“The Messenger” -- Luke 1:5-17

Most of the time, when asked to mention a well-known prophet from the Bible, such men as Isaiah or Jeremiah come to mind. Maybe Daniel or Jonah. Usually, when we think of the prophets, we think of the men whose names are attached to their books.

But one of best prophets was also one of the first. Even though we don’t have any great prophetic statements from him, Elijah is generally regarded as one of the first prophets of Israel. Elijah is known more for his actions than his words. He is the one who spoke out often against Ahab and Jezebel. He was the one who battled the prophets of Baal, calling down fire from God to consume an offering presented to Him.

Malachi prophesied that God would send Elijah before the Day of the Lord came. The Day of the Lord was a day of judgment and condemnation, as well as a day of reward and healing. Elijah would come and usher in the day.

In this passage, God speaks of His messenger to proclaim the birth of Christ as one who would go before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah. That messenger was John the Baptist. His life is one that lets us know the coming of Jesus was to be the Day of the Lord.

Central Truth: God sent His messenger to turn the hearts of His people.

God’s messenger:

Came from people who served Him (5-13)

Luke is the only one who records the coming of the messenger prior to the birth of Christ. Luke is also the one who recorded the encounter between Gabriel and Mary. In both the accounts, it is interesting to note that both Mary and John’s parents were described in terms indicating they were deeply committed to God.

In the description of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Luke states that both were descended from Aaron. He also states that they were “both upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly” (v. 6). They were both “well along in years,” indicating that the hope of having a child had long ago faded from them.

Zechariah had gone to the temple as was expected of him as a priest, and the lot fell on him to burn incense at the altar. God used lots often in the Old Testament to reveal His will, and so it should come as no surprise that the lot would fall on Zechariah.

While at the altar performing his priestly duties, Zechariah was approached by the angel Gabriel. Gabriel had a startling message for the old priest. The message was that he and Elizabeth were to become parents. Not only that, but this child would be a child set apart by God early in his life. This child, whom they would name John, was to live a very particular life. For one thing, he was to abstain from the consumption of alcohol from the very beginning of his life. For another, he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. This child was to be set apart for the specific task that God was giving him, and Zechariah and Elizabeth were to be instrumental in bringing this child to adulthood.

The significance of the encounter with Gabriel is that God had specifically chosen this couple to be the ones who would raise John. They were specifically called by God to instill their beliefs and their way of relating to God in their son. These two righteous people, blameless before God, were to have the responsibility to see that their son, who would be used in a great way by God to proclaim the message of the Day of the Lord, would be faithful to his calling. They would answer his questions, discipline him and guide him as he grew from a baby to an adult who would have a unique message for the people of Israel.

There are no guarantees that righteous parents will raise righteous children. I think we’ve all heard stories of preacher’s kids run wild. I tend to think that these tales are more the exceptions than the rule, but they are told nonetheless. I heard someone say the reason the preacher’s kids turn out so bad is because they hang out with the deacons’ kids. I doubt that that’s true, either, but it’s fun to tell that story. Still, the Bible is right when it says that if we will train up a child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from it (cf. Proverbs 22:6). Among other things, that means that if we lay a solid foundation, our children will always have that to fall back on. There will come a point in their lives when they will remember those things and they will return to it in one form or another.

So it should come as no surprise that God would chose a couple like Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of the one who would become His messenger. The message would come from God, and so it was only right that the messenger should come from those who already served Him.

Was dedicated to God in every sense of the word (14-15)

These two verses speak a lot about John. God gives a message to Zechariah that would bring comfort and assurance to him. “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord” (14-15a).

Look at each part of that statement. “He will be a joy and delight to you.” Most children are a joy and delight to their parents. I know that with my children, I genuinely enjoyed them throughout their growing up years. Granted, there were times in each of their lives when I was disappointed and vexed by them, but I always loved them, and I was almost always proud of them.

John was to be a joy and a delight to his parents. I can imagine it, too. The older couple who had resigned themselves to the fate of being childless, now enjoying the opportunity to rediscover what it is to love someone completely and absolutely, not as in love for a spouse, but for a child. They would get to experience his discoveries and his growing up. Truly a joy and a delight.

“Many will rejoice because of his birth.” Gabriel qualifies what he means by this by adding the last phrase in this short statement, but I think the rejoicing was on many levels. In Luke 1:58, we read, “Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.” It would be inevitable, wouldn’t it, that everyone who knew Zechariah and Elizabeth would be delighted to discover they were expecting a child. And once John was born, they would all want to rejoice with their good friends at their good fortune. It’s not surprising that John would be the cause of great rejoicing simply because he was to be the son of a couple who never thought they would have a child.

Later on, in vs. 65-66, we read, “The neighbors were filled with awe, and through the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’ For the Lord’s hand was with him.” This passage comes after Zechariah has regained his ability to speak. News of the miracle birth and the amazing tale of how Zechariah learned he was to be a father was not lost on the friends and family. Indeed, the whole region was talking about it. John was indeed set apart by God for a special calling, and the people rejoiced with Zechariah and Elizabeth at this special place John would have in the history of God and His people.

Not only would be a joy and a blessing, but John was to be set apart by particular matters. He was never to drink any fermented drink. In the Mosaic Law, there were certain men who could be set apart for God’s service. These men were called Nazarites. They would abstain from alcohol and they would never cut their hair. There were other things they would be prohibited from doing. The rules for the Nazarite are found in Numbers 6. The most famous of the Nazarites is Samson. It’s not likely that John was to be raised as a Nazarite, but he was to be set apart for God’s purpose from the moment of his conception, and the peculiar rules that were given to him let him know that he was set apart.

The fact that he was filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment of his conception is another indication that John was devoted to God. The presence of God was with him always, preparing him for his mission and his message, and that same Spirit was drawing John toward God always. In that sense, he was dedicated to God because he was led by the Spirit.

Brought a message of reconciliation (16-17)

Finally, God’s messenger would have a message. The message John was to give was one of reconciliation and redemption.

There is no record of God giving specific words, but we can see how Gabriel speaks of John’s ministry that John’s message would bring people back to God (v. 16) and that his message would turn the hearts of the people from disobedience to righteousness (v. 17).

This is consistent with the overall message of the New Testament. The continuing message of the Gospel is that God has chosen to intervene in our world in a very real and dramatic fashion by sending us His Son. He sent His Son to live among us, teaching us and demonstrating what it means to be one with God. By sending His Son, God walked among us Himself. And God sent His Son ultimately to die for us, to die in our place, to pay the price for our sins, and in so doing, to bring us back into fellowship with Him. In short, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that He redeems us so that we can become the children of God. God’s love restores our relationship with Him through His Son.

And that is John’s message. John is the voice in the wilderness proclaiming the new Day of the Lord, a day of reckoning for those who reject Jesus, but a day of restoration, redemption and peace for all who place their faith in Him.

It’s interesting that the last sentence of v. 17 lets us know that John’s message is not one of redemption, but one of repentance. He is called to proclaim the coming of the Lord. His job is to prepare the people for the Lord.

Toward that end, John was faithful to his calling and to his training. John was God’s messenger.

Conclusion

The next time we hear of John, he is an adult and he is recognized as a powerful prophet of the Lord. For 400 years, the people of Israel yearned for a new prophet, and John didn’t disappoint. His message was powerful, in the spirit and power of Elijah. His message is simple—repent or perish. His presence is commanding, and there is little doubt that John was called of God to proclaim God’s message.

Like John, we, too, are filled with God’s Spirit if we are committed to Christ. If we are saved by His grace, then we are also filled by His Spirit. Like John, we, too, have a message. Only our message is filled with the hope and knowledge of Christ. He is alive and He is real. He is the Risen Lord, and we have the privilege of knowing Him and fellowshipping with Him on a daily basis. This is our message, and we, like John, are set apart to share the message of God to a world that needs to return to Him.

Are we ready to take up the mantle, to be the messenger of God to our world?