Praise and Prophesy Luke 1 39 80 Praise

Praise and Prophesy Luke 1: 39 -80

Praise and Prophesy Introduction • Many scholars view our text for this lesson with an emphasis on Mary’s song, the Magnificat and Zechariah’s prophesy, the Benedictus • Both are filled with praises for God, what He has done, and what He will do • Each could easily be the full subject for a single lesson • However, Luke gives us more – perhaps seeking to give us lessons that you and I can learn and apply in our lives

Praise and Prophesy Introduction • Let’s look at the earthly parents in the story • Zechariah and Elizabeth • Joseph and May • Let’s see what their journey was like and how they responded

Praise and Prophesy Introduction • We should note how much attention Luke pays to John’s parents • There are 60 verses describing Zechariah and Elizabeth’s experience, and only 55 verses describing Jesus’ birth • They are an important part of the story • How did God reveal Himself to them, and how did they respond? • Perhaps you will see some similarities to how God has revealed Himself to you, and some ways that you can respond

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • Luke sets the context early in Luke 1 • They were righteous, had no children, and were old • Luke tells us the story of Zechariah being chosen to bring the incense offering – being on duty at the temple twice a year • This was something a priest was able to do only once in his life, assuming he was chosen by lot • So it is an extremely important moment – possibly the most important moment in Zechariah’s life

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • The priests would enter the sanctuary together, and then at the appointed time they would all leave except for the one bringing the incense offering • It was then that Zechariah meets the angel Gabriel, who tells Zechariah about the coming birth of his son John • Zechariah’s first response is that he is terrified, overwhelmed by fear

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • But, after Gabriel delivers the message (which was in answer to Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s prayers), there is quite a different response • Zechariah boldly demands a sign to prove this, and states the obvious fact that he and Elizabeth are far too old to start a family • We know there was resistance in Zechariah by Gabriel’s response: “you did not believe my words”. (Luke 1: 20)

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • Simply put, Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for a miracle, and angel appeared and promised that God would answer, and Zechariah did not believe it • Does that sound familiar? • Maybe age had something to do with it – they had been childless for a long time – 30 years or more • Things had not changed in all that time, why would they change now?

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • Have you had a similar experience, of praying and waiting for something for so long, that when it appears that it might happen to you, you respond with disbelief, saying “well, that sure would be nice, but I will believe it when I see it” • The point we can make from this is that God still changes things • Even if we are old and have been praying and waiting our whole life,

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • Have you had a similar experience, of praying and waiting for something for so long, that when it appears that it might happen to you, you respond with disbelief, saying “well, that sure would be nice, but I will believe it when I see it” • The point we can make from this is that God still changes things • Even if we are old and have been praying and waiting our whole life, God can still answer

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • Do not give up hope, do not stop praying, do not stop believing that God can still change things • Maybe it is a relative needing to know Christ personally, maybe it is something like depression that has plagued you for years, maybe it is a sinful habit that you have not been able to break, or something else • Do no stop believing God can change things – Zechariah and Elizabeth teach us the opposite

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • As a result of his disbelief, Gabriel makes Zechariah mute until the day that all these things happen – Zechariah got his sign • To some this may seem harsh, but the lesson is that we need to believe God’s words to us • It was probably 9 months that Zechariah could not talk

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • During that time, the story shifts to Elizabeth • We do not have a lot of information, but we do get a glimpse of the pain she had been through by feeling the rejection of her people • We do not know exactly why she chose to remain in seclusion for 5 months, but this pain of rejection gives us a clue • We should note Elizabeth’s focus on the goodness of God meeting her need and taking away her disgrace

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • As the story continues, we find Mary coming to visit • There a couple of key things Luke shows us • The first is Elizabeth’s attitude • She immediately recognizes that the child Mary carries is superior to her own, and she recognizes Mary as “blessed” and as “the mother of my Lord” • Elizabeth received a pretty big miracle of her own, but there is no comparison, no sense that Elizabeth wanted to jealously guard what God had done for her and not let someone else have the spotlight

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • This is a mark of true spiritual maturity in Elizabeth • She was able to recognize what God was doing in other people without any competitiveness – she just celebrated • This is often a tough thing for us to do – to see what God is doing in other places and not be jealous, not wonder why God is not doing the same thing for us, not to get impatient with how He is leading and growing us • Elizabeth shows us where the focus needs to be – on Jesus – and not on ourselves

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • The second thing we should notice is that Elizabeth’s response was loud (Luke 1: 42) • We find this wonderful piece of poetic utterance, blessing Mary and recognizing her child as the Lord • The text says that Elizabeth shouted this poem • Here is an old woman – perhaps in her 60’s or 70’s – who is pregnant, yelling

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • In her exuberance at what God was doing, she did not hold back, she genuinely expressed her feeling in a “loud cry” • The worship lesson for us is that we should not hold back • When God has done something marvelous, we should express ourselves with abandon and without reservation • Even if that means that we do so loudly!

Praise and Prophesy John’s parents • John’s parents’ journey began in the pain of childlessness, went through a time of disbelief and silence, to an end point of praising God • We saw that in Elizabeth, and Zechariah gets to the same place • When his mouth was opened after 9 long months of silence, his immediate reaction was to praise God • We look at John’s parents by simply noticing that through their journey of pain, and finally of God’s answer, they come to the point of praising God

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Joseph • Joseph is a quiet character in the Biblical record – we do not know a whole lot about him from Luke, other than he was of the house and lineage of David • Matthew tells us that he was a righteous man • He planned to divorce Mary rather quietly rather than publicly, which shows that he was somewhat sensitive to Mary and did not want to disgrace her

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Joseph • Matthew tells us that Joseph had a dream, a rather incredible dream • And from there, scripture simply tells us that he obeyed • He got up and did what the angel told him to do • We saw how Zechariah responded to the angel with disbelief, and in Mary’s case, she had a question • But not Joseph, he just got up and did it

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Joseph • We will see in Luke 2 after the Magi appeared that Joseph had another dream urging him to take his family and flee to Egypt • He got everybody up in the middle of the night and off they went • Other than those few facts, we do not really know much about Joseph • However, it is enough for us to picture him as a strong, quiet man

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Joseph • We see Joseph as eager to do the right thing, regardless of the cost to himself or his reputation, even if it meant raising a child that was not his own • There is not a lot of emotion in how Joseph is described, just a man of faith and facts • Mary is pregnant - The angel said the child was from the Holy Spirit, and that I should marry her anyways • “Ok, that is the way it will be. ”

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Joseph • Does this sound like you? • Just give me the facts, show me what the right thing to do is, and I will do it • Regardless of whether it means lose my job or lose a friend or lose some money, it does not matter – what matters is integrity • Did Joseph worship?

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Joseph • We do not read of him kneeling, bringing gifts, yelling loudly with excitement • We read of him being obedient • He was doing what God told him to do • That was his act of worship – he obeyed • If Joseph sounds like you, worship by obeying

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Mary • As with Joseph, the Scriptures do not tell us all that much about her • Like Zechariah, Mary had a visit from Gabriel, who had some unbelievable news • Her initial response was the same as Zechariah’s and the same as the shepherds in Luke 2 • She was terrified – and yet thoughtful at the same time

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Mary • Perhaps her mind was racing, trying to understand what was going on, why she was being visited by this angel who was telling her all sorts of things • It does not make sense to her, so she asks a question: “How can this be…” (Luke 1: 34) • But, unlike Zechariah, we do not get the feeling that her question came from unbelief • She was not rejecting the message

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Mary • The angel speaks again, explains how things will happen, and Mary’s answer reveals much to us • She accepts the message, offers herself, and submits to God’s will • She knew that by becoming pregnant, the very best she could expect was a quiet divorce and a life of disgrace and poverty • Yet, she believed Gabriel that this child would be the Messiah, and so willingly submitted herself to God’s will

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Mary • This response is likely one of the primary reasons why Mary is so loved by many Christians – her humble, willing acceptance of God’s will • One other phrase is revealing of Mary • In Luke 2: 19 , we read that Mary “treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ” • This phrase, as well as others, reveal a contemplative heart • They show us a young woman who was deeply thoughtful and almost meditative

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Mary • We see a glimpse of how Mary responded in worship in her famous poem • The first verse sets the tone for the whole poem, capturing her joy and gratitude • The poem reveals a thankful heart focused on God, on all that He had done and was doing, and on many of His great qualities like mercy and holiness

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Mary • Does this sound like you? • When God speaks to you, is your desire to sit quietly in your chair, cup of coffee in hand, and simply think through and enjoy what God has said? • Are you the type of person who enjoys long walks, car rides without the radio or any other noise, just so you have the time to mull over what God is saying and doing in you life?

Praise and Prophesy Jesus’ Earthly Parents Mary • Or, maybe it is a long, quiet conversation with a friend that can meander in and out of all the different strands that God is weaving together in your life • If so, then perhaps you are like Mary • You can see yourself in her • We are encouraged to submit like she did – to welcome and accept and meditate on all that God has for you with open arms • And worship, like Mary did

Praise and Prophesy Conclusion • God made each of us different • Some are loud and exuberant, like Elizabeth and the shepherds • Others are determined and persistent like the Magi • Perhaps Zechariah and Elizabeth, who were surprised by God finally answering a prayer in their old age remind you of how God has worked in your life • Maybe you are like Joseph – “Lord, tell me what to do and I will obey. ”

Praise and Prophesy Conclusion • Maybe you see yourself in Mary, contemplative and quiet and obedient • Wherever you see yourself in this Christmas story, be encouraged • God made you with the personality you have, and He has you on the journey you are on – both are for a reason • Worship in the way God made you • Enjoy the journey, hold tight to Him at the difficult parts, and trust that He is in control and working all things for good

Praise and Prophesy Conclusion • Worship is the goal • We cannot lose sight of the incredible truth that God became flesh – that Jesus came to earth as an infant, that He became one of us in every way • That is the amazing truth of Christmas – that is why we celebrate and make such a big deal of this season • We are celebrating – God came near – God became human – all because of His incredible love for us

Praise and Prophesy Conclusion We are encouraged to wade through the clutter of the season and kneel at the manger, to look past the commercialism and culturalisms and worship the Christ Child

Praise and Prophesy Will you worship the Christ child in whatever way God has made you?