Luke 1:5-38 Are you ready for Jesus?

Theological Proposition/Focus: God has given the greatest gift imaginable, a Savior who not only saves us from sin but also transforms our hearts.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate God’s provision of a Savior, we need to make sure our hearts are ready.

Introduction: Memory Verse 1 John 2:28

Image: Have you ever been completely unprepared for something? I was unprepared for my oral comprehensive exam

When I was working on my Math degree at the University of Colorado I had to take an oral exam before I could begin writing my dissertation. Basically, I stood at a chalkboard in front of five faculty members while they peppered me with Number Theory questions. I had been studying for three years and was preparing for the exam. One of the other students Amy was also planning to write a dissertation in Number Theory and so we started studying together to prepare for our oral exam. We spent most of the summer preparing and went through book after book. Finally the time came and we scheduled our exams. Amy scheduled her exam for Tuesday and I scheduled my exam for Wednesday. Shortly after her exam Amy called me on the phone and told me that it had gone great and it would be easy, they had asked exactly the questions we had studied. The next day I confidently walked into the room and the first question was a question from the material after all the questions they had asked Amy the day before. What I realized was that instead of asking me the same questions they had asked Amy, they decided to essentially continue Amy's exam with me. I was completely unprepared and stumbled through the exam. Thankfully they passed me but it was an awful experience being completely unprepared.

Setting the Stage:

The book of Luke paints a beautiful picture of the Christmas story. However, before we even get to the Christmas story, Luke paints the backdrop. Luke chapter 1 is rich in this backdrop. Luke paints a picture of two seemingly nobody families who are responsible for the greatest change the world has ever seen. Today, we are going to spend our time looking at the backdrop and using the backdrop to help us better prepare for Jesus. Remember, this is not an exercise in mere historical theorizing. Jesus is coming again so this backdrop is critical for our understanding of how we can prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior.

Body (Read in sections)

We live in a fallen world and the effects of sin are devastating (1:5-17).

The effects of sin are felt by the godless and righteous alike (5-7).

Three people are mentioned in verse 5 and the contrast is implicit.

Herod the Great - an Edomite ruler who was granted the title Kind go Judea by the Roman senate epitomized human nature.

Herod was a ruthless ruler who was so afraid of losing power that he destroyed any who threatened him. Caesar Augustus is rumored to have joked that it was safer to be Herod's pig than his relative. At least a king of the Jews would likely avoid the uncleanness associated with eating a pig. In many ways, Herod epitomizes the selfish evil that resides in each of our hearts.

Zechariah and Elizabeth - Descendants of Aaron who show that even sinners can be righteous before the Lord.

The comparison between Abraham and Sarah and Zechariah and Elizabeth is clear. Both were aged, both were childless, both were declared blameless by God. Not because they were tautologically perfect but because God chose to see them as righteous. The key fact we need to understand is that they have a major problem, bareness, not because of sins they have committed but simply because God allowed them to be childless.

Even in the midst of a fallen sinful world, God is at work (8-15).

The events in the temple in verses 8-10 help us realize that the Israelite religion is primed for something more. Primed for God to step in and change the world.

Twenty four divisions of priests allowed each division the opportunity to serve in the temple two weeks out of each year. Within this division priests were given various tasks by lot. Zechariah's time had finally come and he was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to be in charge of the incense. What we need to remember here is that there was one temple and a ton of people. In fact, there were so many priests that you only had the opportunity to serve in the temple once in your life. If you wanted more you were out of luck. The God who personally chose Abraham, personally talked with Moses is in many ways untouchable at this point. Zechariah has been given his seemingly one and only opportunity to be close to God. The stage is set there must be something more, surely there is another way to be close to the God of the universe.

The appearance of an angel is something special, different.

We need to understand that God does work in our world and in His timing he takes steps to bless. We are not deserving of God's blessing but he does hear and respond.

In fact, God is the one in charge of this new human: God chooses the name, God chooses the lifestyle actions

Normally Zechariah would have the right to name the child. Instead God takes that right. Normally, the child would choose how to live life, instead God chooses.

God, in His grace, calls His people to righteousness (16-17).

Verse 17 tells us something important John satisfies God's promise through Malachi 3:1 to send Elijah but also John does much more. John prepares the people for the Lord. Not just for the Lord's coming but actually for the Lord. The solution is to turn people's hearts to the Lord.

We need to recognize that we can tend to be skeptical about God's work (1:18-25)

There is a real temptation to question the validity of the message God has for us (18-20).

Zachariah asks "κατὰ τί γνώσομαι" (on what basis can I know). i.e. He questions legitimacy of the statement not how it could happen.

I want to make a point here. There seems to be a big difference between asking God how something is possible or admitting that you are struggling to believe something and just flat out doubting God's word. I think Zechariah's mistake is that he doubted the Word of God rather than questioned how it could be. The difference is subtle but I think it matters. Other biblical characters certainly ask God for help in their belief but I think this is a little different. Zechariah had been praying for this and now that his prayer is about to be answered he expresses doubt at the Word of God. My summary, when you pray for something and get and answer, accept that answer!

We need to be prepared to listen to the message that God has for us (21-22).

Something that strikes me as I read through the passage is how the rest of the people respond. They may have initially assumed the worst. Maybe something went wrong as Zechariah approached the Holy of Holies and God struck him down. When Zechariah emerges they move from the worst to realization. God has directly intervened in human history and Zechariah has seen a vision. We need to be quick to realize that God is at work!

We need to readily acknowledge God as the source of blessing (23-25).

The thing I enjoy in Elizabeth's response is just how fast she realizes that God is the source of her blessing. We need to be quick to notice God!

We need to recognize that our fallen state is still something God can use for His work (1:26-33)

Mary's qualifications to be part of God's work did not include sinlessness (26-28).

Mary's is identified as a virgin, In other words she had not had sexual contact with a man. She is not called righteous like Zechariah and Elizabeth in verse 6

This does not mean that Mary was herself sinless. Nothing in the text indicates that Mary was without sin.

Why was it important that Mary was a virgin? Theologically, Romans 5:12 teaches us that sin entered the world through Adam. Without getting too deep in the weeds my view is that by nature of not having a Father Jesus was able to be born without a sin nature passed onto him from his father.

Mary's qualification to be part of God's work had everything to do with grace (29-30).

In fact, the angel tells Mary that she has found grace with God,

We need to recognize that our ultimate role is as servants of the Lord (1:34-38)

Being a servant of God means giving God everything, even your future (34-35).

Mary's question is a good question. "How?" Why is this such a good question?

But also because in having this baby Mary was taking significant risk.

We must understand the society. A woman who was pregnant out of marriage was destined to love a pretty horrible life. No man would want to marry such a woman. Mary was asked to literally give up her future in service to God. Now we know the rest of the story. Joseph chooses to remain with Mary and Mary goes on to have other children but at this point in the story we must realize what Mary has been asked to do.

Being a servant of God means looking for how God is at work around you to be prepared to accept His work through you (36-37).

Something that I also think it important is to realize that even when God is working uniquely in your life he is often at work in the life of someone else.

I find it interesting that neither Mary or Elizabeth were asked to serve God alone. Instead God worked so that the two could serve God together. The situation in which you find yourself may be unlike any other situation but that doesn't mean you are alone in the situation. We need to be ready to look around and seek companions in our service.