Luke 1:20 - And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.
Luke 1:43-44 - And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
Luke 1:76-79 - And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Isaiah 9:1-7 - But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
Judges 7:2 - The LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’”
Isaiah 9:5-7 - For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
I. Jesus Shined the Light on the Reality of Sin and Death
Luke 1:77 - …the forgiveness of their sins…
John 3:19-20 - This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Proverbs 16:25 - There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Romans 10:9-10 - …that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
II. Jesus Shined the Light on the Beauty of God’s Mercy and Grace
Luke 1:77-78 - To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us…
John 1:4 - In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
III. Jesus Shined the Light on a Hopeful Future
Isaiah 9:5 - For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
Isaiah 9:7 - There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
- have you ever been in a situation where it was really dark – like, I can’t see my hand in front of my face kind of dark?...
- a number of years ago I was in the Ivory Coast with our daughter Bethany…
- and I was speaking at a conference for missionaries in West Africa and like many poorer countries with a higher level of crime…the facility where the conference was being held was on a dirt road where all the buildings were surrounded by high concrete walls with shards of glass sticking out of the top…
- and in this case, there was also a little guest house down the road where Bethany and I were staying…
- so I finished my afternoon responsibilities and walked back to check on Bethany and grab a bite to eat before walking back for the evening session…
- what I hadn’t counted on was that the sun would be going down while I was in the house and when I stepped on the road I was struck by how different everything looked in the dark…
- all of a sudden I couldn’t remember how far down the building was where I had been speaking…
- and although there a poles that had what we might call streetlights…they weren’t very bright so there were significant areas that were totally dark in between the little patches of light…
- and I thought – this probably isn’t my smartest decision – but I didn’t know what else to do except to sort of jog from patch of light to patch of light…and hope I didn’t run into any snakes or lions or thieves or whatever in between…
- my plan was working fairly well until about half-way down this dirt road 2 things happened simultaneously…
- all the lights went out down the entire road and in any buildings on the other side of the walls…
- and someone let out a blood curdling cry at the top of her lungs…
- and it was dark…darkness like I had never experienced before…
- that same metaphor is sometimes used in the Bible to describe a person’s attempt to navigate life apart from a personal relationship with God…it’s called walking in darkness (please think about)…trying to live by one’s own wisdom, resources, strength…and usually therefore in disobedience to what God’s Word has revealed as true and right…
- not surprisingly…it comes up during the birth of Jesus at Christmastime…
- you may remember that the Old Testament predicted in the book of Malachi that before the Messiah came, there would be a forerunner…someone who would pave the way for the Messiah’s ministry
- we know from the perspective of the NT that that man’s name was John the Baptist…and his parents were named Zacharias and Elizabeth…and we also know that Mary, the human mother of Jesus and Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, were relatives…
- Elizabeth had also struggled with infertility…and so when her husband Zacharias—who was also a priest of Israel, went in to perform his priestly duties in the temple – an angel met him, and told him that he and Elizabeth were going to have a little baby boy who would be the forerunner to the Messiah…a direct fulfillment of the words of the OT prophet Malachi…
- Then Zacharias made a strategic mistake…the angel was trying to give him the bright light of new revelation and great news – Zacharias preferred to stay in the darkness of focusing on his own resources and strength…
- so he asked the angel – how could that be – because my wife and I are old…(as if he expected the angel to say – Oh, our mistake, the Lord and I thought you folks were younger…)
- you might want to make a note to yourself [and I’m speaking tongue in cheek here] that if an angel – a messenger from God – ever appears to you and announces what the God of heaven and earth is going to do for you – it would be better not to doubt what he says…
- because that will get you on the naughty list about as quickly as anything…
- and in this case, do you remember the somewhat mild judgment he received?...
- Luke records it like this - Luke 1:20 - And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.
- [whether that was also considered to be a special blessing for his wife Elizabeth is not addressed in the text…]
- next Luke explains that an angel appeared to Mary and announced the news to her…and then Mary went to visit Elizabeth who was already expecting and we hear this amazing interchange…Luke 1:43–44 - “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? “For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
- in case that’s not clear – John the Baptist leaped in his mother’s womb when Elizabeth heard the voice of Mary, the human mother of Jesus…
- then we have the beautiful response of Mary – verses we refer to as Mary’s Magnificat…followed by the news that John the Baptist is born…
- it’s at that time, just like the angel had said…his father Zacharias is now able to speak…he gives what Luke clearly says is a prophecy…and embedded in what he says are quotes from several OT prophecies made hundreds of years before…including how the Messiah will come as The Light of the World
- please listen carefully to a portion of what he said…[as is the case in many versions of the Bible…the OT quotes are in all capital letters?]…
- Luke 1:76–79 - “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; (a quote from Malachi 3:1 speaking of John the Baptist) To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death (a quote from Isaiah 9:2 speaking of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ) to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
- so Zacharias has been thinking about this for nine months…about his own lack of faith and how he needed the light…
- and the amazing role his son John the Baptist would play in all of this…
- but most importantly…the Messiah was coming…and of all of the OT prophecies he could have quoted…he went back to Isaiah 9…how Jesus would shine light into the darkness…
- here’s a question I would ask you to consider…what was the setting in which that original prophecy was given…and how were those 2 men very similar to John the Baptist’s father Zacharias?...
- and to top it off…how were the three of them completely different than Gideon in the book of Judges…because his story is embedded in Isaiah 9 as well…and of course ultimately, what are the lessons for you and me as well?...
- I realize that some who will be with us tonight are brand new to studying the Bible…we’re glad you’re here and the essence of this is quite understandable…
- Isaiah 9 (the prophecy John the Baptist’s father Zacharias quoted from) was given in approximately 734 BC…
- it was sad time in the history of God’s chosen nation because his people were divided into the 10 tribes in the north called Israel and the 2 tribes in the south called Judah…
- and here’s the very short story…both kings were walking in darkness…
-
- King Pekah in the north wasn’t trusting God and His Word and walking in the light…instead he had made a strategic alliance with the pagan king of the nation Aram…that’s where he was going to find his protection and strength and security…he was walking in darkness just like John the Baptist’s father Zacharias who wouldn’t believe what God was saying about his situation…
- King Ahaz in the south was no better because he chose not to join the northern kingdom and Aram even though they were pressuring him to do so…but he turned right around and formed an alliance with the evil nation of Assyria…so he too refused to walk in the light and trust in God and His Word…but preferred the darkness of an alliance with a pagan nation…
- both would eventually be judged…the northern kingdom by the Assyrians in 722 BC and the southern kingdom by the Babylonians in 586 BC…
- but here’s what happening in Isaiah 9…the prophet is looking forward to a better day…to the first coming of the Messiah…and even to His second coming…
- but embedded in this prophecy is the allusion to another person…who was far different than John the Baptist’s father Zacharias who walked in darkness…
- or kings Pekah and Ahaz who each in their own ways walked in darkness…
- I’m speaking about a man named Gideon…whose story is told in the book of Judges chapters 6-8…let’s see if we can find him in Isaiah 9…
- Isaiah 9:1–7 - But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, (in other words, the northern kingdom, and even eventually the southern kingdom would have to be judged for their idolatry and unbelief, but thank the Lord that is not the end of the story) but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. (seven hundred years from now, the Messiah is coming) You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. (what’s that song we sing – Joy to the world…). For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, (what does that mean?...freedom from enslavement…kings Pekah and Ahaz desperately needed in the 700’s BC but they wouldn’t walk in the light—they would not take God at His Word and the Lord was not glorified by their choices – John the Baptist’s father Zacharias desperately needed that 700 years later but he wouldn’t walk in the light…ne wouldn’t take God at His Word and the Lord was not glorified by his doubt and unbelief)…but please look at the next words in this prophecy as at the battle of Midian.
(when did that happen?...remember in the book of Judges when the Midianites were oppressing Israel…and so God chooses a man named Gideon who amasses an army of 32,000 people to face the Midianites who had an army of over 100,000
- do you what God said to Gideon on that day…
- it was a message every bit as the one given to John the Baptist’s father Zacharias…
- every bit as hard to believe as the ones given to kings Pekah and Ahaz…
- God said – Gideon, you have too many men…Judges 7:2 - The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’
- please put yourself in Gideon’s shoes…their army is way bigger than ours…and yet God is saying…you have too many…
- do you see the choice…you can walk in the darkness of your own understanding…or you can follow my light even when my word and my ways are hard to believe…
- what did Gideon do?...he obeyed…
- and the Lord said – tell anyone who’s afraid that they can go home…and how many went home?...22,000…leaving an army of 10,000 men…
- and what did the Lord say next?...that’s too many…so take everyone down to the river and perform simple test…everyone who laps like a dog should be sent home, and everyone who cups the water in their hand like an alert soldier should be chosen…
- how many were left after that test…300 soldiers…
- and Gideon obeyed God’s Word and took that small army into battle and achieved an incredible victory at the battle of Midian…
- so much so that 400 years later when the prophet Isaiah wanted to tell the people something that was very hard to believe…he reminded them that God’s Word is always worthy of our trust…just like it was at the battle of Midian…then he said…
For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
- please think with me now about 3 key areas in which Jesus shined the light…and how that gives people like you and me a clear choice…will we walk in the darkness of our own strength, resources, and understanding like Pekah, and Ahaz, and Zacharias…or will we walk in the light and take God at His Word even when it’s hard…like our man Gideon…
I. Jesus Shined the Light on the Reality of Sin and Death
- as we mentioned earlier, John the Baptist’s father had nine months to think about what he would say when his tongue was loosed…and part of what He emphasized was how the Messiah would provide…Luke 1:77 - …the forgiveness of their sins…
- this is where many people stop listening to the Christmas story…because we don’t want to hear about our sins…but friends…what does light do?...it exposes our need…it exposes our sin…
- think about your house…does it appear cleaner at high noon, or 9:00 at night…
- we all know the answer to that one…things can look pretty clean when it’s dark out, but at high noon on a sunny day…you tap one of the couch cushions and you want to run for cover…light exposes…
- if you know one verse in the Bible, it’s probably John 3:16…For God so loved the world…
- what’s not nearly as well known is what Jesus says 3 verses later…
- John 3:19–20 - This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
- John would coin a crucial phrase in his first epistle about this very issue…walking in the light…having an open attitude toward admitting ones sin…
- now friend, where does that start?...
- recognizing that I cannot save myself…that I cannot earn my way to heaven by my own good deeds…but that we can only be reconciled to a holy God by coming to a definite point in time…of acknowledging our sin (owning it) and then placing our faith in the shed blood of Jesus on the cross as our only hope of eternity…
- can I ask you tonight…have you believed the message of the cross…that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone…
- and I realize you might say – it’s hard to believe…Proverbs 16:25 - There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
- friend, don’t be like Zacharias, don’t be like Pekah or Ahaz…be like Gideon…walk to the light of Jesus Christ and place your faith and trust in Him…
- and if you’ve done that for the first time, please tell someone…Romans 10:9–10 - that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
- and if you say – I’m not sure I want to do that…I’m pretty sure Gideon didn’t want to tell anyone who was afraid they could go home…and I’m almost positive he wasn’t a fan of the lapping water like a dog at the river test…
- but that kind of faith is what allowed God to be most glorified at the battle of Midian…
- Christian friend – when we get sideways with other people…which can happen pretty easily around the holidays…
- the Zacharias approach, and the Pekah/Ahaz approach of walking in darkness is blaming the problem on everyone else…
- we have a Savior who offers a different approach…admitting our sin first…taking the log out of our own eye…
- if we allow the light of Christ to expose our sin, we generally don’t have a whole lot of time to think/focus on anyone else’s….be like Gideon by following the light…
II. Jesus Shined the Light on the Beauty of God’s Mercy and Grace.
- when Zacharias was finally able to speak, he had a lot to say about that as well…
- Luke 1:77–78 - To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
- how many times in the gospels do we find Jesus moving toward sin-cursed people with incredible and unpredictable mercy?...
- that’s why he went and spoke with the woman at the well…He was shining the light on that aspect of the character of God…
- that’s why he healed Peter’s mother-in-law…
- that’s why he fed the 5000 and dozens and dozens of other examples we could give…
- this is why John explained…
- John 1:4 - In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
- John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- this is why Isaiah made such a strong and repetitive emphasis on gladness in Isaiah 9…
- I know I’m speaking to some people tonight who placed your faith and trust in Christ this year…
- you sent years walking in darkness like Zacharias and Pekah and Ahaz…and that got you exactly nowhere…but this year you made a choice like Gideon…to take God at His Word...to believe the gospel…
- you’re so glad tonight that Jesus shined the light on God’s mercy…not as an abstract concept…but as the very embodiment of what mercy is like…
- that’s why, hopefully, God’s people can be so merciful to one another…(cf. the decision we made to hold the Nativity last Saturday night…people responded with mercy…why?...because they are walking in the light…)
III. Jesus Shined the Light on a Hopeful Future
- key aspects of Isaiah’s prophecy have not yet been fulfilled…
- please think about what is happening in Israel right now in the war with Hamas…and consider Isaiah 9:5 - For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
- in other words – when weapons of war will be unnecessary…
- or verse 7 when the Messiah will be…Isaiah 9:7 - There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
- do you think that will be achieved at the next presential election?...
- at our church we believe the day is coming when Christ will return for His bride…and then there will be a seven year period of judgment on this earth as described in the book of Revelation…and then the King will return with His people to establish a millennial kingdom on this earth in complete fulfillment of all the OT promises and prophecies…
- can I ask you tonight…is there an area of your life where you’re being asked to believe God’s Word/follow God’s Word…and you haven’t yet done so…
- there’s a pretty obvious message flowing out of these passages, isn’t there?...
- and before you or I would say – I just can’t be a strong man like Gideon…I would encourage you sometime over the holidays to read Judges 6-8…
- and what we find is that Gideon at times was incredibly weak and slow to believe…
- but in some ways that’s the point – Jesus is the one providing the light, strength, salvation, and the hope…we’re just choosing to believe and follow Him….
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