CHRISTMAS IN THE EYES OF ZECHARIAH

Luke 1:5-20

If I were to ask you, what does Christmas really mean to you? How would you respond? Many people would refer to Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year, but the question should still be asked, why? Is it only because of the festive atmosphere with all the beautiful ornaments and decorations? Is it because of all the Christmas parties where your get to enjoy your favorite foods with your friends and loved ones? I know for many of us Christmas can also connect us with our past like the old favorite Christmas songs reminding us of the precious celebrations we have had with our families while we were growing up.

Of course, these are all nice, but we should be careful not to miss on the central meaning of Christmas, which is Christ. Our sermon series, Christmas Perspectives, is geared to help us develop a greater perspective of Christ. I believe we would have a better appreciation of Christmas if we would understand better who Christ is and what He has done for us.

Last Sunday, Pastor Steve shared the word that came through the prophet Isaiah. He emphasized several names for Christ that speak of what He is able to continually contribute into our lives. He is our:

• Wonderful Counselor
• Mighty God
• Everlasting Father
• Prince of Peace

I hope you understood exactly the specific applications of these names into your lives. This morning I would like us to revisit the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1. When Dr. Luke had the opportunity to record the first advent of Christ, he did not start with Mary and Joseph; he started with Zechariah and Elizabeth. What is so special with this couple that Dr. Luke will include them in the Christmas story? What did they discover about Christ, the promised Messiah that we need to also understand today? Let's follow their story by looking at what God has done for them:

I     GOD BREAKS HIS SILENCE: (vs. 5-12)

Beginning in verse 5, we are introduced to Zechariah who was a priest married to Elizabeth who also came from the priestly line of Aaron. Both of them were serious in their relationship with God that they have tried their best to be obedient to all of God's commandments (v.6). Despite their faithfulness, God seemed to have withheld the blessing of a child (v.7). For many years, they have prayed to God to give them a child, but God remained silent until Elizabeth has passed the age of child bearing.

It is hard for us to imagine the disappointments and the lonely struggles they both had to go through for being childless. Just like today, people have often misunderstood infertility. During Bible times, to be childless brought a lot of shame and sorrow to a couple because having children is looked upon as God's blessing to the couple, so being childless would mean that God was withholding the blessing because of a hidden sin, and as long as childlessness continued, they must be still guilty. But Luke shows us this was not the case: "Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly (v.6)."

Then, one ordinary day while Zechariah was actively burning incense in the temple, (the burning of incense signified the bringing of prayers to God) God breaks his silence and sends angel Gabriel to make the announcement that He has finally heard their prayers. He would give them a son. All of the sudden, the ordinary day just turned into a very special day.

But, not only for Zechariah, this was also very significant for the entire nation of Israel. If you follow their history, because of their consistent disobedience, God had stopped sending them prophets. After the prophet Malachi, God has not given them any word, any message for about 400 years. Often, these became known as the 400 silent years. Theologians refer to this time as the Inter-Testamental period. This is the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament. There were no Bible books written during these times because God was silent.

It is definitely to man's disadvantage if God remains silent. We consistently need God's guidance and direction. Without them, we will be destroyed. The prophet Hosea once said:

We cannot afford being ignorant of God's will. Praise God because to Zechariah God has promised that another prophet will be raised. He would be their child and they ought to name him John. He would prepare the way for God ultimate communication that is Jesus Christ. He will be God's living Word. One of His purposes is to reveal the Father like no other. The author of the book of Hebrews expounds this truth:

Do you want to hear from God? Do you want to know God? God is no longer silent today. He is speaking to us through Jesus. He is the perfect revelation of God to us.

II    GOD BIRTHS THE SUPERNATURAL: (vs. 13-20)

God is a God of miracles and He specializes in impossible situations. Zechariah who by now has already given up hope of having children will receive a special promise from God that they would have a son, and he would play a very important role in the life of the promised Messiah. In verse 17, you will find God's purpose for his life:

A. "He will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah"

John the Baptist was the Lord's forerunner, announcing His coming in the spirit and power of Elijah. Clearly, John was a clear fulfillment of the prophecy given by prophet Malachi.

God made a promise in the Old Testament, now He is fulfilling it.

B. "To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous"

The turning of hearts refers to John's message of repentance. He will call people to abandon their life of sin in order to surrender to the Messiah.

C. "To make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

When the Messiah appears as the Redeemer of the world, everyone must also be prepared to respond to Him. It is really God's desire that they recognize Him when He comes. Unfortunately, despite God initiatives, many still failed to acknowledge Him.

This was truly an exciting message to Zechariah. However, Zechariah would struggle to believe what the angel had just told him. In verse 18, Zechariah verbalizes his doubts - "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

It is not hard to understand why Zechariah would have that question. It is not logical, it is close to impossible. But then, He should have recognized that the message came from God, and with God nothing is impossible. Because of his unbelief, he would be disciplined. He would not be able to speak until their child is born.

Unlike Zechariah, Mary had a remarkable faith. When she was told by the same angel that though she was a virgin, she would have a son, she believed. Later, it would be commented about her:

Just like John, the birth of Jesus was a supernatural birth. I hope we won't miss the message. Millard J. Erickson puts it clearly in his Christian Theology book:

". . . God was able to work the seemingly impossible in the matter of the virgin birth symbolizes his ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of granting a new birth to sinners. As Jesus himself said in regard to salvation: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt.19:26).

III   GOD BRINGS HIS SALVATION: (vs. 57-80)

As we finish the story, Zechariah and Elizabeth would finally welcome their baby into the world. God had fulfilled His promise. On the eight day, the relatives came to celebrate with the couple and follow the custom of circumcision. It was also the day they would officially give the baby a name. The relatives suggested that he be named after his father, Zechariah. When Elizabeth heard this, she immediately told them that the name should be John. But the relatives did not like the idea because no one within their families was named John. So, to settle the dispute, they turn to Zechariah. He asked them for a tablet to write the name, and when he finally wrote John, the Lord opened his mouth and he was able to speak. Amazingly, as soon as he was able to speak, he spoke his praises to God. His praises is recorded beginning in verse 67-80.

Examining his praises, the central message would be exalting God for providing salvation to sinful humanity. Three important characteristics of this salvation:

A. It fulfills the prophecies - "as he said through his holy prophets of long ago (v.70)"

God had consistently used the prophet to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. In the Old Testament, there are more than 300 of such prophecies. One familiar prophecy is Isaiah 7:14:

Evidently, the prophecies were meant to be a sign. A sign because they will point people to the real Messiah. Again, they should have helped people recognize Jesus Christ.

B. It fulfills a covenant - "to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham (vs.72-73)"

Part of the covenant of Abraham was the promise that the Messiah will come from his family. God has fulfilled that promised. All of these fulfillments ought to convince us that God could be trusted. When He makes a promise, He never abandons them. No one would be saved unless he or she is willing to believe in God.

C. It fulfills deliverance - "salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us (v. 71) . . . to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear (v.74)."

What a great statement! Since we are the object of God's special love, Satan wants to destroy us. Knowing he is no match for God, the only way he can hurt God is to destroy us. However, God is able to protect us and deliver us against him through Jesus Christ.

Do you have Jesus in your life? Christmas is a great time to remind all of us about having Jesus in our life. I would encourage us to make sure we have Jesus. If we are not sure, open your heart and pray to receive Him today. The best about this salvation through Jesus Christ is that all is by grace. That's the reason why Zechariah was told that the baby should be named John. This name literally means Jehovah is gracious. It is never by our own merit that we will be saved, it is all by the merits of Jesus Christ. All of us can be accepted by God when we go to Him through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).