Luke 01.05-25 | Elijah Come Again

Luke 01.05-25

We see this morning in Elijah Come Again… 01. The Setting (Luke 01.05-07); 02. The Answered Prayer (Luke 01.08-17); 03. The Good News (Luke 01.18-20) and 04. The Miracle Pregnancy (Luke 01.21-25).

Luke does something here that no other Gospel writer does, and that is he begins his Gospel not with Jesus, but with John. In Luke 01.25-80, Luke records for us the events surrounding the miraculous conception of John, giving us details about the parents of John that no other Gospel writer does. Along the way, he then includes the miraculous conception of Jesus, and it also shows us that John and Jesus are related.

It is interesting to note that this Gospel essentially opens with people praying at the Temple (Luke 01.10) and ends with people praising God at the Temple (Luke 24.52-53).

01. The Setting (Luke 01.05-07)

By this time, Israel has been in spiritual darkness. There hasn’t been a Word from the LORD for 400 years, when Malachi the prophet last spoke in Malachi 04.05-06.

Herod the Great was currently reigning as King of Judea (40bc-3bc). Herod was not a Jew, but an Idumean, from the line of Esau. We know from Scripture that the Edomites (the descendants of Esau) and Israel were longtime enemies (Numbers 20.14–21; 1Kings 11.14–22; 2Kings 14.07; 2Chronicles 25.05–16; Psalm 137.07; Jeremiah 49.07–22; Ezekiel 25.12–14; Ezekiel 35.15; Amos 01.11–12; Obadiah 01–21).

Wanting to bridge the gap between him and the people he was ruling, Herod married a Jewish woman and undertook a massive building program. He built the almost unconquerable fortress of Masada, the port city of Caesarea and most importantly, rebuilt the Temple.

Herod appeared to be a generous benevolent ruler of the Jews, as he lowered taxes 02 different times, and during a horrible famine in 25bc, he melted down several gold items in his palace to buy food for the poor. In fact, he gained the favor of many Jews who then formed a pro-Herod party called the Herodians (Matthew 22.16; Mark 03.06; Mark 12.13). The Herodians though were united in their hatred of Jesus with the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

But Herod also had an evil, dark side. He was known to be brutal, nasty, cruel, and ruthless. He was extremely jealous, suffered from paranoia, always thinking that someone was going to usurp his power. He murdered one of his wives, her brother, her mother and many of his own sons. He was also the same Herod who murdered all the boys in Bethlehem (and its surrounding area) who were two years old and younger (Matthew 02.16-18).

Luke 01.05 So after establishing the time of the events that Luke is about to record for us, Luke now introduces us to a Jewish couple by the name of Zacharias (or Zechariah-“YHWH has remembered”) a priest and his wife Elizabeth (“God of the Oath”) who also was from a priestly family.

Luke records for us that Zacharias was of the priestly order of Abijah (“worshipper of Yah”). In 1Chronicles 24.01-19, we read that King David, along with the High Priest Zadok (2Samuel 20.25; 1Kings 04.04) and Ahimelech (“brother of the king”) had organized the priesthood into twenty-four divisions, and the eighth division was Abijah. Each division would serve a week at a time, from Sabbath to Sabbath (2Chronicles 23.08), and each division would serve two weeks in a year. Of these 24 divisions, only four of them returned after the captivity from Babylon (459bc-Ezra 02.36-39). So then these four divisions that returned were then subdivided into twenty-four, thus retaining the ancient name and order of each.

Luke 01.06-07 Luke then tells us that they were righteous people, meaning that they were very careful in keeping both the moral and ceremonial laws of the Jews. This does not mean that they were without sin, but that they didn’t make it a practice to sin. And when they did sin, they were quick to offer the sacrifices and do what was required sinning.

The Bible mentions others who were called “blameless” as well: Noah-Genesis 06.09; Genesis 07.01; Abram- Genesis 17.01; Job-Job 01.01; Job 01.08; followers of Christ justified by faith-Romans 03.21-25; Colossians 01.22; 1Thessalonians 03.13; 2Peter 03.14.

Luke also tells us that Elizabeth was barren and that both of them were old. Being childless was an embarrassing situation for any couple, especially for the woman.

The Bible mentions other couples that were barren as well:

Abraham and Sarah (Isaac-Genesis 15.01-18.15; Genesis 21.01-08),

Isaac and Rebekah (Jacob and Esau- Genesis 25.21-26),

Jacob and Rachel (Joseph-Genesis 30.01; Genesis 30.22-24),

Manoah and his wife (Samson-Judges 13.01-25),

Elkanah and Hannah (Samuel-1Samuel 01.01-28).

But notice that Luke was very careful to note that the barrenness of Elizabeth was never because of sin, as he said that they were “blameless” (Luke 01.06).

02. The Answered Prayer (Luke 01.08-17)

Luke now records for us that Zacharias was doing his job by burning incense in the Temple.

Luke 01.09 “…he was chosen by lot” God ordained him to be chosen out of the many priests in the division of Abijah. To have this opportunity to burn the incense would have been the highlight of many priests life.

Luke 01.09 “…and burn incense.” The incense was made up of three spices mixed with frankincense, with salt added to give forth a white smoke (Exodus 30.34-36). The priests were to keep the incense in the Temple burning continuously (Exodus 30.07–08), and it was to be offered along with the morning and evening sacrifice each day on the golden altar in the Holy Place (Exodus 30.01-10) of the Temple. The Holy Place was located in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies (Exodus 26.31–33). Oftentimes the altar of incense was linked to the Holy of Holies because of its close proximity to it. The burning of incense was a symbol of prayer (Psalm 141.01-02; Revelation 05.08; Revelation 08.03-04).

Luke 01.10 The people were outside the Temple, gathered together in prayer, waiting for Zacharias to come out.

Picture of Herod’s Temple http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/herod-temple-floor-plan-nc-aug-edu.jpg 

Luke 01.11-12 As Zacharias is doing his job, an angel of the Lord appears on the right side of the altar of incense.

The right side is the place of favor (Genesis 48.13-20; Exodus 29.20; Leviticus 07.32-33; Matthew 25.33; Hebrews 01.03; Hebrews 01.13; Hebrews 08.01; Hebrews 10.12; Hebrews 12.12; 1Peter 03.21-22).

Luke 01.12 “troubled” G5015. tarassw tarasso tar-as’-so; of uncertain affinity; to stir or agitate (roll water):-- trouble.

Thayer-to strike one’s spirit with fear or dread.

At first Zacharias is troubled, for none of his colleagues had ever seen an angel, plus seeing an angel often led people to realize their own sin and ungodliness (Judges 06.22-23; Judges 13.15-22; Daniel 08.15-18; Revelation 01.17; Revelation 19.10; Revelation 22.08-09). The last time that an angel appeared to mankind that we have in recorded history is when the angel appeared to Zechariah the prophet 500 years before (Zechariah 01.09; Zechariah 02.03; Zechariah 04.01)! The 500 years are book-ended by the appearance of an angel to Zechariah the prophet and Zechariah (Zacharias) the priest! Luke records for us that the angel was visibly standing before him, thus telling us that this was not a vision or dream, but it actually happened!

Luke 01.13-14 The angel though reassured Zacharias that there was nothing to be afraid of, for he was there to deliver the news that God had answered their prayer for a son. The angel told Zacharias that the name of his son is going to be John the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Johanan”, which means “YHWH’s gracious gift”. The choice of the name symbolized that God was about to bring forth His most gracious gift, His Son, the Lord Jesus the Christ! The angel also said that only would John bring joy and gladness to his parents, but many will rejoice at his birth!

Luke 01.15 The angel then told Zacharias that his son John would be “great in the sight of the Lord”, which is the only type of greatness that matters! Not only would John be “great in the sight of the Lord” but also that he will “he will drink no wine or liquor”, meaning that he will be a lifelong Nazirite.

You can read about the regulations of a Nazirite in Numbers 06.01-08. The word “Nazirite” comes from a Hebrew word that means, “to separate”. The vow of a Nazirite was a voluntary vow, which a man or a woman could make for a certain amount of time. The Mishna records for us that a Nazirite vow could last as long as one hundred days, but usually was for a period of thirty days.

In the Bible, we have recorded for us only three who were lifelong Nazirites. These three were Samuel (1Samuel 01.11), Samson (Judges 13.04-05, 07, 14), and John the Baptist (Luke 01.15).

There were three requirements that comprised the vow of the Nazirite:

01. Could not eat or drink anything from the vine (Numbers 06.02-04)

02. Could not cut their hair (Numbers 06.05)

03. Could not go near a dead body (Numbers 06.06-08)

The fruit of the vine symbolizes human joy; long hair was a symbol of shame and humiliation for a man (1Corinthians 11.14-15); and a dead body causes one to be defiled (Leviticus 11.31-32; Leviticus 21.01-12; Numbers 05.02). To be joyful, the Nazirite abstained from wine, to be strong he became weak (Leviticus 14.08-09), and in order to love his relatives he needed to “hate” them (Luke 14.26). The Nazirite was to be a living sign of holiness, much in the same way that a leper was a living sign of sin, and because of that the Nazirite is a paradox to those who are in the world. So with all this, the angel told Zacharias that his son John would be great, would be a Nazirite and “filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.” This is good proof that a baby in the womb is a person, because only a person can be filled with the Holy Spirit!

Luke 01.16-17 The angel continues about John, saying, “…he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.” This means that John through his ministry would prepare many of the Jews for the coming Messiah (HaMashiach).

John was going to be the forerunner of the Messiah (“Him” in Luke 01.17) in the spirit of Elijah (Malachi 03.01; Malachi 04.05-06).

John the Baptist was not a reincarnation of Elijah the prophet (John 01.21), though the Jews seemed to have misunderstood this, thinking that Elijah himself would literally come before the Messiah (HaMashiach).

John the Baptist did closely resemble Elijah, as he seemed to suddenly appear on the scene (1Kings 17.01; Luke 03.02), dressed the same in a hairy garment with a leather belt around his waist (2Kings 01.08; Matthew 03.04). Both were bold in their speaking to those in leadership (1Kings 17.01; 1Kings 18.01-46; 1Kings 21.20; Matthew 04.03-04), saying without fear what the LORD had put on their hearts to say, and both had moments of doubt (1Kings 19.01-21; Matthew 11.02-15).

The deity of Jesus is implied here in these verses. For in Luke 01.16 it says, “…he (John) will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.” Then in in Luke 01.17 it says that John will go “before Him”, that is the Messiah who is also the “Lord their God” in Luke 01.16!

By way of review, there are 06 aspects of the character of John that are mentioned here (Luke 01.14-17):

01. Bring joy and gladness (Luke 01.14)

02. Great in the sight of the Lord (Luke 01.15)

03. Nazirite (Numbers 06.01-21; Luke 01.15)

04. Filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 01.15)

05. Bring people to the Lord (Luke 01.16)

06. The forerunner of the Messiah (Malachi 03.01; Malachi 04.05-06; Luke 01.17)

The role of John the Baptist was to introduce Jesus (God) to the people.

Here we have recorded for us, the 1^st time that God spoke to man in 400 years! And what were the last words God spoke to man before this time? They were the closing words in the Book of Malachi in Malachi 04.05-06.

03. The Good News (Luke 01.18-20)

Zacharias knows that this is physically impossible as he and his wife are old and beyond childbearing years.

Luke 01.19 The angel then identifies who he is, telling Zacharias that his name is Gabriel (“man of God”) “who stands in the presence of God,” (Luke 01.19) and was sent by God to bring to Zacharias the good news that he was going to have a son.

Gabriel was the angel who was sent by God to Daniel and Mary-Daniel 08.16; Daniel 09.21; Luke 01.26.

Luke 01.19 “good news” G2097. euaggelizw euaggelizo yoo-ang-ghel-id’-zo; from 2095 and 32; to announce good news (“evangelize”) especially the gospel:-- declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).

Luke 01.20 Gabriel now tells Zacharias that because he doubted the Word from God, he would not be able to speak until the birth of his son.

04. The Miracle Pregnancy (Luke 01.21-25)

Meanwhile, all the people were waiting for Zacharias to come out of the Temple and were wondering why he was delayed.

When the priest came out after burning the incense, he was to pronounce the priestly benediction found in Numbers 06.23-27.

The delay of Zacharias would naturally cause the people to think that he had done something wrong and was judged by God like Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10.01-07.

When the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, he would have bells on his robe so that those outside could hear him moving around. Plus they would attach a long cord to his ankle, so that if they stopped hearing the bells, they knew that he was struck dead in the presence of the LORD, and they would thus then be able to drag him out without going into the Holy of Holies.

When Zacharias finally did come out, he of course couldn’t talk and tried to communicate by making signs to the people. It was then that they realized that Zacharias had seen an angel.

Zacharias finished his weekly priestly duties and then went home. Elizabeth then miraculously became pregnant and kept herself in seclusion for 05 months, probably when she was showing enough to prove that she really was pregnant.

She then rejoiced in the LORD (Luke 01.25) that He freed her from the social stigma of being barren.