THE FACES OF CHRISTMAS 4
LUKE 1:57-80
‘PRAISE’
INTRODUCTION
For the next three minutes, I would like you to turn to two people, and share what was the most special present you ever received at Christmas? How did you feel when you received it? What were you feelings toward the person who gave it to you?
Usually the first feeling is surprise followed by gratitude and thanksgiving. We thank the person, perhaps hug them, or kiss them. ( If it is your brother or sister you might hit them in the arm. )
God is worthy of our praise. Christmas is the prime time for us to stop and give thanks, praise and worship to God for the most precious of gifts, His Son.
As the Christmas story continues to unfold, Luke introduces us to the face of PRAISE.
57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord(A) had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59And(B) on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60but his mother answered, "No;(C) he shall be called John." 61And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." 62And(D) they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63And he asked for(E) a writing tablet and wrote,(F) "His name is John." And they all wondered. 64(G) And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue(H) loosed, and he spoke,(I) blessing God. 65And(J) fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all(K) the hill country of Judea, 66and all who heard them(L) laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For(M) the hand of the Lord was with him.
In Luke 1:57, we learn that Elizabeth came to full term in her pregnancy and delivered the son God had promised through Gabriel.
Luke tells us that on the eigth day, several women and neighbors arrived to attend the traditional circumcision and naming ceremony.
Many came with gifts addressed to ‘Baby Zach’ or Zach Jr. for the tradition was to name a child after the father or close male relative.
However, Elisabeth does something that completely took their friends by surprise.
“His name is John’ She declared.
I love the response given by the ladies: “What? We’ve never done it that way before!”
They turn and questioned Zacharias about it,
67And his father Zechariah(N) was filled with the Holy Spirit and(O) prophesied, saying, 68(P) "Blessed be the Lord(Q) God of Israel,
The first thing out of Zacharias’ mouth is praise. What a turn of events for this man.
Only a few verses and nine months earlier, Zacharias was filled with doubt and confusion.
The reason he had been stricken silent, was due to his unbelief at the angel’s announcement that God would answer his prayer, and provide Zach and Elisabeth with a son.
Now after nine months of silent contemplation and seeing firsthand the promise of God at work, Zach speaks up and declares the promise and word of God.
He is filled with the Spirit and praises God.
When we receive a blessing from God, our automatic response ought to be one of PRAISE. This is the biblical pattern.
When Noah came out of the ark onto dry land, the first thing he did was build and altar and worship.
When Isaac was born, the first thing Abraham did was build an altar and worship God.
When Moses and Isreal had reached the other side of the Red Sea and witnessed the destruction of their enemy, the first thing they did was erupt in worship and praise with singing and dancing.
When Joshua led the people into the promised land, the first thing they did was set up altars to worship.
When David led the priest and Levites into Jerusalem with the Ark, they came dancing and leaping and praising God.
My Favorite passage in the New testament, is in Acts 3, when the lame man had been healed, he immediately went into the Temple, jumping and leaping as he praised God.
God is honored when we praise Him visibly, vocally, and passionately.
For the follower of Jesus, praise and worship should be second nature to us. We should not feel embarrassed or afraid to express our worship visibly, verbally and passionately.
Why is God to be praised? Why is God worthy of our adoration? Why do we express our praise verbally and visibly?
BECAUSE HE VISITED US
"Blessed be the Lord(Q) God of Israel, for he has(R) visited…His people’
Six year old Billy was trying to get to sleep but was frightened. He shouted down from the bedroom,
‘Daddy, it’s dark up here and I’m scared.’
His father shouted back, ‘Don’t be afraid. God is with you.’
After a few second’s pause, Billy yelled again:
‘Get up here, Dad - I need somebody with skin on!’
This is the reality of the Incarnation.
God did that for us. He came in Christ. The miracle of the incarnation is that Jesus is God with skin on.
The word visit means more than to drop in on.
It has the idea of going with a desire to do something. It means to look upon or after, to inspect, examine with the eyes
a) in order to see how he is, i.e. to visit, go to see one
1) the poor and afflicted, the sick
b) to look upon in order to help or to benefit
1) to look after, have care for, provide for
It is the idea of a doctor looking in on his patient. Or it is like when I received a phone call from Pleasant Meadow that a family was requesting a Pastor to come visit their dying mother.
Philippians 2 says that He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
The incarnation of Jesus Christ is an event that ought to solicit great praise from the heart of men and women who love the Lord. “The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”
Was it because He wanted a visit to say hello? No, understand that God saw our state. The Bible says, in Isaiah
2 Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the LORD has spoken:
“I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger,
but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”
Isaiah contuse to paint a bleak picture of the nation.
“There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one.”[b]
13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”[c]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[d]
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[e] 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[f] 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[g]
The Bible goes on to describe the desperate situation. The condition is fatal. They are about to flat line and there is nothing anyone can do,. In fact, the people have ignoredGod, rebelled against god, and blasphemed God’s name. and yet, Isaiah gives this powerful word,
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Now before you become all proud and think, well that was Isreal. I am not that bad. I have
not done anything near what they did.
Litsen to how God’s word describes our condition.
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God, ..And the wages of sin is DEATH…
Until you understand this fact, you can never appreciate the wonder and power of
Christmas. But when you realize this fact, then you can read Isaiah 9:6 with a renewed
sense of hope
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He didn’t dwell among us because He was bored. He saw our pitiful condition and chose
to do something about it. He came to save us.
BECAUSE HE REDEEMED US
"Blessed be the Lord(Q) God of Israel for he has(R) visited and(S) redeemed
his people
He redeemed us! He paid the ransom price! When man was sold into slavery to sin and
Was unable to help himself God paid the ultimate price. He gave Himself! Paul wrote to
the church of Galatia that “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made
A curse for us.”
This wasn’t some new concept. Long before Paul came along, before there even was a Law,
Job wrote,
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day
upon the earth.”
Hosea told the story about the love of his life being put on the auction block, and when
she had deserted him, had forsaken him for other lovers, had gotten so low that she was
being sold into slavery he bought her for himself. It’s a beautiful picture of the love God
has for us.
Mankind deserted God, none go seeking after God. We spend our lives in pursuit of every
Lover that comes along, but in His infinite love God purchased us for Himself.
Zacharias praised God because He had redeemed His people. He purchased mankind with
The precious blood of Christ. I came across this story that I think will help us understand
the extent of God’s love and grace.
Imagine, if you will, that you’ve been convicted of a serious crime. The police have caught you and prosecuted you for your crime. The judge hears your case and lays down the law. You have two choices, pay a $5 million debt, or go to jail for life.
Most of us would be hard pressed to pay a $500 fine, let alone a $5 million fine. We would have no choice but to accept the sentence of a life long prison sentence. Imagine now, if you will, that on the way to the prison, a stranger appears, someone that you’ve never met, and that he pays the $5 million fine with no questions asked. You are now free to go about your business and enjoy life. What type of joy would you experience if something like this were to happen to you? In more real terms, if all of your life-long debt was paid off in one big sweeping motion, how would you feel? What type of emotion would you feel if you won the lottery tonight? I’m sure we’d all be quite happy about the situation.
Jesus’ entry into this world is much like that situation. As sinners, we are all condemned to pay for our sins. The problem is, the sentence is always the same. The crime may vary from person to person, but it is always a form of sin in one way or another. God does not differentiate between sins; disobedience is the net result and the net crime. It all comes down to this; We, as sinners, all are condemnd to a christless eternity, BUT FOR GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE!
The debt has been paid. Jesus came into this world and paid the fine with no questions asked. God sent Him into the world to suffer on our behalf. He suffered for many who will never recognize that he’s even there. It is not our own actions that have blessed us with a forgiving savior, it is the grace of God and by Him alone that we are able to share in this blessing.
For all have sinned, and the wages for that sin is death, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!
It is this joy that we are here to celebrate this morning. It’s the Joy of knowing God loves us so much that he not only promised to send his only son, but he did it. HE\ HAS REDEEMED US BY HIS BLOOD! HALLELUA!
BECAUSE HE RAISED UP A HORN OF SALVATION FOR US
69and(T) has raised up(U) a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
Now, if you are like me you want to ask, :WHAT IS A HORN OF SALVATION?
In the Bible a horn symbolizes power and victory.
Psalm 89:17
English Standard Version (ESV)
17For you are(A) the glory of their strength; by your favor our(B) horn is exalted.
Psalm 89:24
English Standard Version (ESV)
24My(A) faithfulness and my(B) steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
The picture is that of an army about to be taken captive, but then help arrives and the enemy is defeated. IN the previous picture, the captives are set free; but in this picture, the enemy is defeated so that he cannot capture any more prisoners. It means total victory for the people of God.
Illustration: Lord of the ring the Two Towers…The king is about to fall at the hands of the Orks, but then on the dawn of the third day, the light shines, and Gandalf along with his army arrives in the nick of time to defeat the orks and save mankind from annihilation.
The word salvation, connected here with the word “horn,” means that this “strength,” or this mighty Redeemer, was able to save. He was not weak or hindered in any way. There was no part of purchasing our salvation that was beyond His ability to bring to pass.
Now notice something about what Zacharias said in verses 68 and 69. He said that God was to be praised because He visited, redeemed and raised up a horn of salvation for his people, all of which are stated in the past tense.
Why is that worthy of noting? Because Christ hasn’t even been born yet! Zacharias speaks about them as though they were already done when the One who would perform them hadn’t come yet! What does that mean?
It means first that he had great confidence in the God who made the promises, and secondly that so far as God was concerned it was a done deal. God’s work of redemption had been worked out long before the world was even created by the God who sees the future just as plainly as He sees the past.
If the first three reasons for praising God concerned what He was doing, then the next reason has to do with His motives for doing them. Why did God visit, redeem and raise up a horn of salvation?
BECAUSE HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES
Let’s read verses 70-75.
70(A) as(B) he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71(C) that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72(D) to show the mercy promised to our fathers and(E) to remember his holy(F) covenant, 73(G) the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him(H) without fear, 75(I) in holiness and righteousness before him(J) all our days.
There are two predominant thoughts concerning this passage.
Many Bible commentators and teachers like Warren Weirsbe suggest that Zacharias’s song was specifically talking about Isreal and how God was about to fulfill all those made to Abraham, now through Jesus.
These were promises made first to Abraham. From the beginning of time God had been using His prophets to declare His great love for His people. He promised protection from their enemies and from those that hated them
They go on to affirm how God was making a promise that will find its ultimate fulfillment when He sets up His kingdom here on earth. Just as surely as Zacharias could praise God for a past tense redemption that had not taken place yet, he could also praise God for keeping His promises that hadn’t been fulfilled yet.
However, I want to emphasize another imperative point of this promise. Bible scholar and commentator French Arrington points out that Zechariah speaks prophetically and the contents of his prophecy is highly spiritual. It is true that a close link can exist between the political and spiritual needs. It shold be observed, however, that deliverance from the hands of our enemies is in order that
WE CAN SERVE GOD WITHOUT FEAR.’
Anyone who has had the expereince of having their lives saved by another, knows that there is a new relationship forged between the two.
IN the same way, when we understand the extent of gods love, and what He did to rscue us from sin and destruction, we have a new relationship with Him. We serve Him differently. We worship Him differently.We are able as Arrington states , ‘as a result of deliverance from our spiritual foes to serve God in holiness and righteousness.’
CONCLUSION:
In summary then, Zechariahs song comes as a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The theme of this Spirit inspired prophecy is God’s great plan of salvation and the events that have already taken place.
In this prophetic declaration Zach. Praises God. The Lord has visited His people and has done so in the coming of Jesus the Messiah, but HE comes to redeem at high cost.
The horn of an animal is a symbol of the might and power and so God raises up a Mighty Savior, His Son.
God’s lan is being worked out because long agop through the prophets HE promised the Savior.
The promisdes include deliverance from their enemies and the fulfillment of promises made to Abraham.
All promises made to Abrahem, Moses, David have been fulfilled in Jesus.
Through Jesus God has rescued us from our enemies; Satan, sin, and death.
This deliverance now makes it possible to serve Jesus.
IS there any wonder that our natural response is to WORSHIP!?
So what will you now do with Jesus.
When presented with the evidence, you cannot be impartial.
There are only two reasonable responses you can have
To receive Jesus
To Rejoice in Jesus
If you have never received Jesus as your Savior, then the good news is that He made it quite simple.
The gift of Salvation cost God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, His life! The cost of Salvation to us? Nothing. It is a free gift offered to each of us by God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Here are four easy steps to accepting this free gift of eternal life:
1. Admit that you need God - “I am a sinner”
2. Be willing to say you’re sorry - “I repent of my sins”
3. Believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, paid for your sins by dying for you on the Cross and rising again on the third day - “I believe in Jesus Christ”
4. Ask Jesus Christ to save you and to control your life through the power of the Holy Spirit - “I accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior”
What is your choice? Will you pray to receive Christ and His gift of abundant and eternal life?
Pray this - speak it God in your heart and mind – out loud too if you wish :
"Dear Jesus, I know that because of my sin I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins. I believe You rose again so I could live with You. I want to stop living for myself and start living for You. I want Your peace in my life. I want forgiveness for my sins. Please come into my heart and change my life. I want to live with You forever. I want You to be my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen."
Resources
Sermoncentral.com/ Kevin Higgins/ The Blessedness of God
Blueletterbible.com
French Arrington, full Life Bible Commentary to the New Testament
W.Wiersbe, Commentary on the New Testament, vol. 1
Expositors Bible Commentary
THE FACES OF CHRISTMAS 4
LUKE 1:57-80
‘PRAISE’
INTRODUCTION
God is worthy of our praise. Christmas is the prime time for us to stop and give thanks, praise and worship to God for the most precious of gifts, His Son.
Luke introduces us to the face of ___________________________________________
For the follower of Jesus, praise and worship should be __________ ____________ to us. We should not feel embarrassed or afraid to express our __________, ____________, _______________
Why is God to be praised? Why is God worthy of our adoration? Why do we express our praise verbally and visibly?
BECAUSE HE ________________________________________________________
BECAUSE HE ________________________________________________________
BECAUSE HE ________________________________________________________
BECAUSE HE ________________________________________________________
BECAUSE WE CAN ___________________________________________________
CONCLUSION:
So what will you now do with Jesus. When presented with the evidence, you cannot be impartial.
There are only two reasonable responses you can have
To _________________________________________Jesus
To ________________________________________in Jesus
