A Reason for Hope

Sermon Series

Christmas Long Ago – Part 1

"A Reason for Hope"

Pastor Jerry

Luke 5:5-25, 57-80

(A first person narration/drama - by the priest Zechariah)

------------------------------------- Message Synopsis -------------------------------------

Shalom, good people. I want to tell you an incredible story. I lived at a time when people were down and out without much HOPE.  People were  ill… people had trouble providing a home for their families. It was a dark and uncertain time. But God promised His people that He was sending them light. God’s promise was our HOPE! Do you need HOPE? OH … let me introduce myself. My name is Zechariah and I am a priest from the hill country of Judea. My wife, Elizabeth. This is our story, but so much more. You see, there are far too many priests in Judea for all practical purposes. There are about 20,000. We have been divided up into twenty-four sections. I serve in the eighth section of Abijah. Only during the feasts do all of the priests serve at one time. The rest of the year, each of us serve in the Temple twice, for one week at a time. This time of service is the highlight of our lives. With so many of us, the duties are assigned by lot. Every morning and evening sacrifice is to be made for the whole nation. We make sacrifice because God says if you sin… you will surely die. Have you ever sinned? God gave the sacrifice as a substitute for your sin and death. Before the sacrifice of the male lamb there's the lighting of the incense in the holy place. Many of my brothers have never had the chance to light the incense—many never will. But on the day my story began—I drew the LOT. This was the greatest honor of my life (at the time). Only one thing darkened my life at the time. My wife and I were childless. For years Elizabeth and I had tried to have children. In my culture, many believe that to be barren is a sign of reproach—a sign that God is angry with you. Have you ever had God angry with you? Elizabeth and I both loved our God with every ounce of our beings. We sought to serve him faithfully every day. Do you love God? Do you serve Him every day? With only this one thing missing in my life, I entered the Sanctuary to perform my assigned task. I sprinkled frankincense upon the coals on the altar. Then, I lay upon the ground, face down, in prayer for my people—as prescribed by our custom. Suddenly, I was aware that I was not alone! “This cannot be,” I thought—law forbade anyone but myself to be in the Sanctuary.  I looked up and saw the most incredible creature standing next to the altar of incense. I cannot describe the creature—but he filled my heart with awe and terror. “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many people will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” This was too much; I could barely make sense of it all. He had just given me a promise so powerful, so magnificent, that it was too hard to believe. Have you ever not believed God’s promise? I was to have a son—the one void in my personal life was going to be fulfilled! To my great shame, I couldn’t believe it then—and I told the creature so. “How can this be?” I asked. “My wife and I are far too old.” There was rebuke in the sound of his voice as he answered. “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.” Suddenly—I could not speak—just as the angel had told me. I walked out of the Sanctuary and gestured wildly trying to let people know what had happened, many understood that I had received a message from God. After my week of service was through, I returned home to Elizabeth. She conceived our child—and was thrilled with a hopeful joy. Nine months later, our little boy came into this world. Everyone was so excited for us—they even sought to help us name the boy. Elizabeth knew about my visitation, and told our anxious friends that the baby would be named “John.” It means “God is gracious.” When they came to me, I wrote upon a pad—“His name is John!” At that moment, my lips were freed, and I could speak again! At that very same moment, I was filled by the Holy Spirit of God—filled throughout my being. I burst forth into a word of glorious praise and prophecy. See…it’s written here… ⁶⁸ “Praise be to the Lord…because he has come to his people and redeemed them. ⁶⁹ He has come to bring salvation for us…⁷⁰ (as he said He would long ago), He said He would come to enable us to serve him without fear …⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. ⁷⁶ And your child, will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, …⁷⁷ to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, ⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God, …⁷⁹ to shine on those living in darkness …to guide our feet into the path of peace.” ^{This is our Hope …the Child born at Christmas …His name is Jesus! Do you know Him? Let Him save you?}