PART A OF THE NATIVITY NARRATIVE 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. 1
8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 2
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. 3
John was to be raised a Nazirite Israelites who took on themselves the vow prescribed in Num. 6:2 21. The word denotes generally one who is separated from others and consecrated to God. The vow of a Nazirite involved these three things, (1) abstinence from wine and strong drink, (2) refraining from cutting the hair off the head, and (3) the avoidance of contact with the dead. Eastons Bible dictionary. 4
He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also 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 a people prepared for the Lord. 5
The temple in which Zacharias was serving was patterned after the Tabernacle in Moses day. 6
There is a miniature model of the temple in Jerusalem today 7
The altar of incense where Zacharias was serving is #4. The angel was standing between the altar and the lamp stand 8
On the other side of the veil was the Holy of Holies, the presence of God 9
The timing of the angel s announcement needs to be put in perspective 10
God perfectly timed every aspect of the nativity from Caesar in Rome to the return from Egypt Gal. 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father! 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, an heir of God through Christ. 11
Malachi said Elijah would return and spiritually prepare Israel for Messiah and His earthly kingdom 600 years before Jesus, Isaiah spoke of Messiah s forerunner Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. The Holy Spirit said of John Matt. 3:3. For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, 5. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 12
God had not spoken to Israel for 400 years, so the appearance of the angel to Zacharias was amazing Elijah preached repentance 700 years before Christ John preached Repent for Messiah s Kingdom is near 13
God was offering the promised earthly Kingdom to Israel on condition of repentance Matt. 11:11 Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. Luke 1:17 He will also 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 a people prepared for the Lord. 14
John being Elijah to introduce the Messiah was totally overwhelming To Elizabeth and Zacharias And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Luke 1:41 15
Zacharias and Elizabeth lived most all of their lives believing in God and faithfully obeying all of God s commandments! And for what? A lifetime of wondering why God had not blessed them as others They shaped one life and probably didn t live to see 16
Don t we all long to be significant for God? Zacharias and Elizabeth were hugely significant Their faithfulness blessed God all their lives and shaped John 17