The Forerunner of the Savior

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1 The Forerunner of the Savior Bible Background LUKE 1:1 23, Printed Text LUKE 1:8 20 Devotional Reading JOHN 1:19 23 Aim for Change By the end of the lesson, we will: REVIEW Zacharias role in the story of the birth of John; IDENTIFY with Zacharias feelings of doubt and apprehension; and ACCEPT and FULFILL the tasks to which God has called us. In Focus On the way home from work, Devon prayed about how he would break the news of his transfer to another state. I m not sure how I m going to tell Brenda this, he thought. He and Brenda would have to move, or Devon would need to find a new job. Though Brenda usually dealt with the unexpected gracefully, she was upset at the thought of moving away from family and friends. Moving across the country was not quite what she had had in mind when she prayed that God would use her and her husband! However, she and Devon prayed about the decision and agreed to put their house up for sale. The housing market wasn t great in their area, but they asked God to show them if it was His will for them to move or to stay. Their house sold in three days, when most houses were taking a month or two to sell. I think God has given us our answer, Devon said. So in obedience, they prepared to move. After arriving in their new community, Devon and Brenda began to understand why God had moved them. Because of their backgrounds and skill sets, both of them were immediately able to join together in ministry in ways that were totally unexpected and fulfilling. In today s lesson, we will learn how God answered Zacharias prayers in a powerful and unusual way. Have you ever witnessed God answering your prayers in a powerful and unusual way? Keep in Mind Thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth (from Luke 1:13 14). KJV Luke 1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest s office before God in the order of his course,

2 9 According to the custom of the priest s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. NLT Luke 1:8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. 11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, Don t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.

3 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly. 18 Zechariah said to the angel, How can I be sure this will happen? I m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years. 19 Then the angel said, I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time. The People, Places, and Times Elisabeth. Priests could marry only a woman of pure Jewish lineage, with preference toward descendants of Aaron. Zacharias wife Elisabeth met both qualifications. Nevertheless, Zacharias and Elisabeth lived in shame because they were unable to have children. In ancient times, to be barren was a tragedy. A childless couple would have no one to support them in their old age, but worse than that, barrenness was often considered a curse or divine judgment for sin. To nullify the idea that their barrenness was a result of God s judgment on Elisabeth, Luke clearly points out that both Zacharias and Elisabeth were upright and blameless in their relationship with God (Luke 1:6). The Nazirite Vow. In Numbers 6:1 21, God delineated a special vow called the Nazirite vow. This was a vow of separation to God and involved consecrating oneself for a specific amount of time of special devotion to God. A person under the constraint of a Nazirite vow was prohibited from drinking any wine or other fermented drink. The Nazirite was also prohibited from eating or drinking anything that came from the grapevine grapes, raisins, grape juice, and even the seeds and skins of grapes. Nazirites were also prohibited from using a razor (i.e., cutting their hair) for the duration of their vow, and they could not go near a dead body. They were expected to be entirely devoted to God. At the completion of the vow, Nazirites went through a prescribed ceremony where they presented specific offerings to God. Though taking a Nazirite vow was usually voluntary, the Bible includes instances where people were apparently chosen by God to be Nazirites for life. Among these are Samson (see Judges 13:2 5), Samuel (see 1 Samuel 1:11), and John the Baptist (Luke 1:15).

4 Background According to God s instructions, every male who was directly descended from Aaron was automatically a priest (see Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8). Because of this, there were many more priests than there were jobs for them to do. The priests were divided into 12 divisions according to their lineage. Every priest would serve during the special holy days such as Passover, Pentecost, or the Feast of Tabernacles, but other than that, each division served two periods of one week each. The priests would draw lots to see who would serve each week. Priests who loved God and loved serving Him considered it the highlight of their life to be chosen to serve for a week. Within each division of nearly one thousand priests, the daily duties were also determined by lot. Daily duties included offering the morning or evening sacrifice for the nation of Israel, other assorted offerings of flour and oil, drink offerings, and burning incense. The purpose of burning incense was so that the sacrifices would ascend to God surrounded with a sweet smell that would please Him. Burning incense was an especially desired duty, and many priests were never selected for this duty in their entire lives of service. The incense would have been burned at the altar of incense (see Exodus 30:1 10) inside the Temple in the Court of Priests, alternately called the Holy Place. Pious Jews would pray outside in an outer court called the Court of the Israelites, watching for the smoke that would symbolize their prayers rising to God. After burning the incense to conclude the evening sacrifice, the priest would traditionally come out and bless the waiting crowd. At-A-Glance 1. The Chance of a Lifetime (Luke 1:8 10) 2. Visitation from an Angel (vv ) In Depth 1. The Chance of a Lifetime (Luke 1:8 10) Zacharias was a priest of God from the division that had descended from Aaron through the line of Abijah (see 1 Chronicles 24:5 19, esp. v. 10). He had not only been chosen to serve for his division s week, but also chosen to offer the incense! This was a day that any priest would have dreamed of. Zacharias entered the Holy Place and began to pray near the heated altar of incense. The Bible does not say that Zacharias was praying for his own needs during this time. Perhaps he was praying for the coming of the Messiah, a prayer that was often prayed and the answer longed for. All people of Israel were constantly waiting in eager expectation for their Deliverer to come. Even now, as Zacharias interceded for the Jewish nation, they were outside mingling their prayers with his.

5 2. Visitation from an Angel (vv ) As Zacharias ministered before the Lord, an angel suddenly appeared to him and assured him that his prayers had been heard. God was going to send the Messiah! The personal prayers of Zacharias heart were answered, too. He would become the father of a son but not just any son. Zacharias son would be a prophet, a Nazirite, a forerunner of the Messiah! Zacharias was instructed to name his son John, meaning God is gracious. This unexpected son, filled with and empowered by the Holy Spirit from birth, was destined to play an enormous role in God s plan of salvation and would bring joy to many. But Zacharias responded in fear and disbelief. He asked for proof that what the angel said would truly come to pass. Gabriel, the angel, offered him the proof that the message was true because it came directly from God. How could it be anything but truth if God said it? Furthermore, because of Zacharias disbelief, he would not be able to speak at all until the child was born. Search the Scriptures 1. Why would many people rejoice at John s birth (Luke 1:14 15)? 2. What does it mean that John will go before [the Lord] in the spirit and power of [Elijah] (vv. 17)? Discuss the Meaning Zacharias request for proof from the angel contrasts sharply with Mary s request for details. Though as humans we tend toward skepticism, how might we more fully trust God s promises and joyfully express our realization of His activity in our lives? Lesson in Our Society No doubt in a daze, Zacharias silently finished his memorable week of service and went home. Elisabeth conceived a child, and Zacharias got the proof he had been seeking. It is noteworthy that Zacharias heard from God while he was in the Temple worshiping and serving God. He had placed himself in a position to hear from God. When we spend time in God s presence, we open up the door of communication. God speaks to those who listen for His voice. Make It Happen Despite our limitations, we know that God has the power to do anything He wants to do, whenever He wants to do it and He sometimes uses extraordinary means to fulfill His purposes. This can be both scary and exciting. This week, put aside your skepticism and fear. Ask God to do whatever He wants to do in and through you. Expect great things! More Light on the Text More Light on the Text Luke 1:8 20

6 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest s office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. After all his introductions, Luke uses verses 8 10 to describe the setting for the following story. The angel s appearance, Zacharias response, and the angel s message all happened while the course of Abia (the division in which Zacharias served, v. 5) was engaged in its scheduled turn of Temple service. Fortunately for Zacharias, he was assigned to perform the particular service of burning incense. Given the number of priests serving in each of the twenty-four divisions, and given that only one priest was required to offer incense at the daily sacrifices, this was a once-in-a-lifetime privilege for Zacharias. Moreover, it afforded him the opportunity to go into the Temple sanctuary (v. 9; Gk. naos, nah-ose), which was comprised of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, as opposed to the entire Temple complex (cf. Luke 2:27, 37, 46; Gk. hieron, hee-eh-ron). Few priests were ever afforded this privilege. Because of the large number of priests, no ordinary priest was allowed to burn incense more than once in a lifetime. Consequently, this was the high point of Zacharias priestly career. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. The phrase an angel of the Lord is used here from its Old Testament context to refer to a special messenger sent by God to announce an important event (Genesis 16, 22, 31; Exodus 3). Luke further says that the angel was standing on the right side of the altar of incense. To stand or be placed on the right side of someone or something suggests being favored (e.g., Matthew 25:34). In other words, the right side is the favored side the side of joy, happiness, and salvation. Here, when the angel of the Lord appeared on the right side of the altar of incense, he was positioned to announce a blessing and bestow a favor upon the one who witnessed his appearance. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. When Zacharias saw the angel of the Lord, he was troubled. Luke uses the Greek word tarasso (tah-ras-so), which when used in reference to people expresses uneasiness mixed with fear, even to the point of shaking. Thus Luke adds, and fear fell on him. The New International Version translates this passage as he was startled and was gripped with fear. Fear like this is the normal reaction of those who experience the supernatural presence of God. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. Throughout the Bible, fear not is a common statement of reassurance upon witnessing or experiencing the supernatural activity and presence of God (see Genesis 15:1; Mark 5:36; Luke 1:30; Revelation 1:17).

7 The basis for the angel s words of reassurance is the good news that Zacharias prayer has been heard. Exactly what Zacharias had been praying for is not clear. It is likely that he was praying for children. Luke is sure to set up (v. 7) that Zacharias and his wife, Elisabeth, are childless and beyond child-bearing age. It makes the angel s words more easily understood: Your prayer [to have a baby] is answered: Elisabeth will have a baby. Zacharias might also have been praying for the salvation of Israel. Thus the angel s declaration and instruction that Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John was enough to let Zacharias know that his son-to-be would, in some way, be involved in Israel s salvation. In the social culture of Zacharias day, the customary privilege was for the father to name his son. In this instance, the name John is divinely provided and therefore has significant meaning: Jehovah has been gracious. Because of the Lord s grace, John s birth will bring heavenly and eternal joy, so the following verse is an affirmation. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. This verse points to a special kind of joy that will come to Zacharias and Elisabeth, and then spread to many. Luke uses three words in connection with John s birth to describe this special kind of joy: chara(khah-rah), translated joy ; agalliasis (ah-gall-lee-ah-sees), translated gladness; and chairo (KHEYE-ro), which is a verb used for the act of expressing joy. Luke wants his readers to know that God will do a special work through Zacharias and Elisabeth s son, John, that will benefit many in Israel. God will involve John in a plan for saving people. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. The angel prophesies of John s destiny. He will be a great man; note that he will be great in the sight of the Lord, not necessarily other people. John would also be restricted from drinking wine or any alcohol, similar to the lifelong Nazirite vow of Samson (Judges 13:4 5, 7). He would also be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother s womb. This greatness would be the result of his life mission. John would turn many of the Children of Israel to the Lord. Next, the angel paraphrases Malachi 4:5 6 in describing John s mission: he would be the forerunner of the new exodus as prophesied by Isaiah (40:1 5). John s role was to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. The word for make ready (Gk. hetoimazo, hehtoy-mahd-zoh) that Luke uses here is only used in the New Testament in an ethical or religious sense. John s life and message would be used to prepare the people spiritually for this new exodus. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and

8 to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. Zacharias does not believe the angel s words. Similar to Abraham before him, he asks for confirmation (Genesis 15:8). The angel gives his qualifications as a messenger of God, but he also delivers some bad news: Zacharias would become mute until the birth of John, a sign that confirms the promise but also rebukes Zacharias lack of faith. Say It Correctly Nazirite. NA-zur-ite. Jehovah. juh-hoe-vah. Daily Bible Readings MONDAY Aaron and Sons, a Perpetual Priesthood (Exodus 40:12 25) TUESDAY Tending the Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1 10) WEDNESDAY Chosen by Lot to Serve (Acts 1:21 26) THURSDAY Zacharias and Elisabeth Are Childless (Luke 1:5 7)

9 FRIDAY His Name is John (Luke 1:57 66) SATURDAY Testimony of John the Baptist (John 1:19 23) SUNDAY Birth of John the Baptist Foretold (Luke 1:8 20)

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