“Embracing Change To Experience Life!”
“Embracing Change To Experience Life!”
Luke 1 : 5 – 25Luke 1 : 5 – 25
In the Old & New Testaments,
we encounter a
very different culture.The culture of the Jews was
such that “NAMES” were of
incredible importance.
“It was the time of the morning sacrifice. As the
massive Temple-gates slowly swung on their hinges, a three-fold blast from the
silver trumpets of ….
“It was the time of the morning sacrifice. As the
massive Temple-gates slowly swung on their hinges, a three-fold blast from the
silver trumpets of ….
In his “Jesus the Messiah” gave usan insight of the incidence here….
In his “Jesus the Messiah” gave usan insight of the incidence here….
…. the Priests seemed to waken the City, as with the Voice of God, to the life of another day. As its echoes
came in the still air… up the slopes of the Upper City, down
the busy quarters below, or away to the new suburb
beyond, they must, if but for a moment, have brought ….
…. the Priests seemed to waken the City, as with the Voice of God, to the life of another day. As its echoes
came in the still air… up the slopes of the Upper City, down
the busy quarters below, or away to the new suburb
beyond, they must, if but for a moment, have brought ….
…. holier thoughts to all. For, did it not seem to link the
present to the past and the future, as with the golden
chain of promises that bound the Holy City to the Jerusalem that was above, which in type
had already, ….
…. holier thoughts to all. For, did it not seem to link the
present to the past and the future, as with the golden
chain of promises that bound the Holy City to the Jerusalem that was above, which in type
had already, ….
…. and in reality would soon descend from heaven?
Patriot, saint, or stranger, he could not have heard it
unmoved,as thrice the summons from
within the Temple-gatesrose and fell.”
…. and in reality would soon descend from heaven?
Patriot, saint, or stranger, he could not have heard it
unmoved,as thrice the summons from
within the Temple-gatesrose and fell.”
• your “PROMISE” Jehovah• your “PEOPLE” JehovahIt has been 400 years that Jehovah has not spoken to
His people – not even once!
It has been 400 years that Jehovah has not spoken to
His people – not even once!
Remember….Remember….
At that moment, Zechariah was ALONE…
At that moment, Zechariah was ALONE…
• Zechariah approached the altar.
• He spread the incense.• He waited as it kindled on
the coals.
Gabriel had come,
the “Mighty One of God”to deliver a message,
but before he could deliver the message he had to calm
the fears of those to whom he had appeared.
The last words of God were recorded over 400 years ago
by the prophet Malachi, people had come not to
expect to hear from God.
The angel had come to
inform Zechariah that his
prayer had been heard
and that his wife would
now bear him a son,to whom the name John
would be given.
Zechariah would indeed have a son in his old age.
The son will be the immediate forerunner to the
promised Messiah.
Whether from fear or doubt, Zechariah dared to
challenge Gabriel with the question…
“How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in
years.” (Luke 1:18)
“How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in
years.” (Luke 1:18)
… means
“Jehovah Is An Oath”[Jehovah, the
Absolutely Reliable One]
… means
“Jehovah Is An Oath”[Jehovah, the
Absolutely Reliable One]
Elizabeth was a descendantof Aaron of the priestly line
and she had married a priest, their union was said by
tradition to have a double blessing, but things just didn’t
seem to turn out that way.
Elizabeth was a descendantof Aaron of the priestly line
and she had married a priest, their union was said by
tradition to have a double blessing, but things just didn’t
seem to turn out that way.
The DESIRE of every Jewish
woman was to be mother
of the Messiah who would
restore their nation and
fulfill the promise of God.
The DESIRE of every Jewish
woman was to be mother
of the Messiah who would
restore their nation and
fulfill the promise of God.
Elizabeth and her husband
were UPRIGHT in the sight of
God, OBSERVING all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.
Elizabeth and her husband
were UPRIGHT in the sight of
God, OBSERVING all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.
Zechariah and Elizabethdid not concern themselves
with the whispers and
questions of their neighbors,
they knew whom it was they
were meant to please, and
that was the Lord. They were
blameless in the sight of God!
Zechariah and Elizabethdid not concern themselves
with the whispers and
questions of their neighbors,
they knew whom it was they
were meant to please, and
that was the Lord. They were
blameless in the sight of God!
Elizabeth became
pregnant after
Zechariah’s silent return
and then
she secluded herself for
a period of five months.
Elizabeth became
pregnant after
Zechariah’s silent return
and then
she secluded herself for
a period of five months.
The name which seemed so long to be misplaced on her
now took on itsfullest meaning….
The name which seemed so long to be misplaced on her
now took on itsfullest meaning….
What must it have been like for Elizabeth, to gaze at this miracle child, to gently caress the little hands andfeet or to look into the child’s eyes ofone announced bythe angel Gabrielhimself.
What must it have been like for Elizabeth, to gaze at this miracle child, to gently caress the little hands andfeet or to look into the child’s eyes ofone announced bythe angel Gabrielhimself.
Those things which we call
“SUPERNATURAL”because they are outsideof our regular experience
God calls “NATURAL.”
Those things which we call
“SUPERNATURAL”because they are outsideof our regular experience
God calls “NATURAL.”
The day of circumcision arrived for Elizabeth’s son
eight days after he was born…the male child was set apart
with the sign of God’s covenant with Israel.
The day of circumcision arrived for Elizabeth’s son
eight days after he was born…the male child was set apart
with the sign of God’s covenant with Israel.
An unusual event – the dedication of a miracle child.
An unusual event – the dedication of a miracle child.
NAMING of the child… NAMING of the child…
As old Zechariah could no longer speak it was assumed
that the name Zechariah would be given to this child, that he might model his life
after his father’s andserve as a priest of God.
As old Zechariah could no longer speak it was assumed
that the name Zechariah would be given to this child, that he might model his life
after his father’s andserve as a priest of God.
Suddenly Elizabeth
interrupted the ceremony…
Suddenly Elizabeth
interrupted the ceremony…
“No, his name willnot be Zechariah,
he will be called John.”
(Luke 1:59,60)
“No, his name willnot be Zechariah,
he will be called John.”
(Luke 1:59,60)
Why the name
“JOHN?”
It was the name given to him by the command of God
through the angel Gabriel.
It was the name given to him by the command of God
through the angel Gabriel.
What’s in aWhat’s in a
Surely there must be some reason for God choosing the
name “JOHN” rather than allowing the parents
to name the son.
Surely there must be some reason for God choosing the
name “JOHN” rather than allowing the parents
to name the son.
The name “JOHN” means,
“Jehovah is Gracious.”
The name “JOHN” means,
“Jehovah is Gracious.”
to an elderly couple in giving
them a son, but to really
understand the fullness
of his name we have to
revisit the words of Gabriel.
to an elderly couple in giving
them a son, but to really
understand the fullness
of his name we have to
revisit the words of Gabriel.
He (John) will precede the coming of the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah.
He (John) will precede the coming of the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah.
Gabriel tells us that he (John) will turn many people back to the Lord their God.
Gabriel tells us that he (John) will turn many people back to the Lord their God.
John the Baptist forms
the “BRIDGE” between
Old Testament and
New Testament for us.
John the Baptist forms
the “BRIDGE” between
Old Testament and
New Testament for us.
Malachi 4:5-6 ….the final words God
spoke in theOld Testament before400 years of silence.
Malachi 4:5-6 ….the final words God
spoke in theOld Testament before400 years of silence.
“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of
the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to
their children, and the hearts of the children to their
fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a
curse.” (NIV)
“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of
the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to
their children, and the hearts of the children to their
fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a
curse.” (NIV)
Malachi 4:5,6….Malachi 4:5,6….
John …. the last prophetof the Old Covenant.
John …. the last prophetof the Old Covenant.
It was an Old Testament prophet who was needed to
come and graciously turn the people of Israel back to their God and to prepare the way
for the promised One.
It was an Old Testament prophet who was needed to
come and graciously turn the people of Israel back to their God and to prepare the way
for the promised One.
It is to John that the announcement of the
Messiah falls… “Behold the Lamb of God who take away
the sins of the world.”
It is to John that the announcement of the
Messiah falls… “Behold the Lamb of God who take away
the sins of the world.”
Jesus would later sayof him, “No greater
prophet has ever lived.”
Jesus would later sayof him, “No greater
prophet has ever lived.”
John comes to turn the hearts of the fathers to
their children, to restore right family relationships.
John comes to turn the hearts of the fathers to
their children, to restore right family relationships.
John comes to turn the disobedient back to
the way of the righteous.
John comes to turn the disobedient back to
the way of the righteous.