God Steps into History
Luke 1:1-25
Introduction
Ronald Reagan – one of the greatest Presidents of the 20th century – had a Christian mother who
raised him to believe in the providence of God.
Reagan: ‘I was raised to believe that God had a plan for everyone and that seemingly random
twists of fate are all a part of His plan. My mother – a small woman with auburn hair and a
sense of optimism that ran as deep as the cosmos – told me that everything in life happened for a
purpose. She said all things were part of God’s plan, even the most disheartening setbacks . . .
Later on, she added, something good will happen and you’ll find yourself thinking – ‘If I hadn’t
had that problem back then, then this better thing that did happen wouldn’t have happened to
me.’ [Hand of Providence, p. 20]
Early in his presidency Reagan was the target of an assassination attempt – and took a bullet in
his upper body. After 12 days in the hospital he was released with a good bill of health. His
speechwriter Peggy Noonan commented on how Reagan took the events in stride: ‘There was no
question in his mind that he had been spared. He absolutely believed it. He felt the Lord had
spared him to fulfill whatever mission it was that he was supposed to fulfill. And he was gonna
make sure that he lived his life to the fullest and did whatever he considered to be the right thing
for the rest of his life.’
Reagan said after the event: ‘I have decided that whatever time I have left is for Him.’ [Hand of
Providence, p. 16]
Is God involved in the affairs of our lives?
Does He have an over arching purpose for the lives of His children?
If you don’t believe that – you will have a hard time grasping the message of the Christmas story
as it comes to us in Luke’s gospel
It’s all about God stepping into history – interfering / intervening in the lives of His people
We find characters like Zacharias, Elizabeth, the Virgin Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist – all
individuals with a part to play in the grand drama – all figures divinely moved and positioned to
carry out their role
John Piper comments on the introduction to Luke’s gospel: ‘[Luke] wants to come right out and
be crystal clear about why he is writing this book. He is writing this account, he says, ‘that you .
. . may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.’
i.e. – let’s nail this down – this is important – there is no reason to be fuzzy on the facts
Piper: ‘Most excellent Theophilus, here is the first locked-down, unshakeable, secure, mountain
like reality in everything you’ve been taught: God is real, God is active. God is unstoppable.
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God sent His angel. God struck Zechariah dumb. God made the barren Elizabeth and the Virgin
Mary conceive. With God nothing is impossible.’ [His Mission, p. 14]
i.e. – God stepped into history – and rearranged the furniture – he stirred the pot – he shook the
trees – he sent His angel – He sent His Son
We praise Him for His blessed interruptions into human history
I.
Luke the Careful Historian – vv. 1-4
The first two chapters of Luke deal with the birth of Christ – and position the event as a
grand intervention of God into human affairs
Luke begins his gospel telling us a few things
He has checked out his sources / facts
He is writing history – this is what happened
Piper: ‘this is dateable history, not fiction.’
I recently read a book titled – ‘December 1941’ [a history book of sorts]
The author went back and pulled together news accounts from the major American
newspapers – for each day in December 1941
The result – the book gives you a feel for what it was like to live in America in December
1941
On December 8 – FDR ordered the arrest of all Japanese living in the United States that were
considered dangerous to the peace and security of the United States
They already had a few Germans and Italians locked up in Montana, North Dakota
On December 9th – New York City was put on air raid alert [it was believed that a Japanese
squadron of planes were coming to bomb NYC] / etc.
That’s what life was like – it’s history – dateable events – not fiction
Luke says – ‘this is history – not fiction’
Luke also wrote the book of Acts – Acts 1:1-3
Luke will write two books taking us from the birth of John the Baptist – to the life of Christ –
His teachings – His death and resurrection / ascension - - - on thru the Day of Pentecost – the
conversion of Paul – his missionary travels – and will end with Paul’s imprisonment [Acts
28]
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Luke will cover roughly 70 years of history
He gives us an early church history of where Christianity came from
How did this all happen?
Let me tell you – in a book addressed to Theophilus
John MacArthur: ‘In the providence of God, the Holy Spirit ensured that the book Luke
wrote initially to one man would be disseminated around the world.’
Luke gives us a few details about his methods
He talked to the witnesses – interviewed them
He checked out their stories – He traveled with Paul
Look at how Paul defends the historicity of and the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ – I
Cor. 15 - - - He points first to the witnesses
He says that Christ risen appeared to Peter, the twelve – then to over 500 on one occasion – I
Cor. 15:6
‘most of whom remain until now’ – i.e. you can go talk to them
That’s what Luke did – then he wrote it down – that’s what a good historian does
Luke is going to prepare us for the birth story of Jesus – by giving us first the birth story of
the fore-runner - - - John the Baptist
II.
Zacharias in the Temple – vv. 5-17
Luke narrows his focus down to a priest named Zacharias – who has some duties at the
temple
Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were God-fearing Jews / had no children / advanced in
years
Their barrenness is part of the providential workings of God in their lives up to this time –
God will use this to highlight the supernatural nature of the birth of John the Baptist [similar
to Abraham and Sarah – Isaac]
Being childless was a weighty trial for someone in Jewish culture – this may have deepened
their faith
Elizabeth refers to it as a disgrace – v. 25
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J.C. Ryle: ‘If afflictions drive us nearer to Christ, the Bible, and prayer, they are positive
blessings.’
President Reagan found that trials drove him closer to God
He was married early in life to the actress Jane Wyman – they had a daughter that died just a
few days after birth – Within the year – their marriage fell apart – as Jane left him
Reagan told a reporter in 1950 – ‘my rate of prayer increases with my troubles. There hasn’t
been a serious crisis in my life when I haven’t prayed and when prayer hasn’t helped me.’
[Hand of Providence, p. 105]
He later said while serving as Governor of CA – ‘When I first got here and sat at the desk
where I’m sitting now, I found when almost every hour someone stood across the desk from
me and said we have a problem . . . the help I have found is in turning to God and asking His
help in prayer. I believe very much in the power of prayer . . . For me that has been the
answer.’ [Hand of Providence, p. 143]
Zacharias is a man of prayer as we will see – his troubles may have helped him become one!
Ps. 55:22 – ‘Cast your burden . . .’
He gets an opportunity to burn incense in the temple – a privilege that did not come to all of
the priests
He had to be chosen by Lot
Prov. 16:33 – ‘The lot is cast into the lap but its every decision is from the Lord.’
Spurgeon: ‘It fell to the lot of Zacharias to burn incense; this did not happen by chance . . .
there was a special reason why this good man should stand at the altar at this particular time.’
We are seeing God’s providence moving in the life of Zacharias – and in ways that will
dramatically impact world history [this is the stone in the pond effect – ripple outward]
God will intervene so that Zacharias and Elizabeth will bring John the Baptist into the world
John the Baptist will grow up – point to Jesus – ‘Behold the Lamb of God . . .’
Some of John’s disciples will become some of the first disciples of Jesus [Andrew – who gets
Peter] - John 1:35
God will use this occasion [temple service] to reveal His purposes to Zacharias
Luke’s matter of fact telling of this event doesn’t tell us much about how Zacharias would
have felt here – but it would have been seen as a huge privilege to Zacharias – not everyone
got to do this – and nobody did it twice
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Because of the large number of priests – many never got this privilege
Last year – our state rep – Greg Heartsill invited me to come and give the opening prayer one
morning before the state house legislative session – I agreed to do so
I had to drive one hour to Des Moines – to say what I was told should be about a 1 minute
prayer!
But - - - it was a privilege – I was glad to do it - - - I didn’t see any angels there! / maybe a
few devils
Zacharias goes into the temple to light the incense – an angel appears to him
Zacharias is filled with fear
This angel tells Zacharias his prayers have been heard!
All this time – God heard his prayers but nothing – but God was waiting for the right time!
This miracle baby will not be the Messiah – but the forerunner of the Messiah
Zacharias is told what to name this baby – John – we will know him as John the Baptist – a
prophetic voice to the people
John’s calling will be to arouse the nation – make people ready for the coming of Christ
There had been no prophet in Israel for 400 years – since the days of Malachi
John the Baptist will break that silence of God to the nation – announcing the coming of the
Messiah
God is on the move – the Messiah is coming soon
III. How to Make an Angel Mad – vv. 18-25
Zacharias responds not with hallelujah’s of praise – but rather with a word of doubt
‘How can this be – I am an old man – and my wife . . .’
Gabriel says, ‘I am Gabriel – an angel of God!’ – ‘What do you mean – how???’
Zacharias knew the story of Abraham and Sarah – He knew the story of Manoah and his wife
– baby Samson – He knew the story of Hannah – Samuel - - - he had no excuse to not
recognize God’s signature move in history
This is no day for doubt – it is a day for faith
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God is about to do something amazing – have a little faith!
There is a scene in the movie – ‘The Incredibles’ – where a young kid on a tricycle sees Mr.
Incredible – a super hero in disguise – pick up his car – getting ready to slam it to the ground
Then Mr. Incredible – who doesn’t want to blow his cover – gently sets the car down on the
ground. The young boy stares – wide eyed and amazed – people don’t pick up cars!
Later in the movie – the same kid is in the driveway again – watching Mr. Incredible getting
out of his car – staring at him
Mr. Incredible looks at him annoyed – ‘well – what are you waiting for?’
The little boy: ‘I don’t know – something amazing I guess!’
Clearly Zacharias was not looking for something quite this amazing to come from his prayers
– but he should have been – so should you and I when we pray
Ps. 5:3 – ‘In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch’
‘God – go ahead and amaze me’
Gabriel gives Zacharias both a sign and a chastisement for his doubt
J.C. Ryle: ‘It was a chastisement peculiarly suitable to the offence. The tongue that was not
ready to speak the language of believing praise was struck dumb . . . Zacharias [for nine
months] was daily reminded, that by unbelief he had offended God.’
IV.
John’s Birth – vv. 57-66
The time for birth arrives
All the neighbors and town folk – are already talking about this amazing story
Zacharias goes into the temple – can’t speak
Elizabeth – old and barren – now pregnant
Relatives on hand want to name the baby after the father – Zacharias
When Zacharias writes out – ‘His name is John’ - - - At that moment – his tongue is loosed –
he begins to speak in praise of God
With the opening of Zacharias’ mouth – the people are made aware that God is actively
present in these events
God is on the move – He has a purpose for this baby
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Conclusion
John the Baptist would be the first human instrument to point to Jesus and say – ‘Behold the
Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.’
He would call people to repentance – and to prepare their hearts to receive God’s Messiah
In the Chronicles of Narnia – the 4 Pevensee children enter a mysterious land that has been
devastated by a wicked queen who has turned some of the creatures to stone
Aslan – the rightful king of Narnia is about to carry out an operation to bring an end to the
wicked queen’s reign – and to bring back to life the animals turned to stone
Mr. Beaver is the first to bring up the lion when he tells the children – ‘They say Aslan is on
the move – perhaps has already landed.’
Luke is telling us here – God is on the move – in the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth – so
much more to come
The birth of Jesus – His life / teachings / death / resurrection – birth of the church
God stepped into history – accomplished our redemption thru the shed blood of Jesus
We look back to that event in the communion service
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