Characters Of Christmas 1 Zacharias And Elizabeth

Characters of Christmas 1 Zacharias and Elizabeth

This morning I would like to see what the Bible says about some of the characters involved with Christmas. We are going to read a bit more of scripture than we usually do, so let me encourage you to grab a Bible from the back, if you don’t have one.

Welcome, greeting, etc.

This morning I would like to see what the Bible says about a couple of characters involved in the Christmas account, so open your Bibles and turn with me please to the book of Luke. Luke chapter 1. Luke chapter 1 and we will begin in verse 1.

- Read Luke 1:1-4

As we begin our study of Christmas, I want you to notice first, who God choose to give us the greatest record of the birth of His Son.

The Gospel of Luke and the record of the Acts were both written by Luke. According to Colossians 4:14 Luke was trained as a medical doctor. He was not trained as a preacher. He was not an eyewitness to the life of Jesus, but he was a companion of Paul, and is often referred to as Luke the Evangelist.

Even though he was not an eyewitness to the events of Jesus’ life, like Matthew, Mark, and John were, God used him to write more of the New Testament than anyone else, because of his careful study, and because of his concern and passion for telling people about Jesus. God inspired Luke to write about 27.5% of the New Testament. He tells us facts about the birth of Jesus that none of the others Gospel writers do. He includes parables of Jesus that none of the other writers share.

In Luke alone we find the parables of the Good Samaritan, the Publican and the Pharisee who went to the Temple to pray, the rich man and Lazarus, the lost coin, the prodigal son, the unjust steward, the rich fool, and the story of Zacchaeus.

My point? God can use you to tell His story, even if you never planned or wanted to be a preacher. All of us are called to be evangelists, ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Whoever you are, wherever you are, wherever you go, you are called to represent the Lord Jesus Christ. You are called to be students of scripture, and then are called to share with others what you have seen. heard, and experienced yourself.

Gary was telling me this week about a Camper on Mission, they had hoped would be able to join them here this year. He’s having some medical issues so he was unable to come, but the other day while he was at the doctor’s office he led his doctor to the Lord!

Turn to someone near you and tell them, “God has called you to tell people about Him.”

What an honor, what a privilege, to be a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ!

So God used an ordinary man, to tell us a miraculous account about His Son.

Now, look there with me again please at verse 5.

- Read Luke 1:5-25, 38-45, 57-66

In this passage, we are introduced to 2 people, Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah and Elizabeth were minding their self-same own business. They weren’t trying to be famous. They had no idea they would be recorded in the Bible. They were a simple couple, minding their own business.

But notice what the Bible tells us about this couple.

1. They were righteous. - v6

Verse 6 tells us that they were righteous, and then it goes on to define for us what that word means. It means, “living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.”

In other words, they did what they knew was right. It amazes me the number of people who are looking for some secret knowledge, or secret twist to the Bible that will make their walk or their experience with the Lord better. You know the greatest key to walking with the Lord and being filled with the Holy Spirit? The greatest key is to do what you already know to do.

They were living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.

There is no magic key. There is no secret handshake you have to unlock. Do what you already know to do.

I grew up in the church. I’ve been a Christian since I was 6 years old. For much of my early years, I did church on Sunday, and lived like the world the rest of the week. But, I remember when I went away to college and had to make a conscious decision whether or not to attend church. I thank the Lord that He introduced me to a good church where I began to grow.