I invite you to turn with me this morning to Luke chapter one. Luke chapter one. Well, last week, last Sunday evening in particular, I began a series that I'm titling the cast of Christmas and this story that God writes in which he brings his son to this earth to live and to die for us. There is an incredible cast of characters. and in their lives and in their responses to God's work, we see powerful examples for us, but we also see in their lives powerful encouragement to look to God and to trust in God and to believe in Christ. This morning, I plan to speak on Zacharias, and then this evening, I plan to speak on Elizabeth, Zacharias' wife. I'm going to read Luke chapter 1 verses 5 through 23. Luke chapter 1 verses 5 through 23. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias of the division of Abijah. His wife was one of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. So it was that while he was serving as priest before God, in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside of the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before him in the power, a spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Zacharias said to the angel, how shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in years. The angel answered and said to him, I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute. and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own time. And the people waited for Zacharias and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple, but when he came out, he could not speak to them. And they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Well, by the time we get to Luke chapter one, it's important for us to remember that God has been silent for 400 years. For 400 years, God has not sent any special revelation. Of course, God continues to, the heavens declare the glory of God, the firmament showeth his handiwork, but God has not sent any prophet, he has not sent any direct special revelation for 400 years. But in this passage, God breaks his silence. He gives his word through Gabriel, that powerful angelic messenger. And it's interesting that God gives his word to a man whose name means God remembers. Zacharias is, in his own, in the way that God will use him, is a reminder to us that God remembers. Now when we say that God remembers, we're not saying that God actually forgets. The whole point is, the idea of God remembering, is that God never forgets. God never forgets his covenant promises to his people. God will faithfully move to keep his covenant on his own timetable in his own way. Zacharias' life points us to the gracious promises of God. God has made his promises to send his son and God will now move to send his son He will move to prepare the way for the sending and ministry of his son. Well, in verse five, we're given something of the historical context. The historical context is that this is in the days of Herod, king of Judea. And we know something about Herod as we look at the rest of scripture, right? Herod was a rogue. He was a terrible character. Someone who was willing to kill even family members to retain his own power and position. He was also, you might remember, the one who after the birth of Jesus and through the wise men and that situation, he would actually go and kill all the baby boys, the male children two years of age and under. So this is the historical context, the political context If you think that our prime minister is not your first choice, imagine living under the reign of Herod. And we're told also the vocation of Zacharias. He was a priest. He was a priest specifically of the division of Abijah. So there were 24 divisions of priests who were involved in the temple service. And they would be involved in temple service for a week at a time, basically twice a year. During that time, they would come and they would live near the temple. They would be involved in all kinds of different service there. And he is of the division of Abijah, which was the eighth in the list of these priestly divisions. His wife, we are told, is of the daughters of Aaron. So Elizabeth is actually also in, if you will, that priestly line. Her life, though she wasn't a priest as such, would have also been devoted to serving God. Also, not just because she was of the line of Aaron, but because she married Zacharias. So her life would also have been devoted to service. We'll look at Elizabeth more tonight. But we're also told about the character of both Zacharias and Elizabeth. Look at it with me in verse six. And they were both righteous before God. Let me pause there for a second. When it says that they're righteous before God here specifically, this is talking about their position before God. They are positionally righteous before God. They are righteous by faith in God. They, like Abraham, had believed God and it was counted unto them for righteousness. These were people who were true believers. And they were not only just true believers positionally, but practically we see as well. They, continuing in verse six, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. These were people that took their faith Seriously, they were people that lived righteously. But there's also a challenge that they have in their life. Verse seven, but they had no child because Elizabeth was barren and they were both well advanced in years. You look at that verse and to us in our context, it may not seem like that big of a deal. I'll mention this again tonight. Today, in our context, children are often seen as more of a burden than a blessing. And people really don't wanna have very many of them, if any at all, right? People are waiting longer and longer to have children. People have a tendency in our age to think of children being something that's just gonna be a pain, that's gonna keep them from doing what they want, from living their lives, from pursuing their career. It wasn't the case back then. And this time, people, wanted children, loved children, which is the right perspective. Children are a heritage of the Lord. The fruit of the womb is his reward. People should want to have children. That's natural, that's normal. But add to that, there was a social stigma that was attached with barrenness. If a couple was unable to conceive, society looked at them a little bit less. It's like there was an asterisk by their name. Yeah, they're faithful, they're righteous, but they don't have kids. Sometimes a lack of children was seen as a sign of anger from God or disfavor from God. Sometimes it was seen as a lack of either lack of masculinity, unable to have a child, or a lack of femininity, the woman unable to have a child, there was a social stigma that was attached to it. So much so, we'll look at this again tonight, but when Elizabeth conceives, she actually will say, the Lord has taken away my reproach from among people. So these were faithful people, but they're barren people, and there's this social stigma, there's this reproach that's attached to them, no children. Nor, humanly speaking, is it likely that they're gonna have children. Why? Well, verse seven tells us they were both well advanced in years. But God will keep his promises. And God will keep his promises in unusual ways. All of that sets the stage for what happens next. In verses eight and following. God will remember. God will keep his promises that he made to his people. As we look at this story of Zacharias' life, there's four themes I want us to think about relating to God's promises. First is the certainty. Certainty and God's promises. So in verse eight, So it was that while he was serving as a priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. So let me explain this a little bit. So I told you, there's 24 divisions of priests. And twice a year, they would essentially come to the temple for a week, and they would spend their time there serving the temple. There was a morning and evening sacrifice and there was morning and evening offering of incense. And what would happen was the names would be drawn by lot as to who would be allowed to offer this incense. It would be drawn both morning and evening. There were a lot of priests by this time. One author that I read estimated that there were probably at least 18,000 priests in service at this time. So you could serve your entire life and never have your name drawn. Once your name was drawn and you had performed that service, you could never do so again. It was a once in a lifetime privilege. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Zacharias has lived his life and has not yet to this point had the privilege of offering the incense in the temple. But this time, the lot falls on Zacharias. Now we might think, right, we might think that casting of lots is completely random, right? From our perspective, it is. It's a roll of the dice, it's a random pick, it's not something that's directed from our perspective, but it is directed by God's perspective. The lot is cast in the lap, but the disposing is of the Lord. And in God's plan, in God's purpose, Zacharias' name comes up. So entering into the holy place, verse 10, the whole multitude is outside praying at the hour of incense. And entering into the holy place, Zacharias would have expected to see the golden lampstand. He would have expected to see the table of showbread, and he would also have expected to have seen the altar of incense. What he wouldn't have expected to see was an angel standing there by the altar of incense. The altar of incense, by the way, if you compare scripture with scripture, that altar of incense represented the prayers of God's people. So here's the angel. And the angel says, well, when Zacharias sees the angel, he's troubled and fear falls upon him. This is a common response when people see angels. This angel, of course, is Gabriel, one of the chief angels of God. And Zacharias is terrified of the sight of this angel. Not just startled that he's there, but terrified at the sight of him. Verse 13, the angel said to him, do not be afraid, Zacharias. For your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you shall call his name John." Zacharias and Elizabeth no doubt have been praying for years and years and years. Praying not only for deliverance from their own painful circumstances, but also praying for the coming of Messiah. And the angel shows up and says, your prayer is heard. It's a reminder to us, we may not always discern God's plans and purposes, but heaven may seem silent at times, but heaven is never indifferent. As the angel speaks about what God will do, it is in keeping with the covenant promises that God has made. and it is certain. As we look at what the angel says, and as we look at what happens in this passage, we see how this certainty is displayed. It's displayed, first of all, in the use of language. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear a son. You will have joy and gladness. Many will rejoice at his birth. He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. He will also go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah. God's promises are certain. Here's the amazing thing. God says all of these things to a man, we'll see this in a second, He says all of these things to a man who normally wouldn't be able to have a child at this point. Humanly speaking, it would seem to be impossible. But God's promises are certain. When God makes a promise, you know that it will come to pass. God doesn't make promises and say, well, you know, as long as it doesn't rain, this will come to pass. God's promises, God's covenant promises are certain. It's amazing all of the points of this promise, the joy and gladness, many rejoicing at his birth, great in the sight of the Lord. This is, of course, speaking about John, verse 13, He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and will also go before him. You notice in this prophecy, there is not only the promise of Jesus coming, there's the promise of John preparing the way for Jesus. Certainty then is revealed in the use of these certain terms. The Lord will come, your son will turn many to him, he'll go before him, he'll prepare the way. That certainty is also revealed in the scriptural connections. If we go back to the very end of the book of Malachi, before everything goes silent for those 400 years, Malachi ends with these words, behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. There's a scriptural connection. John will be the one who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah. That certainty, when God promises it, it will come to pass. We think right now, Old and New Testament, and that's kind of the context that we look at the Word of God, and that's right, that's true. Both of them are the Word of God. But at this point, Zacharias only had the Old Testament. He didn't have the New Testament. He looked back at the Word of God, and this promise is in keeping with the Word of God. We have the privilege now of looking at the totality of scripture, Old and New Testaments, and we can see even more incredible promises that are given to us, are shown to us in clarity in the New Testament. They are certain because God has spoken them. And the certainty is also revealed in who it is that's giving this message. You know, today, On social media, there's all kinds of people that can post all kinds of things. And you have to kind of consider the source. Right? You know, some of the things you hear and see, you're like, is that really true? I mean, that seems kind of far-fetched. But there are probably people that you know that will not post anything until they've checked it out to make sure. And you look at those people's posts with a little bit more, okay, trust, a little bit more assurance. They've done their homework. They're not gonna just post something silly. How much greater is the certainty that comes from an angel of God? We looked last week at how the word spoken by angels is steadfast. Here's Gabriel. The angel of God who stands in the presence of God sent by God himself to speak these tidings. How certain is this? By the way, it's not the first time we've encountered Gabriel. Some of you Bible readers know that back in Daniel chapter eight, Gabriel is sent to Daniel to try to help him understand some of the visions that he's receiving. All this to say, brothers and sisters, that when God makes His promises, we can be certain that He will perform them. One of the characteristics of God that we remember is the characteristic of faithfulness. Faithfulness is a characteristic that's related to God's truth. We say God is true, we say He never lies. Faithfulness has to do with God keeping His promises. being true to his word, being true to who he is, being true to his people, certainty and God's gracious promises. We also see in the life of Zacharias, mystery and God's gracious promises. Verse seven, we remember, they have no child, Elizabeth is barren, they're well advanced in years. There's a reason then why in verse 18, Zacharias says to the angel, how shall I know this? For I'm an old man and my wife is well advanced in years. What wonder that God would work in the womb of a woman who is unable to bear and really in a couple who is past the age of childbearing. Yet how often does God work in ways that we would not expect. How often even in the Old Testament has God moved in the lives of people who previously were barren and then brought forth children. We think of Abraham and Sarah. There's a classic example right there. Abraham and Sarah, humanly speaking, were past that age and yet God in his gracious purposes brought Isaac into the world through them. God did this in keeping with his perfect plan of redemption for his people. And here God works again in ways that no one would expect. He chooses this older couple How often does God choose people that we wouldn't expect? How often does God work in ways that are quite beyond our ability to fathom or even anticipate? It's like God delights to do that. He delights to do the unexpected. He delights to do what we would think of as impossible. Isaiah 55 verses eight and nine, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are my ways your ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. I think this reminds us that when God purposes to save and to keep his people, Let none of us despair when things do not seem to be going the way that we would expect. Let none of us despair as we look at a world of wickedness around us and think that it's impossible that God could do a work of saving grace. Let no individual, let none of God's faithful despair that he could ever use them. God is often pleased to use the very people we would least expect. a week or so ago, a friend of mine posted something on Facebook about his gratitude that he was able to earn his doctoral degree. I think about this man and he has been used by God on the mission field, has been used by God to do translation work into translating books and writing books for people on the mission field. He's learned several languages. All of this in spite of the fact that he struggles or still struggles with dyslexia. Despite of the fact that he saw a coworker literally murdered right beside him, God uses this man still, and he has now earned this doctrine. Now, going back into his high school years and even his Bible college years, probably not a lot of people would have thought, you know, that's the guy that God's gonna use that way. But God delights. God delights to do things in ways that we wouldn't expect. When God plans and purposes to save his people, he'll do so in his way. At the end of the day, he gets the glory for it. Let none of us presume to plan God's path for him. Let none of us presume to critique God's ways. One day we will recognize that he has done all things well. So certainty. and God's gracious promises. When God promises, he'll bring it to pass. Mystery and God's gracious promises. God does things in ways that we wouldn't expect. And at the end of the day, he gets the glory for it. But third, discipline and God's gracious promises. God not only promises great things to his people, but he disciplines them so that they may more fully trust him and obey him. We see this in Zacharias his own life. Look with me at verse 18, Zacharias said to the angel, how shall I know this for I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in years. Now, it seems like an honest question, but the angel Gabriel responds this way. The angel answers and said to him, I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. And behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own time. Sometimes a person can ask a question and the words can be taken one way or another. It's a matter of the heart. One student in the class says, what do we need to know for the test? Another student in the class says, what do we need to know for the test? Another student asks, what do we need to know for the test this time? There's a difference. The words may seem similar, and I think as we look at Zacharias and compare Zacharias with Mary, Mary's going to have a question, too. The wording sounds very similar. Both of them are wondering how this can come to pass. Mary, though, is asking from a perspective of honestly wondering how God will work out his plan. We know this because she is described as one who believes the promise of God, who believes the word that was said to her. Zacharias asked the question, and his question arises not from how is God gonna work this thing out, but rather doubt that God would work it out. Zacharias reminds us that even the faithful fail. If you look to any man, any woman of God, and think that they're going to be perfect, you will be sorely mistaken. Even the faithful fail. But this passage reminds us that God will chasten His children, so that they will come to trust him and obey him more fully. What does God do by way of discipline, of chastening for Zacharias? Well, he takes his voice. He takes away his speech. The very thing that he had used to express his doubt in God That's taken away from him. But when God chastens us, He chastens us for our profit. This was not just God being mean. Oh, you used your voice to doubt me. I'm going to get back at you. God chastens us for our profit. so that we'll trust him more deeply, we'll follow him more faithfully. And thus it was with Zacharias. The silence of Zacharias will serve a purpose of discipline. Chastisement is not contrary to God's gracious purposes, but in keeping with his gracious purposes. God will chastise us so that we might trust him, believe his promises more, and follow him more fully. Hebrews chapter 12, verses five and six, You have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as sons. My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by him. For whom the Lord loves, he chastens and scourges every son whom he receives. Later in the same chapter of Hebrews chapter 12, for they indeed, speaking of our earthly fathers, for they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them. but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. Now, no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Nevertheless, afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. God will use the silence of Zacharias to further shape and mold his character And we know that God's chastening has its desired effect. How do we know that? Well, when John is born, Zacharias names him John, just as he was commanded by the angel. When John is born, Zacharias has his mouth opened to praise and that's open to speak. And his reflex is to praise God. We find that hymn of praise in chapter one, verses 67 to 79. God's chastening had its effect. And so it is with us, brothers and sisters. Do not despise the chastening of the Lord. Zacharias does not become surly and angry at what God has taken away from him. He doesn't become bitter. His life, in fact, becomes more joyful. He bursts forth in joy when his mouth is opened. Don't despise, don't despise the discipline of the Lord. God has his reasons. And just as we can trust His promises, we can trust His chastening to accomplish those good purposes in our lives. Nothing happens in our lives by accident. Nothing. Trust Him. See, sometimes we think, okay, I think I can trust God that there's heaven to come. I think I can trust God that there's you know, joy in His presence one day. I think I can trust Him with those big promises at the end. But God is in the process now of moving us to trust Him in the here and now, step by step. Isn't it the reality that as you look back over your life, you've seen God's chastening? You've also seen As you look back over your life, the times where God has shown Himself to be both merciful and mighty, at the very times when you thought that He didn't know what He was doing? Friends, God is in that purpose of conforming us more and more to the image of His Son. He's conforming us more and more to people who walk with Him and trust in Him in the here and now. And finally, I want us to see joy and God's gracious promises. The angel had prophesied and promised, if you will, in verse 14, you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth. This is a persistent theme when it comes to the Christmas story. Joy to the world. And the angel is telling Zacharias, joy to the world that John will come and joy to the world that the Lord will come. There is a joy that is found in believing the promises of God, in trusting the promises of God. The promises that are given here are incredible. There's a reason that we'll have joy and gladness, because Jesus will come, and Jesus will save his people from their sins. We can have joy in his salvation, we can have joy in his mercy and his covenant, we can have joy in his son. You go all the way over to just ahead in the chapter, in chapter, 1 verse 64, when his mouth is loosened, Zacharias, immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke praising God. And his prophecy in verses 67 to 79 has this overflowing joy in what God has promised and what God will do. We will not take the time to go line by line through this, but we can see there is so much joy to be found. Joy in the redemption of God. Joy, verse 69, in the salvation of God. Joy, verse 70, in the promises of God spoken by the prophets. Joy, salvation from the enemies, 71. Joy in the mercy promised, verse 72. Joy in the holy covenant. Joy in God's, verse 72. Joy, verse 73, in the oath that God swore to Abraham. Joy in the fact that Jesus will come. Verse 78, the day spring from on high. that shining light, that dawn that will come in Christ. There's joy in all of that. There's joy in knowing and believing the promises of God. And we would do well to meditate on what God has promised His people. I think there's also a note here that reminds us that in the ultimate sense, we're dependent upon God to loosen our tongues. to rejoice in him. Yes, God had taken the faculty of speech away from Zacharias, but there's a sense in which that's almost like an acted parable. That unless God loosens the tongue of a person, they could never praise him. That tongue would be locked in sin. God looses the tongue of Zacharias and immediately he opens his mouth to praise. There's a great need for this sinful world who does not see and rejoice in the glory of God. Who can never truly praise God because their hearts are not tuned to sing his praise. Their joy is found in sin and iniquity. even the very thing that hurts and kills them, and they don't find great joy in the things of God. What can make a sinner into someone who praises and rejoices in God? Only God can do that. And God does that through the grace that He has shown in sending His Son. Perhaps there's some here listening who have not yet trusted in Christ. And maybe as you look at your life, you find, I just don't really love the things of God. I don't really rejoice in the things of God. They just don't seem all that great to me. Ultimately, that's not even possible until you submit to Christ. Until you turn from your sins to trust in Him. And for that to happen, God has to do a work in your heart. But God can change your heart. Turn from those sins to trust Him. I think there's something to be said as well that's an encouragement or maybe an exhortation to us for those of us who have trusted Christ. How do we use our tongues? How do we use our voices? Like Zacharias, may we use that freedom of speech to praise and glorify God. But there's another theme that kind of runs through this, kind of an undercurrent here, a joyful theme. And that is the theme of the saint's hope, the hope of the believer. You see, God can loose the tongue to allow us to praise. But we who are sinners recognize that in this life, our praise is so imperfect. Both with our lives and our lips, we fall short. And I think that there's a sense in which every true believer longs for that day that we sing about in one of our hymns. Then in a nobler, sweeter tongue, I'll sing thy power to save. when this poor, lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave." This passage reminds us that just as God performed this miracle to open the mouth of Zacharias, to loose his tongue, so there's a miracle that comes in glory. When the weight of sin will be released and we will have the perfect freedom to praise God perfectly. What a day that will be. How I long to be free from my sin and my folly, to open my mouth in pure, perfect, unrestrained praise to God. Pure praise to the Lamb of glory. There's another note of hope here. Just as God looses the tongue of Zacharias, so God will one day loose the infirmities of this world. It's eight years now, and Joel still doesn't talk. The longer this goes on, the less likely, of course, it is that he will talk. And I know that there are some people who say, you just have to have faith. And I have to remind them that faith is believing that God will do what's right. It's not just believing that God will do what I want him to do. Every day that passes, it's much more unlikely that Joel will ever speak. But a passage like this reminds me that there is a day coming where the Joel's of the world will praise. And when the jewels of the world praise, how the rest of us will rejoice. We will look at Him. We will look at our Savior. We will look to our God and we'll say, He's done all things well. I don't understand the silence. But if my son has to live his life in complete silence, never saying anything, so that his first words may be in glory, praise to God, glory be to God. What wonderful first words those would be. Friends, he has done all things well. Let's trust him. He will do all things well. Let's trust him. Do you doubt him? Look to Jesus. He has sent his son. Do you doubt His love? Look not only at the manger, but at the cross where He has demonstrated His love toward us. Do you groan under the weight of this world? Look for His second coming. He will appear a second time without sin unto salvation. And what a day that will be, amen.