The essence of “faith” is “having certainty” about someone or something. Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV) says “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, that what is visible is made out of what is invisible. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” In Hebrews 11 everyone who ever did much of anything did it out of a confidence in God, assurance that God exists, that God would act, God would reward, God would fulfill his promises! Hebrews 11. Story after story! Read it! Abel. Enoch. Noah. Abraham. Sarah. Isaac. Jacob. Joseph. Moses. The Egyptians. Rahab. Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, David, and Samuel…
This fall we’re looking at the book of Luke. Luke was written to a benefactor named Theophilus. Theophilus had been instructed about Jesus. He had knowledge about Jesus. His very name means “lover of God.” But maybe Theophilus was lukewarm? Maybe he was tepid about Jesus, on the fence, non-committal, unwilling to really risk much of anything for his faith? In Hebrews 11 everyone makes the ultimate sacrifice because they have confidence or certainty.
This is what Luke wants for Theophilus… and for all of us… certainty! Luke 1:3-4, “… I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.” What Luke does for us, in Luke 1-2 is not unlike Hebrews 11. He gives us these snapshots of the people who were the first to believe in Jesus.
Up first, in Luke 1, is Zechariah. Zechariah was a notable priest. His wife Elizabeth was a descendent of Aaron himself. Remember Moses and Aaron? They were as credentialed as you get—dyed in the wool Jewish insiders. Righteous in God’s sight. Without blame in regard to the commands of God. Luke tells us they are quite old, probably not unlike Abraham and Sarah in Genesis. But here’s the thing… they were human… and it was a source of shame that they had always been childless.
There is a song on the radio called Cupid, that’s about unfound love. It begins, “A hopeless romantic all my life. Surrounded by couples all the time. I guess I should take it as a sign (Oh, why, oh, why, oh, why, oh, why?).” Then the chorus says, “I gave a second chance to Cupid. But now I'm left here feelin' stupid.”
If you’re childless, you’re surrounded by parents and children all the time, and it’s the same sort of sign. When are you going to get to it? Zechariah and Elizabeth found cupid, but that metaphorical stork never delivered a baby. Oh why, oh why?
Now what’s funny about Zechariah is that he gets selected by lottery to serve in the great temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. He’s at the hour of incense, he’s supposed to be praying for the nation of Israel, people are praying outside along him, but as he ministers, this is a once in a lifetime duty! What is on his mind? The Great Angel Gabriel appears to him at the altar of incense and tells him his prayers have been heard. Zechariah is filled with terror. Could you imagine what your prayer life would be like if a Gabriel showed up when you prayed? The angel says he and Elizabeth are going to have a son, and they are to name him “John.” Do you think Zechariah felt kind of small, or ashamed, or even stupid?
Maybe there was a time in your life when God fulfilled one of your dreams? Maybe for love? Maybe for a child? Maybe for something else. Maybe God hasn’t yet fulfilled a wish, or longing, or dream… and maybe it’s stirred doubt? Why not God? Why others but not me? This is a funny place for the story of Jesus to begin don’t you agree?
However, Zechariah and Elizabeth are Israelites. And the Israelite nation—like long over-due childless couples—we’re praying for two children to be born. They were praying for a prophet like Elijah, a special messenger to be born and appear in Israel. They were praying for an offspring of Eve, of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (great patriarchs), a descendant of the great King David to be born, the Messiah, the Christ of God, Daniel’s Son of Man, Isaiah’s suffering servant.
Israel the bride of Christ had known, and found cupid, they were loved of God. But the metaphorical stork had never come to Israel. It was to Israel’s shame… no messenger, no messiah. But Zechariah is the first to be told that not only was the stork dropping a baby in their household, but that baby was the long awaited Messenger, Prophet like Elijah. In other words, Zechariah and Elizabeth’s dream is getting fulfilled and simultaneously with that of Israel! Luke 1:14-17, “There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”
Now what’s amazing here… is there are two birth announcements. The first is that of John the Baptist… but the second is that the hope of Israel (the Christ or Messiah) is coming right behind him. John will turn the children of Israel to the Lord their God…. He will make them ready for the coming of the LORD! Zechariah responds to Gabriel’s announcement almost the same way Abraham and Sarah did in Old Testament. Do you remember Sarah laughed at God? In Luke 1:18, Zechariahs asks, “how can I know this…” Not, “I believe…” but “How can I be … CERTAIN!?”
Gabriel takes Zechariah’s voice away for nine months as a sign to him. He tells Zechariah, “these things will be fulfilled in their proper time.” Five months later Elizabeth is “showing.”
Next second, in Luke is Mary. Mary and Joseph are pledged in marriage. They found cupid, but they haven’t even tied the knot. Gabriel appears to her and says, “The Lord is with you.” Like Zechariah, she is terrified, deeply afraid. “The Lord is with me how?” She is then informed that the Lord is with her as in … she’s pregnant, she will conceive and give birth to the long-awaited Messiah or Christ!
Listen to the attributes Mary’s baby Jesus will have: Well first, he will be named Jesus, which means God saves. But also Luke 1:32-33: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” There is an age-old rumor that the gospel writers never considered Jesus to be God, that it wasn’t until the Counsel of Nicaea, centuries later, that the Catholic Church invented the divinity of Jesus. Don’t say that to Mary.
Mary’s reaction to Gabriel is not unlike Zechariah’s. Despite the Great Archangel Gabriel standing in their midst, Mary’s question in Luke 1:34 is, “ “How can this be… I’ve not been in relations with a man!” How can I be certain?
One thing you can say about Zechariah and Mary is that they were every bit as human as Abraham and Sarah, you and me. Outrageous to think the nursing home should prepare for it’s first ever birth. Outrageous to think a virgin, before wedlock, apart from any sexual relations, without a man… could have a baby. How in the world? Luke 1:35-38, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” … [and Mary’s response…] 38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.”
Luke 1:46-55 Mary sings! “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy. 50 His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him. 51 He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors.”
Luke 1:68-79 Zechariah sings! “Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. 72 He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant— 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant that we, 74 having been rescued from the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. 88 Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us 79 to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Now with expectations soaring… here is the question. What comes of these two miracle babies, John and Jesus? Do they fulfill their destiny? Do they fulfill all that God promised them to fulfill for generations and generations? We’ll come back to this next week! But here is a sneak peak:
Luke 1:80, regarding John, “The child grew up and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”
Luke 2:39-40, regarding Jesus, “The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him.”
I’d like to end with Romans 15:4 where the Apostle Paul writes, “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction. . .” It’s okay that we have sermons like these, where you learn about the events, history, circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth. But here is the other part! “. . . so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.”
The deeper goal is you’ll come to stake your life on certainty of that which has been fulfilled in Christ, and is still yet to be fulfilled at end of age!