one who began a good work in me is gonna be faithful to complete it all the way to the day of Christ Jesus? 00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:09.519 Because God never forgets his promises. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:17.360 How do I know that one day he is going to come in the clouds and take me to be with him? 00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:21.440 Because God never forgets his promises. 00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:25.440 They depend on him, not me. 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:33.360 We do advent blocks at our house in the month of December for our December devotionals, little advent blocks. 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:44.800 And if we had to wait until we had lived the day perfectly in obedience before we could turn the block, we'd never make it to day one. 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:52.079 But praise be to God that his promises rest on his faithfulness and not ours. 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:58.719 I think Zechariah is a picture to remind us that God is more faithful than we are. 00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:08.000 Advent encourages faithfulness in our waiting because God's faithfulness is never ending. 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:17.360 Luke wraps up this part of the story with a couple of scenes that seem pretty humorous to me. 00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:24.960 The people are outside waiting and praying for Zechariah to come out, and he doesn't. 00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:28.960 It's been a while. 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:33.920 You know, I mean, he is kind of old. 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:37.039 You don't think, you know, right? 00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:40.079 I mean, that's pretty funny. 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:49.199 And then here he comes and can't speak, which I imagine caused everyone else to talk a whole bunch. 00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:52.320 Somehow communicates to them what's going on. 00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:59.679 They realize it says that he had seen a vision in the temple, but they don't really know what it is yet, and he keeps making signs to them and remains mute. 00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:03.039 And then he returns home. 00:37:03.199 --> 00:37:08.559 And he has to explain all of this to his wife, and he can't talk, which I think was probably fun. 00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:10.480 It involved a lot of nodding. 00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:15.760 But then Luke tells us that just like God promised, Elizabeth conceives a child. 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:21.280 And all the joy and the gladness that Gabriel had predicted comes to pass. 00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:30.239 And it replaces all of the reproach, all of the shame, all of the sadness that had come before it. 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:37.199 And then Elizabeth knows she can trust her fate to the Lord. 00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:40.480 No, we call this time of year Advent. 00:37:41.199 --> 00:37:45.519 And we make it a point to pause and be intentional with our waiting for the coming of Christmas. 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:46.400 And that's a good thing to do. 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:48.079 My kids are excited about it. 00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:52.239 But in actuality, the whole of the Christian life is Advent. 00:37:53.199 --> 00:37:58.480 Every day we live in the light of one coming in the anticipation of another. 00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:11.599 And Peter reminds us as we wait that the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:21.599 And listen, friends, if you're here this morning, and you've never heard Zechariah's son's message. 00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:29.519 You've never repented from your sins and made way for the Lord to come into your heart. 00:38:29.920 --> 00:38:45.679