Why We'll Always Celebrate Christmas!
The Purpose of Christmas
Saturday, December 20, 2003
For today's study, we are going to look at the narrative concerning the birth of John the Baptist. We'll look at the people in the story and learn something about each one – and perhaps something about us! No questions today – just food for thought!
Bible Verses
Luke 1:5-25
5 It all begins with a Jewish priest, Zechariah, who lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zechariah was a member of the priestly order of Abijah. His wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and now they were both very old. 8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and burn incense in the Lord's presence. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. 11 Zechariah was in the sanctuary when an angel of the Lord appeared, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was overwhelmed with fear. 13 But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice with you at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or hard liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will persuade many Israelites to turn to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah, the prophet of old. He will precede the coming of the Lord, preparing the people for his arrival. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will change disobedient minds to accept godly wisdom." 18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I know this will happen? I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years." 19 Then the angel said, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 And now, since you didn't believe what I said, you won't be able to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time." 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures that he must have seen a vision in the Temple sanctuary. 23 He stayed at the Temple until his term of service was over, and then he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 "How kind the Lord is!" she exclaimed. "He has taken away my disgrace of having no children!"
Zechariah - Jehovah Will Remember
With a multitude of faithful Israelites gathered outside, the priest Zechariah humbly slipped through the entry and into the holy place, dimly lit by candlelight. The incense on the altar was a symbol of Israel's prayers, accepted by God. For the moment Zechariah was alone. He approached the altar, alone he spread the incense, alone he waited as it kindled on the coals. As the smoke began to ascend and the multitude outside fell prostrate in prayer, old Zechariah prayed in silence. He must have prayed, 'Remember Jehovah, remember your people, remember your promise.'
As Zechariah opened his eyes he was aware that he was not alone. With trembling fear he lifted his eyes to the figure standing to the right of the altar of incense. No man was to enter the holy place when the incense was being offered, but clearly this was no man.
Gabriel - Mighty One of Jehovah
The last time Gabriel stood before a man it was Daniel living in exile. That had been about 600 years earlier. Gabriel had been sent to reveal to Daniel the mystery of God's timing for the arrival of the Messiah. Gabriel had come to deliver a message, but before he could deliver the message he had to calm the fears of those to whom he had appeared. With Daniel he actually had to pick him up from the ground and encourage him to have strength for the fear was so great in him. Zechariah must have paled considerably, for the first words Gabriel speaks are, 'Fear not.' How strange it must have seemed to Zechariah that he should be in the presence of an angel. The last words of God were recorded over 400 years ago by the prophet Malachi and the people had come not expect to hear from God. Stranger still was the reason for this visit, the angel had come to inform him that his prayer had been heard and that his wife would now bear him a son, to whom the name John would be given.
His prayer had been heard, but which prayer? The prayer he had just uttered, that God would remember his promise or the prayer he had long since ceased to pray, that God might bless him with a son. Gabriel makes it clear that the answer is to both prayers, as he will indeed have a son in his old age and that 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." Gabriel's response reveals to us again the importance around him of the truth of the promise, Zechariah is told that he will be silent until these things are accomplished. With that Zechariah finds himself alone again in the dimly lit holy place.
Elizabeth - Jehovah is the Reliable One
The only one who would be more shocked by the promise Zechariah had received must have been Elizabeth. She must have started life with high hopes like all young women do. She was a descendant of 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. In fact, most every dream she had ever dreamed had withered and died. Her name means Jehovah is an Oath, or in more modern language, Jehovah is the Reliable One. The name must have often seemed to be a bitter joke to Elizabeth, for to her had fallen the apparent double curse of being barren. A curse in those days because it was believed that children were a sign of God's blessing and so to be without children was obviously a sign of God's displeasure or judgment for some secret sin. Second a curse because it automatically disqualified the parents from the possibility of being part of the blood-line of the promised Messiah. 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 became pregnant after Zechariah's silent return. The name that seemed so long to be misplaced on her now took on its fullest meaning – Jehovah, the Reliable One!
John - Jehovah is Gracious
The day of circumcision arrived for Elizabeth's son eight days after he was born – just as it has for all faithful Jews from the time of Abraham onward. In the times of the early New Testament it was not uncommon for the neighbors to gather at this solemn assembly as the male child was set apart with the sign of God's covenant with Israel. Tremendous tradition and meaning were concentrated in this ritual and as the ceremony began the people fell silent listening to the traditional words of benediction that would be spoken in dedication over the child. The Jewish liturgy droned on until it reached the point of the naming of the child. There had been no discussion with Elizabeth as to the name and seeing 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 and serve as a priest of God. Suddenly Elizabeth interrupted the ceremony, "No, his name will not be Zechariah, he will be called John." Surely a ripple of surprise must have passed through those assembled; does she choose to dishonor her aged husband by giving the child a different name? Zechariah took up his stylus and writing tablet. With a glisten in his eye he turned the tablet towards them and they saw it was written, "His name is John." It was the name given to him by the command of God through the angel Gabriel. Immediately upon completing this task the tongue of Zechariah which had been silent for over nine months was loosed and he began to give great praise to God.
The Purpose of Christmas
We serve a God who remembers, who is mighty, who is faithful, who is gracious. Let us remember the purpose of Christmas – worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and mission. Take time today to thank God for creating us and giving us purposeful lives. In response to His goodness, remember someone who needs to hear a kind word or the Good News; be mighty and bold in our witness; be faithful to one another and show grace to someone who needs a loving touch. God is good – all the time! Give great praise to God for all that He has done and will do for us. Share the new life of Jesus Christ today!
To view other studies from the Why We Celebrate Christmas series, click here.