Luke 1:1-25 · Deuteronomy 18 — Luke
A Birth Out of Season
God intervenes in human history at precisely the right time, answering long-standing prayers and revealing his character through miraculous birth. Believers are invited to trust his timing, remember his faithfulness, and praise him for his gracious intervention in their lives.
Introduction
God acts in this world. He intervenes. Even as he created he continues to act on behalf of his creation. He hears prayers and he answers. Many times he answers with the assurance that he is present but his time to act is not now. We want instant answers and responses. We are not patient people and learning to wait is thought to be non-productive. We think things ought to be a certain way and when they are not we become easily frustrated even accusing God of not caring. Our frustration turns to anger or even worse resentment as we struggle to learn that patience is the work of the Spirit in our life.
I think of those of old who demonstrated great patience waiting for God to act. Abraham who received the promise of a child at age 75 and waited 25 years for the promise to be fulfilled. The children of Israel who had to wait 400 years to be set free from Egyptian bondage. Caleb who trusted God to provide a land flowing with milk and honey and because of the sin of the people had to wait 40 years to receive God’s gift. Ezekiel who preached 22 years among the exiles waiting for God to unfold his plan. I see the lives of those who waited and know that there is much that I must learn from their example of faith.
What is often lost in the discussion about developing patience is the fact that God intervenes. Our lack of patience reflect our lack of faith. Patience demonstrates that we are trying to allow God’s wisdom to shine through. God will act. He is not obligated to act when we want him to nor is he obligated to act in ways that we want him to. His promise is that he will act. He intervenes. The events of our lives do not escape his attention and he is constantly at work to bring about his will and purpose. Our response of faith is revealed in our patience and our praise of the God who acts on behalf of his people.
Standing on the eastern side of the Jordan River, Moses in Deuteronomy 18 said that a day would come when God would send his greatest prophet to save his people. 1500 years later, Jesus enters the world. Generation after generation waited for the anointed one of God. There were times that people grew weary and there were times that anticipation rose but the generations passed and people waited. At just the right time, God sent his son into the world, born of a woman, born under law to redeem those under law, that we might received the full rights as sons and daughters. God intervened to save us. He is worthy of our praise.
The History
Luke is writing a history about the life of Jesus. But not mere biography. Luke has the desire to write something which confirms the nature and character of Jesus. Like a true historian, Luke uses other documents and even conducts personal interviews to get his information. He is writing to verify and to certify that the stories are true and that Jesus is indeed who he claimed to be.
The history begins with a devout couple—Zechariah and Elizabeth. Both are from priestly families. According to verse 7 they were childless and old. No children and too old to start now. As the story unfolds Zechariah has received the honor to offer incense in the temple. Thousands of priests worked in the temple. Tradition tells us that each priest worked two weeks out of the year and then on the religious holy days. The day to day events of temple worship were decided by lot. There were morning and evening sacrifices at the temple. More than likely Zechariah is going to offer incense at the evening sacrifice.
He along with other priests would enter the Holy Place of the temple. One priest would tend to the candles in the temple. Another might sweep out the ash from the previous sacrifice. Zechariah’s job was to burn incense on the altar in preparation for the sacrifice. The worshipers waited outside in the temple court for the priests to return thus signaling that God was receiving their prayers and offerings. Zechariah steps up to burn the incense and Gabriel, God’s angel, appears to him. Immediately he is told that his prayer has been heard and will now be answered.
The question is which prayer. When the priest burned incense there was a prayer to be offered on behalf of the nation. Israel at this time is under Roman rule. The prayer offered asked for God to bless his people. Is this the prayer that has been answered? Or had Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed to have children when they were younger? It could be that God is answering both prayers. Zechariah and Elizabeth are going to have a son who according to verse 17 will be a blessing to the people.
Zechariah’s response is a logical one if not a faithful one. I am old; my wife is old. The days for having children have come and gone. The question “how can I be sure of this?” is really a question asking for a sign. And so a sign is given. Zechariah will be mute until John is born. This sign serves to confirm the promise but it also punishes Zechariah for his lack of faith. Elizabeth’s response to the promise is quite different. She praises God for taking away her disgrace among the people.
Application
This story reminds us God’s intervention with Abraham and Sarah 2000 years before. A husband and wife long passed childbearing years is given a son who becomes the beginning of God’s people leading up to the Messiah. God intervenes; he acts. Just as with Abraham’s story so it is with Zechariah’s story. There is no doubt who is responsible for this child coming into the world. For conception to occur after the time childbearing is not only a miracle but reveals that God acts on behalf of his people. Surely joy was multiplied because of John’s birth.
Second, John’s name means “God is gracious.” The very name of this baby reveals God’s character. Even before conception his path is laid out. He is going to be great in God’s sight. Not only will Zechariah and Elizabeth have joy but many will express joy because of John’s place in this world. He is going to have divine favor on him and in him throughout his life. Zechariah and Elizabeth are to make sure that he never drinks as a sign of their commitment to God’s plan. And his job—he is going to turn the hearts of the people back to the Lord.
God calls some to special tasks. Once Elizabeth revealed herself she could only speak that God had blessed her with a child so late in life. John comes into this world with parents knowing that he has a special task to carry out for God. Can’t you imagine how Zechariah and Elizabeth spoke to him about the miracle and about God’s call on his life? While most of us do not receive a call to carry out a special task, surely we understand that like Zechariah and Elizabeth we have a story to tell. A story of the one who intervened on our behalf. A story that speaks that we are who we are because God acted on our behalf.
How long have you been praying for God to do something in your life? This story reveals that God hears; he answers. Sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the answer is not yet. And sometimes the answer is “not the way you think.” God always answers prayer. When did Zechariah quit praying for a child? But God held that prayer in his heart and at the right time answered it in ways that Zechariah never thought possible. Our God is a God of possibilities. He answers prayer so that he is revealed and our response is to like that of Elizabeth—The Lord has done this for me; he has shown his favor. May God be praised for his favor.
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