Big Idea: God picks up his plan of redemption by initiating the coming of the Messiah in the promise to Zechariah.
God’s Faithfulness in ______________________________
Luke 1:5 (ESV) — 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea…
Zechariah =
God’s Faithfulness in ______________________________
Luke 1:5–7 (ESV) — 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
The childless-ness of Zechariah and Elizabeth was not due to their lack of righteousness, nor was it due to a lack of prayer; it was due to the plan of God, who had something so much greater in store for them.
In this case, Elizabeth was barren for the glory of God. God was not punishing her, but planning a miracle that would get his people ready for salvation (and also bring Elizabeth great joy). God had something special in mind, and the best way to show that John was a special child was to bring him from a barren womb. So Elizabeth was suffering because of the way that God wanted to be glorified through her life.
God’s Faithfulness in ______________________ ______________________
Luke 1:13 (ESV) But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
Malachi 3:1 (ESV) — 1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 4:5 (ESV) — 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
Jo-Hanna =
Luke 1:17 (ESV) — 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts (repentance) of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
The message of grace is always preceded by the message of repentance.
Repentance is recognizing our in-ability to achieve self-atonement or self-righteousness, and a casting ourselves on the Savior at every turn for our justification and righteous living.
John 6:63 (ESV) — 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Questions to consider
What is significant about the Lord visiting Zechariah?
What do we learn about God’s plan for our lives from this account?
In what ways is the message of repentance compatible with the message of grace?
How does repentance work in the life of a believer?
