Characters Of Christmas: Zacharias - Just Keep Quiet Series

Note I used Jon Courson’s notes from e-sword’s Application Commentary on this passage plus the Preacher’s Commentary in Luke.

Title: Christmas Characters Zacharias

Theme: To show lessons learned from the life of Zacharias

Text: Luke 1:1-80

Zacharias:

Luk 1:1-20 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."

Luke 1:57-64 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. (58) When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. (59) So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. (60) His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John." (61) But they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name." (62) So they made signs to his father; what he would have him called. (63) And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John." So they all marveled. (64) Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.

Background.

Luke’s intention of writing this Gospel was to give Theophilus an organized and authoritative account of what happened during Jesus life. Luke tells us that he has done an investigative report into what happened, no doubt he had interviewed many eye witnesses (as there were many, his book was written only 30 years after the death of Christ. There were people who were still alive. Also it is believed that there was a Q writing that represented the history of what happened. Probably authored by a disciple. Luke had access to this. He wanted to give him an accurate account.

I said all of that because when you read Luke you need to see it not only as a Gospel but an historical document. This also as we see in Acts “a history of the church”.