The Announcement of John’s Birth
Luke 1:1–25
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
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.
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. 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. 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.”
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Dear Fellow Redeemed,
The season of Advent is a time to help us prepare for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We celebrate Christmas on December 25th, but how do we know Jesus was born on that day when Scripture doesn’t even tell us? People who doubt the Bible will often claim that Christians used this date to replace pagan festivals. Yet, this argument does not have any real historical evidence. What’s more, there are also many good reasons which show Jesus was born on December 25th. One of them comes from our lesson this evening.
Luke, the writer of our Gospel, was a historian. He begins by telling us about a priest named Zacharias who served in the Temple, who was “of the division of Abijah.” King David organized the priests into different rotations which were assigned to the temple twice a year. The division of Abijah was assigned the 8th and 32nd rotations (I Chronicles 24). Zacharias, or Zechariah, would have been on duty around the Day of Atonement (Sept. 22–30). This is when the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, and when he returned home, John the Baptist was conceived (Luke 1:24). That would put John’s birth in late June—and ancient Church has always celebrated John’s birth on June 24. But Luke doesn’t stop there. He tells us six months after Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, he then appeared to the Virgin Mary. Six months after late September would be late March. March 25th has always been the date of celebrating Christ’s conception in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Nine months from March 25th brings you to December 25th. Now back to our lesson.
Zacharias was a priest who was married to Elizabeth. They were righteous before God, walking in his commandments, blameless. They were OT believers who trusted in God’s promised Messiah, making them righteous in God’s sight. But we are told that they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were now past the age when a child might be expected.
Luke records for us the surprising events that unfolded when Zechariah went to offer incense in the temple. For there stood on the right side of the altar an angel, “And fear fell upon him.” Even though Zechariah was blameless before God, when a sinner is confronted by heavenly majesty, the conscience becomes disturbed. A sinner can’t stand before holiness—our conscience becomes afraid that we will come under God’s righteous judgement.
But the angel proclaimed, “Do not be afraid…” As a priest and faithful OT believer, Zachariah prayed for God’s promised Redeemer and now the angel proclaimed that his prayer was heard. Elizabeth would give birth to John, who the Prophet Malachi foretold to be the forerunner of the promised Messiah. John would bring joy to more than just his parents, because his birth meant the coming of the long-awaited Savior. While John the Baptizer would be rejected by the rulers and Pharisees, he would be great in the Lord’s sight. John would prepare the way by preaching repentance, turning “many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.” John’s preaching took people by surprise, because instead of preaching work-righteousness like the Pharisees who placed the traditions of men over and above God’s Word, he would show how we are unable to save ourselves by our own works. We are sinners who need a Savior. John pointed his listeners to Jesus, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
At this wonderful and joyous news, Zacharias replied to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” Instead of rejoicing at this news, he doubted. But humanly speaking, we can understand Zacharias’ confusion! He was an old man, and his wife was well beyond the years of expecting a child. He could not believe the angel’s words. He doubted.
But God silences our doubts—quite literally for Zacharias! The angel said, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.” I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God, one of only two angels mentioned by name in Scripture, and I came to bring this great news—but you don’t believe me? Is an angel from God appearing before you in the temple not enough? Because of this, Gabriel declared, “You will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
Zacharias got his sign—not being able to speak. For the next nine months he would be able to ponder these words from Gabriel. At first, we may think that his consequence seems a bit harsh. Yet, who are we to question God’s ways. What’s more, Zacharias was a faithful believer, blameless in God’s sight, and a priest in the temple! If anyone should believe God’s word it should be him! He knew the history of God’s people—how God brought about great miracles like the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah in their old age.
Here, we learn an important lesson—God wants us to trust his word. And we can, because God never lies. Zechariah should have known better—he should have believed the words of the angel. But couldn’t that be said of us as well? Each of us know well the stories of Scripture—of Abraham and Sarah, Samson, Gideon, and Zechariah. But how often do we find ourselves doubting God’s Word?
God has spoken to us in his Word, that we should not worry… but we doubt like Zechariah, “How can this be? Give me a sign!” God tells us that we should not be so concerned with the things of this world, but so often we find ourselves getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. God has spoken to us in his Word, that he will never leave us nor forsake us, but so often we act as if we are all alone without God’s help. God has spoken to us in his Word, that you matter to him, that he loves you… but we say, “How can this be? I am a sinner! Give me a sign!”
The history of God’s people teaches us that even God’s people fail and fall short. We are no different. We are weak and doubtful people, who often question God’s plan. This shows us the great mercy of God, that he loves us despite our weaknesses. It’s because of our sin that he sent our Redeemer and Savior! It was part of God’s great plan for our salvation, to use the son of a doubting priest, to be the last and final prophet who would point weak and doubting sinners, to “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
In Jesus, we have been given the greatest sign of God’s love for us, his only begotten Son, who came to suffer and die for the sins of the world. He has paid for all our sins, even sins of doubt and worry. Our dear Lord Jesus came to dispel our doubts, rid us of our fears, and open wide the gates of heaven, where sin will be no more. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, but he became poor and lowly, born in a stable and crucified on the cross, so that we through his poverty might become rich.
After John was born and named, Zechariah spoke again. He praised God by describing how God keeps his word and promises. He now knew God’s keeps his word—and so do we. God has shown himself to be true, we can trust his Word, even when humanly speaking, it beyond all human comprehension, for we know, that “with God all things are possible.” A baby born to a barren woman. A baby born of a virgin who was the Savior of the world. A baby baptized and made a child of God. A person saved by grace alone. Amen!