There is familiarity in Luke’s account of The Birth of John Foretold, as if this is a story we may have heard before. A couple, well past childbearing age, and living in a culture where childless women were mocked, is promised a son. Not only does this story echo Abraham’s and Sarah’s, the childlessness of Rachel before she bore twin boys, and the prayerful Hannah who bore Samuel, Zacharias’ and Elizabeth’s story also prepares the way for the next and greatest conception story for another devout and ordinary couple. 

Jason’s Main Points
God is Sovereign, Gracious, and Faithful.
God is able to fulfill His promises even in our unbelief.

• God remembers His promises
• Unbelief in God’s Word (His promises) can be a sinful response
• God’s glory is greater than our own desires
• We must cling to God’s promises

Key Takeaways

• Within Luke, the foretelling of John’s birth is the moment of collision for the Old and New Testaments. It is the long-awaited end to God’s silence toward his people, and, for now, this silence is broken for only one family.

• The name Zacharias (also: Zechariah) means “remembered of Jehovah” or “remembered by God.” The name Elizabeth means “promise of God.” 

• Zacharias and Elizabeth walked blamelessly in the ways of the Lord.

• Elizabeth was barren, which brought reproach, shame, and judgment upon the couple.

• It was prophesied that God would send a messenger to prepare the way for God Himself, to make ready a people for the LORD (Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 40:3-5). These prophecies were fulfilled in the conception, birth, and ministry of John the Baptist.

• We can ask God to use our afflictions and our seasons of waiting for His glory. We can trust His plan and delight in Him in the big and small scenarios of our lives (Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 11:1, Psalm 1:1-2). He is our joy and satisfaction (Psalm 27). 

• We can trust God’s promises. (John 16:33, Matthew 11:28-39, John 15:5, Philippians 4:19, James 1:2, Romans 8, James 4:6, Psalm 51:17, 1John 1:9, John 3:16, John 10:10.)

• John the Baptist will soon show evidence of the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb, he will be set apart for the LORD, and, like Elijah, he will prepare a people for the LORD declaring Christ as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” This coming announcement, foreshadowed in our message today, is Good News for the saved to live out like it is true, for the skeptic to hear and take heed, and for the sinner, it is a call to repent and believe for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Discussion Questions/Application:

Personal application:

• Take some time to list promises God has given you in Jesus that have been meaningful to you. Choose a verse about God’s promises to memorize this week (e.g. Romans 5:3-5; 1 John 1:9).

• Have you ever dealt with unbelief, asking like Zacharias, “How shall I know this?” How did God discipline you with his love in your unbelief? (See Mark 9:24 for helpful words of prayer.)

• Read Luke 1:26-38 to prepare for next week. Consider Zacharias’ response to Gabriel’s announcement in comparison to Mary’s response to a mirrored foretelling. 

Discuss with your community group:

• What do you think about the picture given here: that while Zacharias was in the temple burning the incense, accomplishing the priestly duties on behalf of the people, outside the temple a “whole multitude of the people were praying”? Discuss with your group what this picture of dedicated prayer could imply for believers today.  

• Read aloud what Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, told Zacharias in Luke 1:12b-17. Talk together about what stands out to you. 

• Are there promises of God you have a hard time fully trusting? 

• Talk with your group about Elizabeth’s reproach and what she is declaring that God has done for her in verse 25. Can you relate to her shame? Can you relate to her expressed joy that God has seen her and shown her favor?

Passages Referenced

Luke 1:1-4; Luke 1:5-25; Malachi 3:1, Malachi 4:5-6; Hebrews 10:19-23; Job 1:21; John 1:29

Worship Set List

Praise the King, Psalm 34 (Taste & See), The Lord our God, Build My Life, Ancient of Days