Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 9:1–7

“But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 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. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:1–7, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 2:1-21

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” (Luke 2:1–22, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

Luke chapters 1 and 2 focus on a very unique and interesting period of time in the history of redemption. 

By the way, when I use the phrase, “history of redemption” (which I do often), I am referring to the things that God has done within the history of the world that are directly connected to the salvation he has accomplished for his people through Jesus Christ. Many things have happened in the history of the world. In fact, only a very small percentage of the things that have happened in the history of the world are recorded for us in history books. But when we speak of the history of redemption, we are considering only those events which have a direct relation to the accomplishment of our redemption by Jesus Christ. This is the history that is recorded for us in the Bible. Really, it begins with Genesis 3:15. Before that, we find an account of the general history of the creation of the heavens and earth, of the covenant that God made with mankind through Adam, and of mankind’s fall into sin through the sin of Adam. All of that is generic human history. And all of that is the background to the so-called history of redemption. In Genesis 3:15 we find the first promise concerning the Messiah, the Redeemer of God’s elect. In Genesis 12, everything comes to focus on Abraham and his descendants. And in the book of Exodus, everything comes to focus on the nation of Israel which descended from Abraham. There were lots of things happening in the world in the days of Abraham and Old Covenant Isarel. World histories are concerned with those things. But the Bible is concerned to tell us about the history of redemption, that is to say, of how the Messiah was brought into the world as a descendent of Adam, Abraham, and King David, in fulfillment of the promises that were entrusted to them.          

Here is what I mean when I say that Luke chapters 1 and 2 focus on a very unique and interesting period of time in the history of redemption: For thousands of years prior to the events recorded for us in Luke 1, the people of God looked forward to the arrival of the Messiah who had been promised to them. Luke will begin to tell us about the self-conscience and public ministry of the Messiah in chapter 3 of his gospel. But Luke chapters 1 and 2 give us some insight into the 30-year period of time that passed between the first announcement concerning the imminent birth of Jesus the Messiah and the beginning of his public ministry. 

Wrap your head around that for a moment. About 30 years passed between the events that are recorded for us here in Luke 1 and 2 and the beginning of Jesus the Messiah’s public ministry. That’s a long time. And Luke devotes only 2 chapters to this 30-year period of time. He devotes 22 chapters to the 3 (or so) years of Jesus’ public ministry and the account of his death burial and resurrection. 

But I suppose one might ask the question, why give any attention to this period of time at all? Why don’t we just get on with it and begin to consider the things that Jesus said and did? 

Well, I think you would agree with me that these early chapters are important. One, they explain where Jesus came from. And by that, I do not only mean, where he was born and raised and who his parents were. No, given the miraculous nature of his conception, Luke makes it clear that Jesus Christ was born from above. Two, these early chapters of Luke’s gospel establish quite convincingly that Jesus of Nazareth was born into this world in fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. It might feel like I am beating a dead horse here, but the truth is this – Luke is the one who is concerned to drive this point home. The things that happened when Jesus was born demonstrated convincingly, one, that Jesus was no ordinary man, but was born from above, and two, that he was the Messiah promised from long ago. The third important thing that is accomplished in the first two chapters of Luke is that we are given a glimpse into things that were said about Jesus before he ever uttered a word about himself.  

I think this third observation is really significant. Long before Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, and long before John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the Messiah, others – angels, prophets and prophetesses, and the Holy Scriptures themselves, testified concerning him. These things were said before Jesus was born, when he was an infant, and when he was a small boy before his Messianic self-awareness was fully developed. 

My point is this: it is one thing for Jesus to claim to be the Messiah. And indeed, his claims – once he did make them – were backed up with signs and wonders, the greatest of them being his resurrection from the dead! But it is another thing for others  – angels, men, and the Scriptures – to testify concerning him, especially when we consider that they did so before he was able to utter a word concerning himself. 

So then, who has testified that Jesus is the Messiah? So far we have heard from the angel Gabriel, Elizabeth, Mary, and Zachariah. And remember, these did not speak on their own authority, but were moved along by God to utter what they said. And more than this, when they testified concerning the identity of Jesus, they did so using the very words of inspired Scripture. So then, these witnesses – angelic, human, and Scriptural – are presented to us by Luke so that we might have certainty that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah and that we do indeed have salvation in him. 

Today, we will consider Luke 2:1-21. Yet again, we will find that God testified concerning Jesus as the Messiah, and he did it through his elect angels, through humble men, and through the Holy Scriptures.     

*****

The Birth Of Jesus, Accomplished According To The Old Testament Scriptures

First, let us consider verses 1-7. Here, we find an account of the birth of Jesus and we will see that it was accomplished in fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures.  

In verses 1-3, we read, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.”

I think it is important to notice the big names that are mentioned in verses 1 and 2. Caesar Augustus, the Emporer of Rome, and Quirinius, the Governor of Syria, are big names. They are names that appear, not only in the Bible but in the general history books of the nations – the kind that you read at school – the kind that are archived in famous libraries. Caesar Agustus was so powerful that he could command “all the world to be registered”, and men obeyed. 

 Why did Luke mention these big names? And by the way, he will do it again in 3:1. Well, I suppose on the most basic level he mentions their names and these decrees so that we might know when these things happened. After all, these men were so significant that time was measured by their reigns. But I think there is something else going on here. There is a contrast being made between these incredibly rich and powerful political figures – men who occupy center stage in the history books of the world– and the poor, humble meek, and mild figures who take center stage in the history of redemption –the history that is told in the Bible concerning the accomplishment of our eternal redemption, and the establishment of an eternal kingdom. Joseph, Mary, and ultimately, the babe that was lain in a manger, take center stage. To the world, this seems upside down and backward. But this is how the Lord works. 

This theme of the inversion or reversal of the ways of the world in the workings and wisdom of God was beautifully introduced to us in the Song of Mary when she rejoiced in God her Savior, saying, “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty” (Luke 1:51–53, ESV). This bringing down of the mighty would have ultimate fulfillment in the casting down, binding, and defeat of Satan. But it applies to Ceasar Augustus and Qurinius too. Indeed, it applies to all who are proud in their hearts who rebel against the Lord and his Anointed. But who will the Lord exult? The humble and lowly, that is to say, all who magnify the Lord and rejoice in the Salvation he has worked for us through Jesus the Messiah.

In verses 4-5 we read, “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.” 

Notice this: God revealed through the prophet Micah, who ministered to God’s people about 700 years before Jesus was born, that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 says, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:2–4, ESV). 

When Joseph and Mary were forced to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, it must have seemed like a major inconvenience to them. In fact, it must have seemed dangerous, for Mary was pregnant and ready to give birth, and there were many unknowns. And yet we can see that this decree to be registered in one’s hometown was used by the Lord to fulfill the Scriptures. The Messiah would be of the house and lineage of King David. He was to be born in Bethlehem, David’s hometown. And that is exactly where Jesus was born. Though he would be raised in Nazareth, he was born in Bethlehem in fulfillment of the prophecy of Micah 5.

Brothers and sisters, when we read of Caesar Augustus and of his decree that all the world should be registered, and when we consider that this decree did not thwart God’s plans, but rather was used by God to advance and accomplish his plan of redemption, we must remember that the same has been true throughout the history of the world and is true even to this present day. The world thinks that it is those who have their names written in the history books of the nations that shape the course of history. But the Scriptures say otherwise. It is God who has determined the course of history. It is God who providentially governs all things to bring about his purposes. Truly, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1, ESV).

In verses 6-7, we are told of the birth of Jesus. The ordeal of childbirth is described briefly. “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

The phrase, “And she gave birth to her firstborn son”, is straightforward and rather unimpressive on the surface. Every human who has ever lived, with the exception of Adam and Eve, was brought into the world in this way, through the process of birth. But those who know who Jesus is will marvel over this phrase. And who is Jesus? We know that he is the eternal Son of God. It is the person of the Son (or Word), the second person of the Triune God, who took to himself a human nature (body and soul). We call this the incarnation. And how did the Son of God become incarnate?  Stated differently, How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? A. Christ, the Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul; being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary and born of her, yet without sin” (Baptist Catechism, 25). So then, as strange as it sounds, it is right to say that Mary gave birth to God. She did not give birth to the divine nature. God is eternal. He has no beginning or end. Nor did she give birth to the Father or Spirit, for the Father and Spirit did not assume a human nature. But she did, in a sense, give birth to the person of the eternal Son who willingly took to himself a true body and reasonable soul. He humbled himself in this way for us and for our salvation. If you do not know who Christ is, then you will not think much of the phrase,  “And she gave birth to her firstborn son.” But if you know that person of Christ is the person of the eternally begotten Son of God, then you will never cease to marvel over this phrase. 

And consider this: when the Son of God assumed a human nature and was born into this world – the very world that was created through him in the beginning, mind you – there was no room for him. He was not born in a palace.  He was not born to parents of wealth and renown. No, he was born to obscure parents and in an obscure place. And even there, there was no room for him. He was born in a stall and lain in a manger. He was born humble and lowly.

Later in his life and during his earthly ministry Jesus would say, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58, ESV). That was true of him even at his birth. This is what the prophet Isaiah said concerning him long before he was born: “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:1–3, ESV). Even his birth, which he had no control over, humanly speaking, was characterized by lowliness and humility.

*****

The Birth Of Jesus, Announced By Angels

In verses 8-14 we learn that though the rich and powerful of this world took no notice of the Messiah’s birth, the hosts of heaven did, for the birth of Jesus was announced by angels. 

Look at verses 8-9. There we read, ​​“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear” (Luke 2:8–9, ESV). Though the text does not say that this was the angel, Gabriel, I think it is safe to assume that it was given that he was the one who was sent to appear to Zachariah and Mary.

The text says that “the glory of the Lord shone around them…” Angels are spirits. They are invisible and do not have form or matter. But, as we have seen in Luke’s Gospel, they are able to appear to men. This angel manifested himself to the shepherds with the glory of the Lord.

 Notice that the reaction of the shepherds is typical of those who have such encounters with angels – “they were filled with great fear”. Brothers and sisters, we would be wise to remember that angels exist. They were created by God in the beginning. Some rebelled against God, but the elect angels remained. They are God’s servants and messengers. They minister to God’s people always. And they are especially present with us when we worship. Angels exist. The holy angels serve God and his people. They are powerful beings, as you can tell. Though we are not to worship angels, and though we are not to pray to them, or to focus on them in such a way that we are distracted from God and Christ, we are to be mindful of the angels, and we are to thank God for them. 

The point that I want you to grasp is this: though Ceasar Augustus could care less about the birth of this child in the far-off and insignificant town of Bethlehem, the holy angels cared. They understood that this was where the real action was taking place on earth. They were happy to announce the arrival of the Lord’s Messiah, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. 

In verse 10 we read, “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’” (Luke 2:10, ESV). Angels, like Gabriel, are sometimes used by the Lord to pour out God’s judgment. But Gabriel was not sent to these shepherds for that purpose. He was sent to bring “good news”. It was news that was to produce “great joy”. It was good news for “all the people” – all Jews, and all the nations of the earth. 

And what was the news? It is found in verse 11: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 

The reference to David should link our minds to the promises made by God to David concerning a son whose throne and kingdom will have no end (see 2 Samual 7). 

Notice also that the angel referred to Jesus as “Savior”. In the Old Testament, God is called “savior”. Consider, for example, Psalm 24:5: “He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Consider also Psalm 27:1: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Finally, consider Isaiah 45:21: “Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.” When Jesus is called “Savior” it is clear that he is the one through whom the Lord would save his people from their sins. And he is able to save people from their sins because he is no mere man, but is himself Lord of glory (see 1 Corinthians 2:8, James 2:1).

Notice, lastly, that the angel refers to Jesus as “Christ the Lord”. He is the Lord, that is to say, he is the Lord God of Israel incarnate. And he is the Christ, which means Messiah or anointed one. It is interesting that this is the first time that the word “Christ” appears in Luke’s Gospel. One question that Luke’s Gospel seems eager to answer is this: Who is Jesus? Specifically, is he the Christ, the promised Messiah, the Anointed One of God? He is called Christ for the first time here in 2:11 by the angel at the time of his birth. He will be called the Christ again in 2:26 by a man named Simeon when he is presented at the temple. In 3:15 we are told that the people were wondering if John was the Christ. John answered in the negative and clarified that he was preparing the way for the Messiah, “the strap of whose sandals [he] was not worthy to untie.”. Interestingly, in 4:41 demons confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and Luke tells us they knew he was the Christ. And then, in 9:20 we come to the great confession of Peter. Jesus asked his disciples “‘But who do you say that I am?’ And Peter answered, ‘The Christ of God’” (Luke 9:20, ESV). The question, is Jesus the Christ?, seems to ramp up towards the end of Luke’s gospel. The word Christ appears in Luke chapters 20 and 22, three times in Luke 23, and finally, in Luke 24 Jesus appears to his disciples in his resurrection and shows them from the Old Testament Scriptures that it was “necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory…” (Luke 24:26, ESV). And he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46–47, ESV). Luke wants us to know for certain that Jesus of Nazareth, the one born to Mary in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, and the one who suffered on the cross, died, was buried, and rose on the third day, is the Christ, the Messiah, promised to Adam, Abraham, and David long ago. 

In verse 12, the angel gives the shepherds a sign so that they might know these things are true. He says, “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

What an interesting sign! A baby wrapped in swaddling cloths was and is an ordinary thing. To see a newborn baby swaddled is a beautiful thing, but it would not strike anyone as unusual or miraculous. A baby being laid in a manger is strange. But what were the chances that these shepherds would walk into the small town of Bethlehem and find this very scene –  “a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger”? The chances were very small. When they walked into Bethlehem and found this scene just as the angel had said, it was a sign to them that his word was true. But do not forget that signs do not only prove things, they also signify things. And what did this sign signify? It signified the lowliness and humility of the Messiah. 

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11, ESV)

In verses 13-14 we read, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” (Luke 2:13–14, ESV)

You’re probably beginning to notice that there was a lot of angelic activity in the days when Jesus Christ was born. At some point, we should study angels in a systematic way. For now, I will say, one, that angels exist – they were created by God in the beginning. Two, there are fallen, unholy, angels and elect, holy angels. Three, the holy angels are ministering spirits who constantly do God’s will and work on behalf of God’s people to accomplish God’s purposes in salvation. Four, angels seem to be particularly active (and by active, I mean, they appear to people on earth ) during those times when God is acting to accomplish redemption and judgment. Five, the angels were particularly interested in the arrival of Christ and were used by God to announce his arrival and to minister to him in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Six, the holy angels will play an active role in the second coming of Christ, which will involve the salvation of God’s elect and the judgment of the wicked (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Seven, the holy angels are not cute – they are mighty worriers – they are the Lord’s army. 

The holy angels are around us constantly, brothers and sisters. They are especially present with us when we assemble for worship, by the way (1 Corinthians 11:10; Hebrews 12:22). We should be mindful of them and we should give thanks to God for their ministry to us. From time to time in the history of redemption, the invisible spiritual realities of the heavenly realm were made visible to God’s people on earth for their comfort and encouragement. Think of the episode recorded for us in 2 Kings 6 where Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes would be opened so that he would see the spiritual realities “So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17, ESV). The angelic army of the Lord was there, but the servant of Elisha didn’t know it. The Lord showed him so that he would not fear the threat of the Syrian army. Something similar happens here in Luke 2. The Messiah has come into the world to stomp the head of the Serpent, Satan, and he was accompanied by an army of holy angels. This reality was revealed to the shepherds in the field when Jesus was born. 

This was a heavenly host, or a heavenly army, of holy angels. They were warriors, and they were warriors who sang praises to God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” These angels praised God in heaven for they knew that he, through the Messiah, would win the victory over the Evil One so as to bring peace to his elect on earth. That is what is meant by the phrase, “peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Brothers and sisters, the birth of Jesus was accomplished according to the Old Testament Scriptures, and it was announced by the holy angels, for they are God’s servants and messengers. Furthermore, the things that were accomplished by Jesus were of great interest to them (1 Peter 1:12), for Christ would win the victory in the spiritual and heavenly battle that they themselves have been engaged in ever since the fall of the angels, which preceded the fall of man into sin (Genesis 3:1).

*****

The Birth Of Jesus, Celebrated By Humble Men And Women

Let us now briefly consider the third and final point of the sermon: The birth of Jesus was celebrated by humble men and women. I will simply read verses 15-21 and make only a few observations. 

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:15–21, ESV)

One, verses 15-17 simply describe what the shepherds did. The “angels went away from them into heaven”, and the shepherds went to Bethlehem, found what the angels said they would find – the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, and they reported what was said to them by the angel and the heavenly hosts.

Two, verses 18-20 describe the response to their word. 

Verse 18: “And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.” To “wonder” is to be astonished, amazed, and to marvel. This word appears often in Luke’s Gospel. He is inviting us to marvel over these things as well. 

In verse 19 we are told that “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Mary “wondered” too, but it should be clear that these things were very precious to her, given that this Messiah was her own son. She “treasured” these things. She held onto these things tightly in her mind, and she “pondered” them in her heart. Brothers and sisters, Luke is inviting us to, not only marvel over these things but to treasure and ponder them, just as Mary did. 

In verse 20 we read, “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Brothers and sisters, not only is Luke inviting us to marvel, treasure, and ponder these things, but to glorify and praise God for all that he has done for us through Christ. 

And do not forget this: it was not Ceasar Augustus the Emporer of Rome, nor Quirininius the governor of Syria, but poor, humble, shepherds tending to sheep in the fields surrounding Bethlehem, along with humble Joseph and Mary, who rejoiced and gave glory to God. Brothers and sisters, Luke is inviting us to identify with Jesus in his humility, to disregard the pride and pleasures of this world, and to join with the humble, lowly, meek, and mild, confessing that this Jesus who was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, is Christ the Lord, our Savior, and our God.  

In verse 21 we read, “And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” In other words, Christ lived in perfect obedience to the revealed will of God even from birth through the faithfulness of his parents, Joseph and Mary. He was circumcised on the eighth day, in obedience to the law of Moses. He was named Jesus – which means, the Lord delivers or the Lord saves – in obedience to the Word of the Lord delivered by the angel. Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to God, even from birth, for in this way he accomplished our salvation – through active obedience, and through passive suffering, done on behalf of all those given to him by the Father in eternity (John 17).

*****

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, Luke aims to move us to greater certainty that Jesus is the Messiah. He presents us with witness who testify concerning him. The Old Testament Scriptures testify concerning him. The holy angels testified concerning him. And humble men and women testified concerning him too. May we join with these to testify to others that Jesus was and is the Messiah who emerged from Isarel, in fulfillment of promises previously made, and that salvation is available through faith in him. May we give glory to the Lord God of Israel for him. And may the Lord bless us to see many others bless his name too.  

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 132

“A SONG OF ASCENTS. Remember, O LORD, in David’s favor, all the hardships he endured, how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, ‘I will not enter my house or get into my bed, I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.’ Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. ‘Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!’ Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy. For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one. The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: ‘One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne.’ For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: ‘This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.’” (Psalm 132, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 1:67-80

“And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.” (Luke 1:67–80, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

Over the years I have come to really love this story about Zachariah. Near the end of the sermon last Sunday, I suggested to you that perhaps Luke intends for us to see Zachariah as a kind of model or example of one who was moved from a place of doubt to a place of confidence and certainty concerning Jesus the Messiah.  

We must remember that Luke tells us his purpose for writing. In Chapter 1 verse 4 he says that he wrote this gospel so that those who read it “may have certainty concerning the things [they] have been taught.” Luke wants us to grow in our certainty. Certainty about what? Answer: The certainty that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah that God had promised to send. Luke wrote his Gospel so that we would be certain about that. And I find it fascinating that the very first person Luke introduces us to in his Gospel is this Old Covenant priest named Zachariah. He and his wife, Elizabeth, are said to be “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.” And yet when the news comes to Zachariah that the Messiah was about to be born and that he would have a son who would prepare the way for him (in fulfillment to the Scriptures), he doubted. Luke wrote his gospel so that we might grow in our certainty, and the very first character he introduced to us is a man that you would expect to have strong faith and certainty, and yet he doubts.

You know how the story progresses. Zachariah was struck with muteness because he doubted the word of God delivered by the angel Gabriel. He was unable to speak for about nine months. And when did he regain his ability to speak? Not progressively, and not at some random moment, but on the eighth day after his son was born, as they came to circumcise him. Specifically, his tongue was loosed only after he obeyed the word of the Lord in the naming of his child. Nine months earlier, the angel Gabriel had said to him, “you shall call his name John” (Luke 1:13), and it was only after Zachariah wrote, “His name is John”, that “his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God”. Today we will consider the prophecy that Zachariah uttered after this experience. One thing is very clear. He was no longer doubting but was very, very certain that the Messiah was about to be born, and that his son, miraculously born to his wife, Elizabeth, in her old age, would prepare the way for him.

When I say that Zachariah is a model for those who doubt or lack certainty concerning what God did through Jesus the Messiah, I mean that we are invited to walk the road that Zachariah walked. I very much doubt that those who lack certainty will be struck with muteness as Zachariah was. Nevertheless, those who doubt should, one, hold their tongues lest they speak unfaithfully. Two, they should consider the things that happened when Jesus Christ was brought into this world, lived, died, rose again, and ascended. Three, they should study and reflect on the Holy Scriptures – yes, the New Testament, but especially the Old – for the Old Testament Scriptures spoke of him before he came. 

You know, I have been very blessed to meet with our middle and high school-aged students on most Wednesday nights. We review the sermons from the previous Sunday. By the way, we are blessed with some really wonderful young people, brothers and sisters. I find this time to be very encouraging, and I think it is beneficial to them. They are reminded of what was preached a few days earlier (it is amazing how easy it is to forget – we should all be disciplined to remember what was preached). I’m able to clarify what was preached and to also encourage application. Parents do this in the home, I’m sure. But it is a blessing to do it as a pastor. I’ll get to the point now. One comment I made to them this past Wednesday is that we must learn to read the Bible as great literature. The Bible is certainly more than great literature (it is God’s inspired Word; it is sacred Scripture). But it is not less than great literature. By the inspiration of the Spirit, each book is masterfully written. And, by the inspiration of the Spirit, all of the books of the Bible fit together to tell one unified story. Scripture is filled with truth, for it is God’s Word to us, and it is also very beautiful, literarily speaking. 

As we were reviewing the sermon from last Sunday this past Wednesday night I asked the students, who likes to read novels? A few of them raised their hands. And then I asked them, when you read a great novel (or when you watch a good movie), what are some things you look for to fully appreciate and understand the story that is being told? Their answers were great: they said they pay attention to the setting, context, themes, the introduction and development of characters, etc. I agreed with them and said, you should read the Bible in the same way, for although the Bible is certainly more than a great piece of literature, it is not less.  

So, what is the theme that is introduced to us at the beginning of Luke’s gospel? Answer: it is the theme of being moved from a place of doubt to a place of certainty – certainty that Jesus, the Son of Mary, is in fact the Messiah, the Son of God incarnate, the Savior of the world. Luke wrote for this purpose: to move Theophilus (and all who read his Gospel) to a place of certainty concerning the things they had been taught about Jesus. 

And who is the first character that Luke introduces to us? Zachariah. And how is he presented? As a priest – a righteous and blameless priest, who of all people, should have had strong faith and certainty – but he doubts. Does he remain in his doubt, though? No. Through his silent reflection upon, one, the things that happened, and two, what the Old Testament Scriptures have to say regarding the coming Messiah, he emerges from his time of muteness as a man strong, confident, and certain in his faith. He wrote “His name is John” boldly. He blessed the Lord. And then he uttered this beautiful and scripture-saturated prophecy concerning Jesus, which we will be considering today.

My point is this: Luke did not compile his Gospel in a haphazard way. No, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote a literary masterpiece – a carefully crafted Gospel – for the express purpose of moving his readers to a place of strong faith in Jesus Christ and certainty that he is the promised Messiah. Everything he writes must be interpreted in light of this clearly expressed purpose. 

Before we go to this text I have one more brief observation to make concerning Luke’s gospel as a beautifully compiled and focused piece of literature. I have shown you how Luke’s Gospel begins. Please notice that ends in much the same way.  

At the end of Luke’s Gospel, we find an account of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. His disciples were left perplexed, discouraged, and doubting. But Christ rose from the grave, and he appeared to them. And when he did, he moved them from a place of doubt to a place of certainty. How did Christ so move them? How did he convince them beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was the promised Messiah and Redeemer of God’s elect?  He moved them from doubt to certainty in the same way that Zechariah was moved – by presenting them with, one, the facts concerning the miraculous things that had happened – the most miraculous thing of all being his resurrection from the dead on the third day. He appeared to them and said to them, “‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them” (Luke 24:38–43, ESV). Can you see it, brothers and sisters? The disciples were moved from a place of doubt and despair to a place of faith and certainty by considering the miraculous things that had happened, the greatest of them being the resurrection of Christ from the dead. 

But that is not all. What else did he do to give them certainty? He showed them how the Old Testament Scriptures spoke of him and the things that had accomplished ahead of time. With the exception of the brief account of the ascension of Christ, Luke’s Gospel concludes with these  words, “Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:44–49, ESV). 

So then, how were the disciples of Christ moved from doubt to certainty? By being presented with two things: One, the facts concerning the miraculous things that had happened. Two, the fact that these things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures written Long ago. You know, it is one thing for a virgin to conceive and bear a son. That is miraculous. It gets your attention. It is another thing altogether for it to happen in fulfillment of Scriptures written hundreds of years earlier. Isaiah the prophet said, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14, ESV). The two things combined – the fact of the virgin birth in combination with the fulfillment of prophecies previously made – are set before us in Luke’s Gospel that this Jesus was the Promised Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer of all who have faith in him. And it is one thing for this same man who was virgin-born to also be raised from the dead (if that fact doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will). But it is another thing for the Old Testament Scriptures to predict that the Messiah would suffer, die, and rise, and for it to happen in fulfillment of things previously written. The two things combined – the fact that the miracles happened, and the fact that they happened in fulfillment of Scriptures previously written – are set before us by Luke to move us to greater certainty that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. 

To illustrate this point to our youth last Wednesday I pointed to a tall palm tree on our property and said if one of those palm fronds fell from the tree right now and came crashing down that would be an event we would all take notice of. But if I were to say to you, in ten seconds a palm frond will fall from that tree and land right over there in this particular way – well that is a different thing altogether. You would all be astonished and would think that I was some kind of prophet or something. Well, that illustrates (in a basic way) what happened when Christ came into the world. Miraculous things happened — they were the kinds of things that caused people to take notice – angels appeared, a virgin conceived, the blind were made to see, a man was raised from the dead, etc. But these miraculous things did not just happen –  they happened in fulfillment of promises and prophesies previously made. And by the way, this is why Luke uses the word “accomplished” in chapter 1 verse 1 of his Gospel. He does not merely provide us with an account of things that happened when Jesus was born, lived, died, rose, and ascended. No, he tells us about the things that were accomplished, that is to say, fulfilled, or brought to completion. From the beginning of Luke’s Gospel to the very end, this is how he moves us from a place of doubt to a place of certainty.  

With all of that as an introduction, let us go now to our text for today: Luke 1:67-80. Here we find the words of the prophecy that Zachariah uttered after his tongue was loosed following nine months of muteness. No longer is he doubting. Instead, he is very certain. What produced the change? Clearly, he pondered the miraculous things that were happening to him and those he loved. And by the time we are finished today, I think you will agree with me that Zachariah pondered the Old Testament Scriptures to see if it was true that this child in Mary was the long-awaited Messiah, for his prophecy is saturated with the Old Testament. We do not have the time to chase down every Old Testament quotation and allusion – I will need to be selective. And I will present all of this in three points. One, Zachariah was certain that Jesus was the Messiah, the promised son of David. Two, Zachariah was certain that Jesus was the Messiah, the promised son of Abraham. And three, Zachariah was certain that his son, John, was the long-awaited prophet who would prepare the way for the Messiah.

*****

Jesus Is The Messiah, The Promised Son Of David

First, Zachariah was no longer doubting, but certain that Jesus, the child in the womb of the virgin Mary, was the Messiah, the promised son of David. This is what Zachariah expressed in verses 68-71. Picking up in verse 67: “And [John’s] father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us…” (Luke 1:67–71, ESV). Notice a few things about this text:

One, Zechariah was “filled with the Holy Spirit”. This does not mean that he was regenerated or drawn to saving faith at this moment. Though it is true that Zachariah doubted the word that the angel delivered to him in the temple, I trust that he had saving faith long before this. He trusted in the promised Messiah long before all of this happened (that is why Luke described him as a righteous and blameless man). He did not doubt that the Messiah would one day come. But he did doubt that he was coming then and that he and his son would be involved in preparing the way. When the text says that he was “filled with the Holy Spirit” it does not mean that he was at that moment saved, justified, or declared righteous, but that he was moved by the Spirit, in an unusual way, to utter this marvelous prophecy. 

Two, Zachariah began his prophecy by blessing, or giving thanks and praise to,  “the Lord God of Israel.” Beyond the fact that thankful praise was the fitting and reasonable response to the marvelous things the Lord was doing, Zachariah does also focus our attention on the Lord’s dealings with Israel under the Old Covenant. As you know, in the beginning, God created the heavens and earth. He entered into a covenant with humanity through Adam. Adam fell, and all humanity fell in him. But God promised to provide a Redeemer. And in the course of time, it was clarified that this Redemer would emerge from one particular nation, namely Israel. The promises concerning the Messiah were given to Israel by way of covenants. And when the time had fully come, the Messiah was brought into the world through Israel. But the Messiah is not Israel’s Messiah alone. No, Israel was called to share their Messiah with all people. All who have true faith in him from amongst the Hebrews and Gentiles are the true Israel of God, therefore. When Zachariah said,  “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel” he gives thanks to the Covenant Lord for all that he had from the days of Abraham onward to bring the Messiah into the world in fulfillment of his covenant promises.

Three, beginning with the word “for” in the middle of verse 68 Zechariah explains why he was compelled to bless the Lord God of Israel: “for he has visited and redeemed his people”, he says. The words “visited” and “redeemed” should immediately remind us of the exodus of Israel from Egypt. When Moses returned to Egypt after encountering God in the bush that was burning yet not consumed, he told the Hebrews what the LORD had said, and in Exodus 4:31 we read, “And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped” (Exodus 4:31, ESV). When Zachariah blessed the Lord God of Isarel for “visiting… his people” he was confidently asserting that the Lord was doing something in his day like what he did in Moses’ day – he was drawing near to his people to act. He was drawing near to keep promises previously made. And the word “redeemed” should remind us of the exodus as well, for that is the very thing God did for Israel through Moses. He redeemed them from bondage. He defeated their oppressors to set the free. He led them out of Egypt, entered into a special covenant with them, and led them into the land of promise. When God visited his people in the days of Moses, he did so to redeem them. When Zachariah used these two words together, he was confessing (in the only way he knew how) that God was about to visit his people to accomplish a much greater redemption in fulfillment of promises previously made. 

Think for a moment about how much greater the second exodus accomplished by Christ was than the first exodus accomplished through Moses. Many comparisons could be made. I’ll make only two. One,, God visited his people in the first exodus through Moses – he visited his people in the second exodus through the incarnation of the eternal Son. Christ was and is God with us. He who sees him sees the Father. He is the eternal Son of God who took on flesh. He is the eternal word made who tabernacled amongst us. Two, the redemption was far greater. Given that I have recently taught about these things, I will say only this: the redemption accomplished through Moses in the first exodus was earthy and temporal. The redemption accomplished by Christ in the second exodus was heavenly, spiritual, and eternal. Through Christ, God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son…” (Colossians 1:13, ESV).

My fourth observation about verses 67-71 is this: Zachariah understood that this redemption that the Lord was about to accomplish through the Messiah was in fulfillment of the promises made to David, the anointed King of Israel. This is stated in verses 69–71, which says, “and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us…” (Luke 1:69–71, ESV). 

Horns symbolize power and might. When Zachariah blessed the Lord because he “raised up a horn of salvation” he was expressing his belief that the long-awaited Messiah King was here. This powerful King would save his people from the hand of their enemies – not Egypt or Rome, not Pharioh or the Emperor – but Satan himself, and all who serve him. And this was in fulfillment of the promises made to King David, who was a type of the Messiah to come. God spoke to David, saying, “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” And a bit later in the same passage, he said, “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever’” (2 Samuel 7:12–16, ESV).

David was the greatest of Israel’s earthly Kings. He was used by God to defeat the enemies of Israel and to establish the kingdom. But God promised him that one of his sons would establish a kingdom that would never end. This son would sit on his throne forever and ever. This son was not Solomon, the next to sit on the throne of Isarel, but Jesus Christ. Though Zachariah did not know the details of how this eternal kingdom would be secured, he knew it would happen, and that it would happen soon, through the Virgin Mary’s own son. And so he blessed the Lord raising up this horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, in fulfillment to the promises previously made.

Yes, these promises were made by God to King David, but notice what Zechariah says in verse 70: God “has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old…” (Luke 1:69–70, ESV). So then, the prophets also spoke of this coming anointed King who would set his people free and establish an eternal kingdom. What prophesies did Zachariah have in mind? Well, there are many. Consider these:

Ezekiel 29:21: “On that day I will cause a horn to spring up for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 29:21, ESV)

Jeremiah 23:5–6: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23:5–6, ESV)

And finally, Psalm 132:17-18: “There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.” (Psalm 132:17–18, ESV)

*****

Jesus Is The Messiah, The Promised Son Of Abraham

The second point of the sermon is this: Zachariah was certain that Jesus was the Messiah, the promised son of Abraham. I will not need to take much time to develop this point, for it should be evident to all given what has already been said. 

In verses 72 through 75 we read, “to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days” (Luke 1:72–75, ESV). Notice a few things about this text: 

One, in this portion of Zachariah’s prophesy he traces the promises that were entrusted to Israel concerning the Messiah back further into the history of redemption. These Covenant promises were entrusted to Israel long before the covenant that was made with King David, and even before Moses the covenant that was made with Israel in the days of Moses. Indeed, the first promises entrusted to Israel were made to Abraham. To state the matter differently, the original covenant that God made with the Hebrew people was transacted with Abraham as recorded in Genesis 12, 15, and 17. The covenant made with Isarel in the days of Moses, as recorded in Exodus, was an outgrowth and advancement of that original covenant. And the same may be said of the Covenant made with David as recorded in 2 Samuel 7. Zachariah knew this. He knew that each of these covenants was organically connected. As it pertains to the covenants made with Israel, the Abrahamic was the seed, the Mosaic was the young plant, the Davidic was the tree, and this tree came to full maturity and fruitfulness in Jesus Christ and the New Covenant that was made through his shed blood. Zachariah knew this, and so he rejoiced that the son of David had come to accomplish a second and greater exodus, in fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham. 

Two, notice that Zachariah again speaks of deliverance. He knew that the Messiah, the son of David and son of Abraham, had come to deliver God’s people, not from earthly powers for a limited time, but from spiritual powers for eternity. 

Three, he elaborates here on the reason for our deliverance.  The Messiah came to “grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear.” Why has Christ redeemed you? Why has he set you free from bondage to sin, Satan, and the fear of death and judgment? So that you might serve the LORD without fear. If this was true of the first exodus (Which it was. see Exodus 3:12, 4:23, 7:16, 8:1. Etc. In each of these texts and many more it is said that Israel was to be set free from bondage to serve the LORD), then how much more is it true of the second exodus! You have been set free from bondage to sin, Satan, and the fear of death and judgment, not to serve yourself and to live for the things of this world, but to worship and serve the Lord.  

Four, notice also the words of verse 75, “in holiness and righteousness before him all our days”. This speaks to what the Messiah would do for his people. Through his obedient life and sacrificial death, he would make all who have faith in him “[holy] and righteousness before” the Lord. We are not holy and righteous by nature. But through faith in the Messiah, we are made to be holy and righteous. In Christ, our sins are washed away and his righteousness is given to us. All of this is received by faith alone. And given the new life that the Spirit has given to those who believe, we do then progressively walk in righteousness and holiness more and more.

When God sent the Messiah into the world through the womb of the virgin Mary, it was “to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days” (Luke 1:72–75, ESV).

*****

John Was The Prophet Who Would Prepare The Way

The third and final point of the sermon today is this: Zachariah was certain that his son, John, was the long-awaited prophet who would prepare the way for the Messiah.

As we read verses 76-79, we should imagine Zachariah looking at his newborn son, for he speaks to him, saying, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:76–79, ESV).

There were many prophets who ministered under the Old Covenant. But they spoke of a single prophet who would one day come and have the distinct privilege of preparing the way for the Messiah. Consider, for example, the word Malachi 3:1. There the Lord says,  “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:1, ESV). John was this messenger.

And notice this: his job was to prepare the way for the Lord himself! This makes perfect sense when we realize that Jesus the Messiah was no mere man, but was the Lord of glory, the eternal Son, or  Word of the Father, incarnate. 

And how would John prepare the way for him? By giving the “knowledge of salvation to [God’s] people in the forgiveness of their sins…” John preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2, ESV). He spoke to the people saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, ESV).

And why was John able to proclaim this message of salvation the forgiveness of sins? Answer: “Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 

Who are these who “sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” upon whom the light of Christ has shown with the brightness of the noonday sun? Well, in general, they are all those who have not believed in the good news of Jesus Christ. They sit in the darkness of their sin and they languish fearfully in the shadow of death. When the gospel of Christ is preached to them it shines like a light in the darkness as the Spirit works. In particular, those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death upon whom the light of Christ has shown, are the Gentile nations. For a very long time the promises of God concerning salvation through faith in the Messiah were confined mainly to Israel. But that would all change with the arrival of the Messiah and the establishment of the New Covenant. This gospel of Jesus Christ would be proclaimed to the end of the earth.                

The prophet Isaiah spoke of this day ahead of time, saying, “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.” (Isaiah 9:2, ESV). And in another place the Lord speaks through Isaiah and to the Messiah, saying, “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness” (Isaiah 42:6–7, ESV).

Zachariah was now certain that his son, whose name is John, would prepare the way for this Messiah. Verse 80: “And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel” (Luke 1:80, ESV).

*****

Conclusion

Please allow me to conclude now by offering a few very brief suggestions for application. 

One, as we grow in our certainty that Jesus was and is the Lord’s Messiah who was promised from long ago, let us join Zachariah in expressing our deep thankfulness and gratitude towards the Lord God of Israel for the great salvation that he has worked for us through him. 

Two, as we grow in our certainty that Jesus was and is the Lord’s Messiah who has freed us from all our enemies and forgiven us all our sins (if we have faith in him), let us worship and serve him all the more faithfully in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives. 

Three, as we grow in our certainty that Jesus was and is the Lord’s Messiah who was promised from long ago, let us be more zealous to proclaim the good news of salvation through faith him to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death now – here in this place, and to the ends of the earth.  

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 17:1–19

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.’ Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, ‘Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.’ And God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.’ And God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.’ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, ‘Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?’ And Abraham said to God, ‘Oh that Ishmael might live before you!’ God said, ‘No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.’” (Genesis 17:1–19, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 1:57-66

“Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, ‘No; he shall be called John.’ And they said to her, ‘None of your relatives is called by this name.’ And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 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.” (Luke 1:57–66, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

I hope you do not grow tired of me reminding you of Luke’s stated purpose for writing this Gospel. When an author states their purpose for writing we should make note of it and not forget it, for it will help us greatly in understanding what they have written. Luke tells us in his opening words that he wrote so that Theophilus, and all who love God and Christ with him, would have certainty concerning the things we have been taught. We have been taught that Jesus is the Christ and that salvation is found in him. We have been taught that all who turn from their sins and trust in him will be saved. Theophilus believed this, as do most of you. And Luke wrote his Gospel to bring greater certainty to Theophilus, and to us, concerning Jesus the Messiah and our salvation in him.

We are only a short way into Luke’s Gospel but already we can see his method. He presents us with two types of evidence to prove that Jesus was and is the Messiah – the Redeemer – who was promised from long ago. 

One, he presents eyewitness testimony to us concerning the miraculous things that God did when he brought Jesus into the world. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the temple. Zachariah was made mute for nine months because of his disbelief. His wife, Elizabeth, conceived and bore a son in her old age though she was previously barren. The angel Gabriel also appeared to Mary. Though she was a virgin, she conceived and bore a son in her womb. When Mary visited her relative, the child in Elizabeth leaped inside her womb. And then both women were moved by the Holy Spirit to give praise to God for the marvelous things he had done, and would soon do. So, you can see that Luke presents us with the facts concerning the things – the marvelous and miraculous things – that God had done. 

Two, Luke also presents us with the Word of God as a witness to Christ. And by “Word of God” I mean, the Old Testament Scriptures. I hope you can see that the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel is saturated with quotations from and allusions to, the Old Testament Scriptures. Luke wants us to know for certain that Jesus was brought into the world, not only in a miraculous or supernatural way (which was itself a sign that he came from God above), but that he came in fulfillment of promises and prophecies previously made. I hope that you do not grow tired of hearing this, brothers and sisters. It is not simply something that I am “passionate” about – a hobby horse of the preacher, if you will. It is a central feature of the text, and so it must be proclaimed. To miss this feature, or to fail to proclaim it, would be to mishandle the text. Luke does not only present us with eyewitness testimony concerning the miraculous things that happened when Jesus the Messiah was conceived and born into this world, he also presents him to us as the fulfillment of the Holy Scriptures. When Gabriel spoke to Zachariah and Mary, he used the words of the Old Testament Scriptures which spoke of the eventual arrival of the Christ and of his forerunner. When Elizabeth and Mary erupted in praise, they magnified the Lord using Old Testament phrases and themes. 

Luke recorded the supernatural events that marked Jesus’ birth, along with the Scripture-saturated words of Gabriel, Mary, and Elizabeth so that we might know for certain that Jesus of Nazareth was no mere man – he was the long-awaited Messiah, the Promised One, our Redeemer and Lord. 

Notice that the same pattern is present in the passage we have now come to. In Luke 1:57-66 we find a record of the great and marvelous things that God has done. And in verses 67 through 80 we find the prophecy of Zachariah wherein he blesses the Lord God of Israel for the redemption and salvation that would be earned by Christ. Like Gabriel, Elizabeth, and Mary before him, his words drip with Old Testament quotations and allusions, for he had come to see and believe that the child in Mary was indeed the Savior who was promised in the Old Testament Scriptures. His son, John, would prepare the way for him. And in this, he rejoiced. 

This morning we will consider only verses 57-66. Two miraculous events are recorded for us in this passage. First, Luke tells us that Elizabeth bore a son. Second, he tells us that Zacheriah’s mouth was opened and his tongue loosed. Let us now consider these things and their significance. 

*****

The Birth Of John The Baptist

First, consider Luke’s account of the birth of John the Baptist. 

Verse 57 says, “Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.” There is a lot of information packed into this single sentence. We are to remember that Elizabeth was advanced in years and that she had been barren. We are to remember the word that the angel Gabriel spoke to Zachariah when he appeared to him in the temple. 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. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 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. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 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.” (Luke 1:13–17, ESV). Well, about nine months had passed, and “the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son”.

In verse 58 we read, “And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.” You should notice a theme developing. In those days people were taking notice of the great mercy that God was showing to his people, and this lead them to rejoice. Elizabeth noticed that Mary was blessed by the Lord (1:42), and she rejoiced. Mary agreed that she was blessed by the Lord (1:48), that God had done great things for her (1:49) and was merciful towards her (1:50), and she rejoiced (1:46). And now we hear that Elizabeth’s “neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.” 

It is impossible to know how many of these neighbors and relatives knew about the words that the angel had spoken to Zechariah in the temple concerning the identity of this miraculously conceived child. I imagine they knew something about what was said to him. After all, some explanation would have to be given as to why Zachariah could not speak! By the way, have you ever wondered how Zachariah was able to communicate to Elizabeth the content of the message that was delivered to him by the angel, given that he was struck with muteness before exiting the temple? I think we find the answer in 1:63, which says, “And he [Zachariah] asked for a writing tablet and wrote…” This must have been his method of communication for those nine months. I bring up the question, what did Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives know?, because I wonder, what mercies were they aware of? and over what did they rejoice? Did they simply rejoice with Elizabeth because the Lord was merciful to give her a child in her old age after years of barrenness and to bring her through the trail of childbirth? Or did they especially rejoice with her because the Lord was merciful to bring the forerunner of the Messiah into the world through her? Certainly, the former was true. Perhaps it was the latter also.

Whatever the case, the neighbors and relatives of Elizabeth came to rejoice with her. And I think there is an application to be drawn from this fact.  We ought to rejoice with one another concerning the mercies of God, be they common and earthly or special and saving. It seems that grumbling and complaint come more naturally to us, but we ought to give thanks to God for his mercies and to rejoice in them privately and together.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” In Romans 12:15-16 he says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.” Think of how rich and God-honoring our lives would be if we would only make it our practice to rejoice with one another concerning the mercies that God has shown to us – the common mercies we enjoy in this life, and the special and saving mercies that are ours in Christ Jesus. 

In Luke 1:59 we read, “And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child.” Of course, John was not unique in this. Every male child who was born in the line of Abraham was to be circumcised on the eighth day in obedience to the command that was given to Abraham as recorded in Genesis 17:9ff.  John was far from unique. But I think it can also be said that John’s circumcision, and especially Jesus’ (Luke 1:21), were particularly significant, for it would be through these men (and especially Jesus) that the sign of circumcision would be fulfilled. Jesus was the son of Abraham that everyone was waiting for. He was the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham in the covenant that God made with him (of which circumcision was a sign). Christ would be cut off for the salvation of his people through the shedding of his blood. Again, the circumcisions of John and Jesus were not at all unique, but they were filled with special meaning, for the covenant promises delivered to Abraham landed on Jesus and found their fulfillment in him, and John was to prepare the way for him.

As we continue now in verse 59 we learn that the people  “would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, ‘No; he shall be called John.’” How did she know that his name was to be John? Some say that the Holy Spirit revealed it to her. Others think that Zachariah must have told her what the angel said – “your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John” (Luke 1:13, ESV). I think this second view is more likely. Either way, Elizabeth’s firm obedience to the word of the Lord is to be commended.

In verse 61 we see that the people were perplexed, “And they said to her, ‘None of your relatives is called by this name.’ And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they all wondered.” (Luke 1:61–63, ESV)

Notice three things about this passage. One, the name John means “God is gracious”. What a fitting name for the one who would prepare the way for the Lord’s Messiah. Two, notice the first statement Zachariah makes in the narrative of Luke after being struck with muteness is a kind of declaration of faith. “His name is John”, he says. Clearly, the Lord had done a work in his mind and heart during those months of silence. Three, notice that the people “wondered” or “marveled” over these things. And here is another theme to make note of. In this Gospel, people are, again and again, said to marvel, or wonder, over Christ and our salvation in him. ​​Take, for example, Luke 2:33: “And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him” at the temple.  And in Luke 8:25 we are told that the disciples “were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, ‘Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?’” Many more examples could be given. I think it is safe to say that Luke wants us to marvel over Jesus Christ and the salvation he has accomplished for sinners like you and me. 

The birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner to the Messiah, was marvelous for it was marked by the miraculous. It was announced by an angel. John’s father, Zachariah, was struck with muteness. John’s mother, Elizabeth, conceived in her old age after years of barrenness, and she delivered without fail. Even the agreement between Elizabeth and Zachariah concerning the name of the child was astonishing. His name was to be John to signal the grace of God that was in those days being poured out.   

*****

The Loosing Of Zachariah’s Tongue

Let us now briefly consider the second miraculous event recorded for us in this passage, and that is the loosing of Zachariah’s tongue so that he could speak once more.

In verse 64 we read, “And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.” When was Zachariah enabled to speak again? It was not at some random time, nor did he regain the ability progressively with the passing of time. No, after about nine months of silence, he was made able to speak again, immediately after he wrote the words, “his name is John.” Remember, “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’” (Luke 1:13, ESV). Zachariah doubted, and so he was struck with muteness. And it was not until he obeyed the voice of God as delivered by the angel and wrote, “his name is John”, that his tongue was loosed and he was able to speak again. And what did Zechariah do with his regained ability? He used his tongue in the way it is meant to be used, not to utter doubtful and faithless words, but to bless God. 

In verse 65 we read, “And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 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.” (Luke 1:65–66, ESV)

In a previous sermon, I noted that Zachariah was struck with muteness as a punishment for his disbelief, but there were also blessings in it. I can think of at least four blessings. 

One, Zachariah was blessed by the muteness. He doubted the word of God delivered by Gabriel. But when the Lord’s chastised him in this way, it was a clear sign to him that the word of Gabriel was true. The muteness was a blessing because it was a sign, or proof, to him concerning the truthfulness of what was said. Also, being unable to speak, Zachariah was freed to think. And judging by the content of what he said after his ability to speak was restored (as recorded in the next passage), I think it is safe to say that he spent his time contemplating the Holy Scriptures. The Lord silenced him and brought him low so that he might fill his mind and heart with the Word of God. And when Zachariah was lifted up again and restored, he was ready to speak in a faithful and God-honoring way. He blessed the Lord. He gave praise to God for the salvation that had come. 

Two (and I do not want you to take this the wrong way), Zachariah’s muteness must have been a blessing to Elizabeth. I’m sure she was grieved over the loss. I do not doubt that she wished to speak with her husband concerning the things that were happening to her and to them. But the muteness was a sign to her as well – a confirmation and reassurance that the things said to Zachariah in the temple were true. 

Three,  Zachariah’s muteness, along with the timely restoration of his ability to speak, were a sign to all who considered their testimony and looked in upon their household and their child. Fear (reverential fear) came upon all their neighbors. These things were talked about throughout the region. These things were treasured in their hearts as they wondered what this child would be, for they could see clearly that the hand of the Lord was with him.  

Four, the blessings of Zachariah’s muteness have extended down through the corridors of time, have gone to the ends of the earth, and have come even to you and to me. For this miraculous event was a sign concerning the truthfulness of what God said and did in those days as he brought the Messiah into the world along with the Messiah’s forerunner, born to Zachariah and Elizabeth, whose name was John.

*****

Conclusion

I would like to move this sermon toward a conclusion by suggesting to you that perhaps Luke has set Zachariah before us as a kind of model for those who are uncertain and doubting. Luke wrote to Theophilus so that he might have certainty concerning the things he had been taught. And the very first character that Luke sets before us is Zechariah, the uncertain and doubting one. The good news was delivered to him, but he did not believe it. So the angel said, “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” (Luke 1:20, ESV). Zachariah’s doubting did not hinder God’s plans. No, they rolled along. Mary believed and was blessed. Elizabeth believed and was blessed. Zachariah was silent. He could only observe and marvel over the accomplishment of God’s plan and ponder the Scriptures. When he speaks again, he speaks with boldness and faith. It is as if Luke is encouraging the one who doubts and is filled with uncertainty to do the same – to refrain from speaking and to consider the marvelous works of God in light of the inspired Words of God previously given. Here is where confidence and certainty in the faith will be found – by seeing all that God has done in and through Christ Jesus as a fulfillment of prophecies and promises previously made. 

To put it bluntly, brothers and sisters, it would be good for us to talk less and read the Bible more. It would be good for us to hold our peace and contemplate the Holy Scriptures with more and more care. And having done this – having contemplated the Scriptures with care, having believed them, and stored them up in our hearts – we will then be well equipped to speak of God and the glories of the salvation he has worked for us. By God’s grace, we will speak like Mary, Elizabeth, and Zachariah after his time of silence. By his grace, we will use our words to bless the Lord, to magnify him, and to rejoice in the salvation he has worked for us in Christ. By his grace, we will rejoice in the Lord in our own hearts and also with others as we marvel over the wonderful things that God has done for sinners.

Lord willing, we will consider the prophecy of Zachariah found in Luke 1:67-80 next Sunday. I’d like to read this passage now to conclude. Notice the change in Zachariah. No longer was he doubting. No, he emerged from his months of silence full of faith in the promised, and soon-to-be-born, Messiah. He “was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. [And to his son John, he said,] And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:67–79, ESV)

Thanks be to God for his covenant faithfulness and the salvation he has worked for us through Christ Jesus, the son of Abraham, the son of David, the son of Mary. And thanks be to God for John the Baptist too, miraculously born to faithful parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, to prepare the way for the Lord’s Anointed One, in whom we trust and through whom we are led in the way of peace.