Text: Luke 1:67-75, Title: Hope Has Come, Date/Place: NRBC, 12/2/12, AM
A Opening illustration: Read Ex 1:8-14 & 2:23-25 & 3:7-9, play the Deliver Us clip from Prince of Egypt
(YouTube) 0:40-2:01, Anticipation on Christmas Eve for children;
B Background to passage: one of Luke’s threads that passes through the first couple of chapters is spontaneous
praise from Elizabeth, Mary, Zechariah, the angels, and Simeon. This one is the called the Benedictus from
the first word in the Latin version, and is focused, as the others in Luke, on the coming of Messiah. The
coming of Christ is an exciting and longed for event. The messianic hope was one that had been prophesied
and taught to God’s people for centuries. That hope had only intensified since the captivity. But for the last
400 years, they had endured silence. No word from God, but still the remnant awaiting a Savior to rescue
them (BTW, the faithful still wait). This is the first glimmer of hope that has come in generations. And
Zechariah is excited, and gives us a Spirit-inspired commentary on the significance of the birth of his son and
the soon to be birth of God’s Son who would bear the sins of the world and set His weary, oppressed people
free!
C Main thought: to engender excitement and passion for the visitation of Christ
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (v. 67-69)
1 God visited, redeemed, and raised up a horn of salvation for His people. This word for God “visiting”
his people either has the connotation of judgment or blessing. As in other passages, and related to the
other praises expressed in the first couple of chapters, this one is about blessing. This adds to the depth
of expectation that the Jews had for their Messiah. The coming of Messiah means that God is coming
down-the Word in flesh now appearing. It means redemption, which is a word that means paying a
great sum to deliver or liberate them from an oppressive situation. The ideas were primarily focused
on political deliverance, but not exclusively. In the Hebrew mindset political and spiritual oppression
are closely linked. Zechariah spoke of Him as God’s raised up victorious warrior. This word also has
regal overtones, and was used of God himself. So you see the anticipation of one that would come and
accomplish mighty works on behalf of the people of God.
2 Argumentation
3 Illustration: “Messiah is a picture of power and strength. The reference to the “horn of salvation” (κέρας
σωτηρίας, keras sōtērias) is drawn from the OT, where it pictures an ox with horns that is able to defeat
enemies with the powerful thrust of its protected head (Deut. 33:17). The image was transferred to the
warrior who had a horned helmet to symbolize the presence of power” compare to American slavery
coming to an end in 1865
4 Very few examples get even close to the sense of anticipation, hope, joy that was tied to the remnant’s
expectation of Jesus’ coming. Each of us needs the visitation of God into our lives. We need God very
badly. The world needs God very badly. Note that tragedy and suffering promote a realization of the
need for God in our lives. It also increases the desire for a deliverer. Some of us feel a sense of need for
a Savior, but all of us should. We are in desperate need of One who would do for us what we cannot do
for ourselves. We are not self-sufficient, we are not independent, we are not OK! The price to purchase
us was high, and here at Christmas, we should have a sense of expectation of One who would become/is
our Deliverer! He will be your mighty warrior that God has raised up! There are some of you who need a
Deliverer!!!!
A
B Born to Set Thy People Free (v. 70-72)
1 Three penultimate purposes are mentioned in the text: salvation from enemies, demonstrate mercy, and
fulfill the covenant made to Abraham, David, and the nation. We could completely spiritualize the first
part, but the Jews didn’t. They desired a total and complete salvation from the enemies who oppressed
them. The Romans were on the top of the list, but over the years it had been the Assyrians, Babylonians,
Greeks, Syrians, etc. Zechariah also says that God wanted to save to demonstrate His mercy toward
totally undeserving people. The holiness of God consumes all sin, and rules out any possibility of our
gaining salvation by any means other than grace. And God is a promise keeping God. Not one promise
will ever fail. The Abrahamic and Davidic covenants related to the salvation of men, and were made years
back, but have lasting influence today because of Abraham’s seed and our part in the covenant. Jesus
came to save His people, and put on display his mercy and faithfulness to promises that were centuries old.
And Zechariah looked for the fulfillment.
2 Argumentation
3 Illustration:
4 You and I need salvation from our enemies! The forces of darkness are the ones that have lulled us into a
peacetime mentality so that you and I would ignore them or take them casually, and then the will destroy
us. Your boss, your nasty neighbor, your nitpicky sister is not your enemy, for we don’t wrestle against
flesh and blood. NT salvation is also credited to unrighteous people. It’s only when we understand our
unworthiness that we appreciate grace. God is glorified when we realize that we did nothing to bring any
favor with God, and we cannot do anything to maintain favor with Him. Some of you need to quit trying
to do enough good, trying to excuse your own behavior and conscience, and quit running from the God
who invaded the world to free you, save you, give you victory, lavish mercy upon you, and fulfill every
promise! Christmas is freedom, deliverance, salvation, mercy, and faithfulness to you.
C Raise Us to Thy Glorious Throne (v. 74-75)
1 There is an ultimate purpose also mentioned in this text, which we know as the purpose for all created
things: to bring glory, honor, praise to God; Zechariah says that after deliverance the people of God
can serve (worship) without fear (because of His Holiness); and that worship will be carried out in
righteousness and holiness for the rest of our days. God wants you to be with Him forever more because
He love you, because He knows that eternal pleasure and unceasing rejoicing with render never ending
fulfillment, and because all of creation will stand together in one place at one time, and worship the King.
This was the king that was coming. Jesus was coming to set God’s people free to serve (worship) HIm
without fear of consumption, failure, or anything. Free, uninhibited worship, and inexpressible pleasure in
the greatest Treasure ever forever and forever.
2 Argumentation
3 Illustration:
4 God wants to raise you up to His glorious throne, and that is what Christmas is about. Hope has come!
Let us adore Him, for He has come to free you from religion, hate, anger, boredom, monotony, oppression,
from poverty, from sorrow, sin, and depression. Not all of these things right now, but guaranteed.
Zechariah speaks in the prophetic past tense to speak of something that has not happened yet as though it
has already happened, to demonstrate His surety that it WILL come to pass. And just as sure as His first
coming happened, the second coming of Christ is approaching and WILL come to pass soon.
A Closing illustration: Election night anticipation bringing hope for tomorrow; Opening ceremonies at the
London Olympics; the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
B Recap
C Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
