The Birth of John

Few books of the Bible have more debate about when they were actually written than Isaiah. Some scholars write that the prophecies as so specific that they could not have been written before the events, so they claim that book was actually written after the events.

I believe that since an all-knowing God inspired Isaiah to record his prophecies that there is no problem dating the book in 8th century B.C. So some 800 years before the first Christmas the prophet wrote:

Isaiah 9:2 ESV:2016

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Matthew 4 records this very portion of Isaiah as Jesus leaves the wilderness, after his fasting and temptation by Satan, to begin His public ministry.

But today we also live in darkness. Believers and irreligious alike admit that things are not as they should be. Whether you believe it is time to “make America great again” or you are convinced that America has never been great. All can agree that agree that we hope and long for a brighter future.

Today’s text tells us that Christ turns darkness to light and that this message must be told. Last week we discovered that Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s house during the 6th month of John’s pregnancy. Verse 56 tells us that Mary went home after a 3 month visit which brings us to today’s text.

John’s Arrival brings Joy (vv.57-58)

Luke 1:57–58 ESV:2016

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

1. We saw a few weeks ago that God had heard the prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth and promised that her barrenness would end and that she would conceive a son.

2. Gabriel promised that John would be great before the Lord and that he would prepare many for the coming of the Lord.

3. V. 58 instructs that when friends and neighbors heard of John’s arrival that they attributed this child to the Lord’s great mercy and that it prompted joy.

Transition: a week passes and we pick up the story with a Jewish ritual.

John’s Naming brings Wonder (vv.59-66)

Luke 1:59–66 ESV:2016

59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

1. Especially after recognizing this boy as a result of God’s mercy, it would make sense to name him Zechariah (the Lord remembers), but this is a special child and deserves a special name.

2. Elizabeth remains faithful to Gabriel’s instructions in 1:13 and names him John (God is gracious).

3. The crowd appeals to Zechariah expecting him to exercise veto over Elizabeth’s name. Zechariah emphatically agrees with the name John. And, even though the crowd still wondered, Zechariah’s speech returned as a sign that his discipline was complete.

4. The miraculous timing of his healing caused even more rumors about how special this baby would be.

Transition: Just as the previous section starts with a story then turn into an inspired song, the story of John’s birth and naming now turns to another prophetic song. Mary’s song is called the Magnificat because her soul magnified the Lord. This is called the Benedictus because Zechariah blesses the Lord.

Jesus’ Arrival Transforms Darkness to Light (vv.67-79)

Luke 1:67–75 ESV:2016

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Spirit Filling enables Proclamation (v.67)

1. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?

2. Some attach filling to a feeling. Some attach filling to miraculous deeds.

3. Throughout both Luke & Acts the historian connects filling with telling.

Spirit Filling emboldens Faith (v.68)

1. Even before the trip to Bethlehem by Joseph and Mary, while Jesus is still in utero, Zechariah speaks of what God has done (past tense).

Transition: Zechariah begins by lamenting the darkness, then turns to the hope of light.

The Despair of Darkness (Luke 1:69-75)

Darkness of Silence (v.70, 72-73)

1. As Zechariah’s voice returns (v.64) he is acutely aware of what has been spoken.

a. Prophecies in v.70

b. Promises & Covenants in v.72

c. Oath in v.73

2. How many of you have heard the phrase “Where there is no vision, the people perish”? We tend to think of vision in terms of goals or some outcome to pursue. What if I told you that the Hebrew word in this verse literally means “word that is revealed from beyond” or revelation?

Proverbs 29:18 ESV:2016

18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

3. How many problems do we encounter because people act as if God has not spoken?

Someone once said that our law books have thousands of pages because we can’t keep 10 commands.

4. We have neighbors, family, and even we ourselves frequently ignore the clear instruction of God’s Word and live as if we are in silence

Ten years ago, a song began to get quite a bit of play on Christian radio. The chorus of the song was:

Give me revelation, Show me what to do.

Cause I’ve been tryin’ to find my way and I haven’t got a clue.

Tell me should I stay here, or do I need to go?

Give me revelation, I’ve got nothing without You.

5. Yes, there are times in our lives when God appears to be presently silent. Sometimes we want God to be like a GPS that provides turn-by-turn navigation, when His Word acts more like a Compass that points us in the right direction.

a. When God told Abraham to leave, He didn’t’ tell Him where to go or what route to take. He said “Go” and I’ll tell you where to stop.

b. When the Pillar of cloud/fire led the Hebrews, it simply said “stay close to me and I’ll let you know when it is time to stop.”

c. When the Magi left the East they did not know they would end up in a house in Judea.

6. We despair in silence when we live as if God has not spoken.

Transition: Not only does Christ deliver us from the darkness of silence, but also…

Darkness of Sin (v.68b, 74b-75)

1. V. 68 speaks of redemption. Redemption is the buying out of bondage.

a. The Hebrews learned redemption when they were delivered from the Egyptians.

b. Later in Romans 6-8, the Apostle Paul will refer to sin as our master. It is an understanding that the curse of the fall that has fallen upon all of us leaves us in bondage. Apart from the gracious enablement of God’s spirit, we cannot not sin.

c. Paul describe the darkness of sin in these terms

Romans 7:21–24 ESV:2016

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

d. Paul then goes on to write that it is only the Gospel of Jesus Christ that can emancipate us from those dark, heavy chains.

2. Vv.74-75 speak of the life we long for. Because of Adam’s sin and our choices we find ourselves in darkness, but we long for something different. Luke writes that God’s Redeemer makes it possible to escape bondage and experience freedom from fear so that we can live the way God intended in holiness and righteousness.

Transition: Zechariah then speaks of a 3rd darkness…

Darkness of Slander (v.69,71,74)

1. The horn in v.69 is the picture of an Ox who butts away a predator. God has provided One who pushes away our enemies.

2. 71a & 74 speak of being saved from our enemies

3. 71b speaks of being saved from those who hate us.

The two terms, our enemies, and them that hate us, cannot be altogether synonymous. The former denotes the foreign heathen oppressors; the latter would embrace also the native tyrants, Herod and his party, so odious to true Israelites.[i] -- Frédéric Louis Godet

4. God’s people have always had enemies foreign and domestic, who made obedience to God difficult.

5. There are many who may not physically interfere with your faith, but their hate influences your ability to love them and robs you of joy. Their hate is like a thick wet blanket over your light of peace.

Transition: In v.76 Zechariah turns his attention to his own son and all that he represents in God’s plan.

The Hope of Light (Luke 1:76-79)

Luke 1:76–79 ESV:2016

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

John’s prophecy (v.76-77)

1. John was not sent to be the Messiah, but to prophecy and prepare the way for Messiah.

2. John’s message was to point people to salvation and forgiveness.

3. This becomes our great privilege as well.

4. We don’t have the responsibility to correct all of society’s ills. The darkness is too vast and our abilities are so limited. But those of us who have the knowledge of salvation through faith and repentance have the privilege of introducing others to the forgiveness of their sins and turning their darkness into hope as we lead them to the light.

Jesus’ fulfillment (v.78-79)

1. I love the image of the sunrise in v.78

Yesterday was the first day of Winter, the shortest day of the year. Beginning today each day gets a little longer. The light and energy from the sun get a little more direct with each revolution of our planet.

The Druids of Great Britain celebrated Solstice long before missionaries brought Christianity to their shores. The ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia which was closely related to the Greek festival of Kronia centuries before Christ came.

Each of these pagan festivals honor the sun, while Zechariah sings that the tender mercy of God causes the Son to give light and peace to those who once lived in the shadows of darkness and death.

2. The star in the center of our solar system may provide relief from darkness.

Conclusion:

But only the Son of God can provide victory over the shadow of death. Only when we submit to Him in repentance and faith will we ever find a lasting peace.

[i] Frédéric Louis Godet, A Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, trans. Edward William Shalders and M. D. Cusin, vol. 1 (New York: I. K. Funk & co., 1881), 112.

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