Sermon Manuscript

[Video:  “The Characters of Christmas - Bumper” - 0:30]

Imagine a world filled with darkness.  (Pause)

[Lights go out.  Spotlight remains.]

A world filled with desperation.  A world filled with despair.  A world where oppression and injustice is the norm.  And liberation and freedom is your only desire.  A world where nations rule with power and leaders control their people by force.  A world where you long for prosperity and significance but have learned to settle with pain, suffering, sickness, and disease.  A world where you long to be close to God but He feels distant and unresponsive.  And as a result you feel hopeless, helpless, powerless, and defenseless.

If you can imagine such a world you can relate to people who lived within what is referred to as the Intertestamental Period.  The Interestamental Period is the 400 years between what we call the Old Testament and the New Testament.  At the end of the Old Testament in Malachi 4:5-6 God had made a promise to His people.  He had said, “Behold, there will come a day in which I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.  And when he comes he will turn your hearts back to Me so that I don’t strike the land and completely destroy it.”  It would be the final words God gave to His people for 400 years.  Four centuries.

And during that time a lot happened.  Around 350 B.C. Alexander the Great was born and by the age of 20 he rose to power and became king.  For the next 12 years he would conquer the known world and then die suddenly at the age of only 32.  Defeating the Persian Empire and creating an empire of his own which stretched from Europe to the Middle East and to Asia.  And in doing so spread Greek culture and influence throughout the Mediterranean world.  But when he died his kingdom was divided and given to his commanding officers.  One of them, a general, named Seleucus Nicator formed the Seleucid Empire which stretched from the Mediterranean Sea on the west to modern-day Afghanistan in the east.  It was formed in 312 B.C. and this empire lasted for 250 years until 63 B.C. or about 59 years before Jesus was born.

The Seleucid Empire had several leaders but the most famous of which was probably its third leader.  A guy by the name of Antiochus IV Epiphanes who began persecuting the Jews.  This led to a revolt known as the Maccabean revolt between 167 and 160 B.C.  It was led by a man named Judah Macabee who recaptured Jerusalem, purified the Temple of all foreign gods, and reestablished the worship of Yahweh.  The Maccabean Revolt was important and significant because it restored Jewish religious freedom and is still celebrated today through the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.  This Maccabean revolt also led to the Hasmonean Dynasty.

The Hasmoneans rulers were those who descended from the leaders of the Maccabean Revolt.  But they began to alienate much of the population by combining the role of king and priest.  This is key.  Because it would be like if in Italy the Pope was also elected as President.  And many of the Jews believed combining these two roles was sinful and wrong.  Equal to blasphemy.  

One of the Hasmonean rulers named John Hyrancus expanded the empire by conquering the region of Idumea.  He then forced the entire population to become Jewish and be circumcised in the process.  Including those who were royalty in Idumea.  And one of the men who was forced to become Jewish was a man named Antipater who used his new Jewish nationality to create a pathway for political gain.  Both for himself and his sons.  Including a son named Herod.  And it is this Herod who was King of Judah and living in Jerusalem when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

You see this was the world Jesus was born into.  A world filled with darkness.  A world in need of help.  A world searching for hope.  And it was into this world that the Light of the World was born.  It was into this world that the Light of the World was shown.  

[Lights come up to normal levels.]

Today we’re going to meet two of the characters of the Christmas story.  A couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth.  A couple who were living in darkness until the day when they were given a special message.  A message from God!  After 4 centuries of darkness God was now ready to once again speak to His people.  And through this message God revealed to them that He was going to use them in a special way.  He was going to end His silence and speak to His people in a brand new way.  He was going to bring hope to His people like never before.  So let’s examine their story, see how it relates to our own, and learn how we can find hope too.

If you have your Bibles, turn with me now to the book of Luke chapter 1.  Today we are going to be in verses 5-25.  If you would like to follow along with us online you can do so by using our app.  It’s called Church Center and we use it each week.  So if you open it up and click on Sunday Services followed by Message Notes you will find everything that you need.

This morning we begin a brand new series of messages called The Characters of Christmas.  And over the next few weeks leading up to Christmas we’re going to examine the people who were a part of that first Christmas story, discover what they were experiencing when Jesus came into our world, and then consider what that means for us.  Because the truth is that this time of year is filled with many emotions.  Some of us are experiencing pain and suffering.  Others joy and laughter.  But there is someone within the story who represents you.  There is someone that you are going to be able to relate to and to appreciate.  And when you discover who that is you’re going to find a message from God.  A message He wants to speak to you no matter what you are experiencing right now.  So as we re-examine this familiar story, look for the people who best represent where you are right now.  Learn from them.  Listen to them.  And find yourself within the Christmas story.  Because when you do you will find Jesus.  Because Jesus came into our world to meet the needs of these people.  People like you and people like me.

Let’s get started.  In Luke chapter 1, beginning in verse 5, we read:

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Alright.  So stop here for just a moment.  Luke begins this story by giving us a timeframe.  And he says that these events took place during the days of “King Herod”.  Remember King Herod took the throne at the end of the Hasmonean Dynasty.  He did so with the help of the Romans in 37 B.C.  And during his 33 year reign he was an incredible builder who changed the face of the area of Palestine forever.  But he was also a wicked and evil man who executed three of his sons, his wife, and all of his political rivals.  Later he will also execute all babies two years and younger in Bethlehem when he is told by the Magi that a King of the Jews has been born.  Luke doesn’t mention any of these details here but this is the same man.  He will die in 4 B.C.  The same year that Jesus will be born.

And it is in those days, the final days of this man’s life, that there was a couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth.  Both are “righteous before God”.  This means that they live right before God and according to His Law.  Zechariah was a priest and Elizabeth was from the priestly line of Aaron.  So this couple comes from a Godly background or lineage and they have been living their lives for the Lord.  Walking in obedience to Him.  Walking “blamelessly in all of the commandments” of God according to verse 6.  But there was a problem here.  Because Elizabeth was barren and they were both “advanced in years.”  The original word here means that they were likely over 60 years old at this time.

Before we go any further I think we need to recognize how big of a deal this really was.  Zechariah and Elizabeth are living in a day and age in which children were expected to take care of their parents in their final years of life.  They were living in a time in which there was no special security.  No retirement plans.  Nobody had a Roth IRA or a 401K.  So they relied upon their children to take care of them as they got older.  But what do you do when you have no children?  Suddenly you are at the mercy of your culture and society and you have to depend upon complete strangers to provide for you and care for you and give you food and the basic needs of life.  This is the situation they were living within.  They were living within a world filled with darkness, desperation, and despair.  And they knew it.

And I think they represent the people of Israel as well.  Because the name Zechariah means “The Lord remembers” and Elizabeth means “God is my promise.”  So this couple, just like the people of Israel, are desperately waiting for the Lord to remember them and to remember the promises He made to His people.  They would have prayed daily asking, “God, when will you remember us?  And when will you remember Your people?  We are counting on you to take care of us and to provide for us.  We have given our lives to You!  When will You do what You promised to do?  When will You give to us what we need?  We are desperate for You!!!!”

Let’s continue.  Verse 8:

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 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.”

OK.  So as a priest Zechariah’s job was to praise God, minister to God, and to offer sacrifices.  And he would have done that within his local synagogue.  However, when his division was given the privilege of serving at the Temple in Jerusalem he was chosen.  This was a big, big, deal.  Some estimate that there may have been as many as 18,000.  So Zechariah was chosen out of a pool of 18,000 candidates to go to Jerusalem and to offer incense twice a day for two weeks.  During both the morning and evening sacrifices.  It was truly the chance of a lifetime.

So he goes and serves.  And he is permitted to go into the Holy of Holies to offer this incense.  The Holy of Holies was the innermost part of the Temple.  It was the place where God dwelled.  Only one priest could go there once a year.  And also at this time he was the only one permitted to be in the Temple.  So everyone else is outside praying during the hour of incense.

And in that moment something amazing takes place.  An angel appears on the right side of the altar.  And Zechariah was afraid when he saw him.  So the angel says what most angels say when they come into the presence of a human being, “Don’t be afraid.”  But then he continues and he says, “For God has heard your prayers and the prayers of Elizabeth.  You will have joy and gladness because of him and many will rejoice at his birth for he will be great before the Lord.  And so he must take the Nazarite vow from birth and not drink alcohol because he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.  But guess what?  God is not only going to answer your prayers but also the prayers of His people.  Because your son will be given the spirit and power of Elijah and he will turn many back to God and prepare God’s people to meet Him!!!”

Wow.  Incredible!  What a moment!  A moment in which Zechariah, this godly man and priest, is told that God has heard his prayers and will answer them.  God is going to provide a son for him and for his wife.  God is going to provide everything that this man needs through this child.  And if that wasn’t enough God is also going to use his child to minister to God’s people.  Zechariah’s son is going to be great before God and his son will be used to prepare the way for God’s Son!

What an amazing moment!  If only Zechariah, this righteous man, could have trusted God and believed Him.  But he didn’t.  Because here’s what happens next.  Verse 18:

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

Alright.  So think about this.  When Zechariah, a righteous man and a priest of God, when given a message about the greatest miracle that has ever taken place in his entire life, responds not with gratitude or excitement but in doubt.  Because he says, “How can I know this will really take place?  For I am an old man and my wife is ‘advanced in years’.  You see we’re both as ‘old as dirt’ and between the two of us we’ve got more candles than a cake shop!  So how is this even possible?”  And apparently that really upset the angel.  Good to know.  Note to self.  If you ever meet an angel don’t question him!  He’s been given a message from God to deliver to you and he doesn’t want to hear about your little questions.  

Here, this one, says, “Listen up, bud.  My name is Gabriel and I stand in the presence of God.  You know, the very One, you’ve been speaking to in your prayers.  And I was sent to you to bring you this good news.  And because you questioned me, because you didn’t believe me, because you thought you knew better than me here’s what I’m going to do.  I’m going to give you some time to think about what you just did.  Nine months in fact.  Because you’re not going to be able to speak again until this prophecy has been fulfilled.”

Ouch.  Not fun.  Just try to put yourself into Zechariah’s shoes for a moment.  You’ve just been given the greatest news of your life and now you’re not going to be able to tell anyone yourself.  You’re going to have to go outside and just wave at the people as you run home.  Then you’re going to meet your wife and have to play a long game of Charades or Pictionary and somehow explain to her that you met an angel who told you she was going to have a child.  A baby boy.  Who would provide for them and be great before God.  Who would lead many back to God and prepare the way of the Lord.  I mean.  What was that like?  I don’t know.  Maybe Elizabeth said to Zechariah after she figured out he couldn’t talk and she would be pregnant that, “Wow.  God actually answered two of my prayers!  Amazing!”  I’m not sure what happened there.

But this story comes to a close in verses 24 and 25 in this way.  Luke writes:

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Wow.  What a crazy story!  What a sad story!  Zechariah and Elizabeth, a couple who clearly loved the Lord, clearly obeyed Him, and clearly trusted Him when given an opportunity to put their faith into action failed.  They failed miserably.  And I think that in this sense they represent God’s people in the first-century.  Because when God’s people found out what God was doing and how He was sending His One and only Son into their world they refused to believe.  They chose to doubt.  And in doing so many rejected the message and the miracle God was sending into their world.  You see.  They looked just like Zechariah and Elizabeth.

So what about you?  What about me?  Can you see yourself in this story?  Can you relate to Zechariah and Elizabeth?  Because the story of Christmas is the story of God coming into your world in order to give to you Good News and to offer to you a Son.  God’s Son.  Jesus.  And far too often we look a lot like that couple.  We doubt.  We question.  And we refuse to believe in the promises God has spoken into our lives.  We look like Zechariah and Elizabeth.

A couple in need of hope.  So where do you need hope today?  Where do you feel uncertain about your future and are not sure if God will truly provide for you?  Maybe for some of us we’re dealing with a job issue?  We’re working for a company that’s been talking about layoffs and we don’t know how much longer we’ll be working for them.  We’re in need of hope.  Or maybe it’s a financial issue?  We’re reaching closer to retirement and we don’t have as much saved as we would like or we’ve already reached retirement age but we don’t know if what we have will last?  We’re in need of hope.  Or maybe it’s a physical issue?  We’re dealing with chronic pain and it doesn’t seem to be getting better.  We’re in need of hope.  Or maybe it’s a marital issue and we’re not sure how much longer we can stay together?  Or maybe it’s a mental issue and we’re struggling with depression or fear?  Or maybe it’s a spiritual issue and we just don’t feel as close to God as we once did?  We’re in need of hope.  So where do you need hope today?  Because the truth is that in every single one of our lives all of us are uncertain about the future and unsure of what will happen.  We’re living in darkness and in desperate need of hope.

But the Good News is that God has given to us promises which can bring us hope this Christmas.  Here’s three of them that we learn from Zechariah.  These are also the three blanks on your outline:

The first one is this:  God listens to your prayers.  (So speak to Him.)  When the angel of the Lord first spoke to Zechariah he said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.”  So in that moment Zechariah knew a couple of things.  First of all, this angel knew who he was and who his wife was because he called them by name.  Second, this angel knew what his prayers had been because he said your prayers have been answered and your wife will give birth.  But third, this angel had been sent from God and that meant that God had been listening to his prayers.  Over and over and over again.

Do you know that God hears your prayers too?  Do you understand that when you pray you speak to the Creator of the Universe?  The One who spoke all of life into existence?  Do you know that He has the power to change anything in your life at any moment?  So if you know that then why would you not speak to Him?  Learn from Zechariah’s story.  God listens to your prayers.  So speak to Him!

Second, God answers your prayers.  (So wait on Him.)  When the angel of the Lord spoke to Zechariah he revealed that not only does God listen to our prayers but He has the power to answer them.  It’s been said that when we pray God either says, “Yes, no, or not yet.”  And all of those responses are answers.  God is our Father in Heaven who loves to speak to His children and hear from them.  And when we ask Him for good things the problem is often not that He has said “No” but that He has said “not yet”.  This is what Zechariah and Elizabeth experienced for years.  They prayed and prayed and prayed.  And wondered and wondered, “Is God listening?  Does he even love us?  Why wouldn’t He want to fulfill this very important request?”  And yet all along God was like, “I do!  I do!  You just don’t understand!  I’m going to fulfill your request and make it even better than you could imagine because I’m going to give you a son who will prepare the Way for My Son!  Your son is going to be great and he will prepare the way for Jesus!!!!  So please understand.  Please see the bigger picture.  And the same thing is true in our life as well.  God will answer your prayers.  All of them.  So wait on Him.

And third, God fulfills His promises.  (So believe in Him.)  God always listens to your prayers.  God always answers your prayers.  And God always, always, always fulfills His promises!  And this man should have known that!  Zechariah should have known that!  Because the final words God spoke through Malachi at the end of the Old Testament were a prophecy about how He was going to send Elijah the prophet to His people.  And what did He tell Zechariah about his son?  He said that his name would be John and that he would “go before God Himself in the spirit and power of Elijah”.  In other words, Zechariah’s son was a fulfillment of prophecy!  A fulfillment of the promises that God had made to His people 400 years before!  And so the reason for why Zechariah and Elizabeth had to wait was because God was doing something bigger, something better, something completely unexpected through them!  And through their obedience to Him!  He was using their lives to prepare others to meet Jesus!!!

Incredible!  And the same thing is true in your life and mine.  God always fulfils His promises.  When He says He will do something He will do it.  And often when it takes time it’s because He has bigger and better plans for your life!  He’s doing something behind the scenes that you can’t even imagine!  He’s going to use you and your faith to reach others for Jesus!  He’s going to show others how to be faithful to Him through your obedience!  So don’t ever give up!  Don’t ever lose hope!  Recognize that God’s promises will be fulfilled!  So believe in them!!!

Because Zechariah learned to believe in them.  As his story continues in Luke chapter 1 we find out what happens in the end.  Because Luke tells us that when it came time for Elizabeth to give birth, she gave birth to a son and all of her friends and family rejoiced.  And on the eighth day when it came time to circumcise the child and name the child they asked Zechariah what his name would be.  And Zechariah, who at this point had been silent for nine long months, asked for a tablet and wrote on it, “His name is John.”  And the Bible says that in that moment he immediately began to speak and he immediately began to praise God.  And when he did so it brought fear into the neighbors and everyone heard about that miracle.  They also finally heard the details of what had happened on that day when Zechariah had chosen not to trust in God’s promises.  But they also learned about what God had taught him through the process.  And Luke 1 comes to a close as Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesies over his son.

Zechariah had learned the hard way how to trust in God’s promises.  But will you learn to trust them?  Will you find the hope you’re looking for and trust in God’s promises this Christmas?

Place your hope in the promises of God which are fulfilled in Jesus.

Let’s pray.

[Prayer:  For God to help us to trust in His promise and in His Son this Christmas.]

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