Last week: whether you believe it or not, Jesus is coming back and that’s the point. Are you ready?

Bottom line: God’s great mercy leads to radiant joy and praise that transforms lives.

Transformation is visible.

Transformation is dramatic.

Transformation is life-changing.

I was transformed the first time I saw the Atlantic Ocean as a kid...

Transformers movie

I can still remember the first time I saw the first Transformers movie in the theater with my friends. I can honestly say it transformed the way I saw CGI in movies. It was basically like an animator drew a cartoon movie so realistic and believable that I couldn’t believe my eyes that it wasn’t real.

When we talk about transforming lives, that’s exactly what we are going for. We want a life that is so transformed that maybe the most dramatic comparison is the difference between a corpse and a person fully alive and healthy. (Eph 2:1-9)

That is dramatic enough on its own but now make it spiritual. Think of someone dead in their sins Hellbound for all eternity being transformed into life abundant and eternal. It’s like a shadow going reverse negative and becoming a light. That would be dramatic a shadow becoming a reflection of light.

My Fair Lady...another movie of transformation

From caterpillar to butterfly

As we wait…

as we wait we live knowing that not only did Jesus come (advent, Christmas) but that he’s coming again. And the tension is living as if he was coming back today...or in another 1,000 years.

As we wait for Jesus—his second coming; his return from heaven—to finish what he started, my prayer is that he will find me full of joy and praise that is so alive and so transformative that it leads others in transformation as well. That my faith would publicly inspire others to be open enough to receive and believe the truth and hope that the good news of the kingdom of God is near and athat the King is on his way back!

Building on what we talked about last week, we once again look at the lives of Zack and Lizzie and how God‘s great mercy transformed them through joy and praise so dramatically that it couldn’t help but shape and influence and impact the entire region around them. They truly were the best neighbors ever throughout Judea and their day.

Let’s look at their lives and learn from them how we can be transformed to transform.

Article (TGC)

Like a prison cell

The most reassuring message of the season is that the existence of hope does not depend on us. It does not rely on our virtue or wisdom. It is a delivery from elsewhere.

The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer compared Advent to a prison cell “in which one waits and hopes and does various unessential things . . . but is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside.”

The Advent narratives are filled with waiting people: Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna. They lived in patient expectation and were receptive to the Good News when it arrived. Their hope did not come as the result of a battle. It came like a seed planted in the ground. Like the sun rising in defiance of night. Like a child growing within his mother.

We are not the heroes of the story. Our contribution is to be watchful and open. But hope arrives in awesome humility. God is with us. Jesus is with us. This is everything.

I. God’s great mercy leads to joy and praise that transforms lives through... (1:57-67, 80)

1. It transformed E

   1. Through pregnancy and birth - like only motherhood could do; no more shame

   2. Through Holy Spirit

   3. Through joy

2. It transformed Z

   1. Through disciplined - silence, solitude, prayer, confession, repentance, and faith

   2. Through praise

   3. Through Holy Spirit

3. It transformed J

   1. He was prepared through birth, browsing up, and relationship with parents

   2. He was prepared through Holy Spirit

   3. He was prepared through his wilderness

4. It transformed their neighbors

5. It transformed their world

II. Z’s prophecy of praise explains how God’s great mercy is God’s great salvation (1:67-79)

4 parts - notice he’s filled with HS; God’s all over this. It’s prophetic and it’s been in part fulfilled already.

1. The Plan of salvation (1:68-73)

   1. Plan prophesied in OT - “The entire bible—from nAbraham to the prophets down to King David—is about this one thing: salvation. The Bible has one story: God visiting or coming to get his people. That was and is his plan.” -Thabiti Anyabwile

   2. Plan was through the line of David

   3. Plan was for Israel and those they would bless

   4. Plan is one of strength

   5. Plan was to save Israel from her enemies

   6. Plan seen in the covenant promises to Abraham 3500 years ago

2. The Purpose of salvation (1:72-75)

   1. Physical freedom

   2. Main goal: freedom to worship the Lord. “God saves so that we might worship him. Freedom is a good goal, but it’s not the ultimate goal...Just as Zechariah worshipped God when God mercifully opened his mouth and ears, so all Israel is to praise and glorify God for the salvation he brings.”

   3. NT version of what God told Moses to tell Pharaoh: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” (Exodus 7:16)

   4. Religious liberty or freedom in our country is the freedom to do this. Just like Pharaoh severely limited Israel in this when they were enslaved in Egypt, we’re headed that way too. The difference is that they didn’t have a temple where God dwelt. As Christians, we are that temple so no body can keep us from worshiping the Lord. Nobody.

3. The Prophet of salvation (1:76-77)

   1. Zach prophesies about John now.

      1. John will be great

      2. And a prophet of God.

      3. He will be unique in that he will be a forerunner. He will soften the ground and till the soil of Israel’s heart (think Parable of the soils, Luke 8).

      4. He will not be the Savior but will make things ready for the Savior by teaching the people how they are to be saved.

      5. He will be a “giant index finger” (Thabiti Anyabwile) pointing the way to God’s great mercy.

   2. Zach’s prophecy “defines John’s life in relationship to Jesus’ life and mission.” Imagine if we all did this? He must increase and I must decrease. (John 3:30)

4. Th of salvation (1:77-79) - 3 Effects of this transforming salvation on people

   1. This salvation is ultimately spiritual and personal. We need his forgiveness of sins. (77)

      1. Why do we need this?

      2. Because it is an offense against our creator God, who is holy, holy, holy.

         1. God will punish sin. He must to remain holy and just.

         2. But he is also merciful. This is why his mercy is so great. He can mercifully forgive us because he took our punishment out on someone else. (On Jesus at the cross)

         3. What or who do we need to be saved from? The answer may surprise you.

         4. We need to be saved from God.l

   2. This salvation is by God’s mercy. (78) says, “because of our God’s merciful compassion.”

      1. We can’t earn it.

      2. We can’t demand it.

      3. We can’t deserve it.

      4. We can’t deal for it.

      5. It only comes by grace through faith. Free and undeserved.

      6. Ask for it. Beg for mercy. Confess your sin and he is faithful...(1 John 1:9)

   3. This salvation brings light. (78-79) Transformational is usually dramatically visible to others.

      1. Through the mercy of God we receive light.

      2. Jesus is our sunrise (sonrise).

      3. In our sin, we sit in a dark, locked prison dungeon.

      4. Hanukkah is festival of life and it’s Hanukkah right now. Connection?

      5. Christ comes bringing light and blows them door off.

      6. By definition, darkness cannot standup to light. It has to flee by law.

      7. Lock-ins - up all night; can’t wait for daylight when they go home.

      8. All-nighters.7

      9. Death is defeated and brings peace.

         1. Peace with God

         2. Peace with humanity

         3. Peace with ourselves

         4. Do you have this peace? Let the light of Christ blow the doors off your dungeon prison and free you from death ☠️ to peace ☮️.

Conclusion

Transformation like the beast in Beauty and the Beast.

Notes

Zechariah’s first words were praising God.

• Yes, a new son

• Yes, on the heels of 9 months of silence (mute and deaf). Talk about a crash course on silence and solitude. Even Jesus was only alone in the wilderness 40 days.

• A righteous and blameless man like Z would also have been teachable and the perfect father to raise a son able and prepared to make ready and prepare God’s people for their Messiah.

• Result was “all the neighbors were filled with awe.” We say we want to be the “best neighbor ever...”. This would qualify Z, wouldn’t it?

What did he do?

• He nurtured a Christ-like character.

• He served faithfully as a priest.

• He didn’t believe God’s word and was disciplined for it.

• He grew during this time in the wilderness of discipline. Ever think about your wilderness time as a time of disciplining that would strengthen you?

• He responded with praise and obedience as a result of God’s mercy and discipline.

• He did so publicly.

• His neighbors were awed by God and began spreading the good news. (Changed his neighbors and neighborhood).

Better Question: Have you let your disobedience and discipline cause you to flourish or flounder?

As he waited...for this first coming of Jesus,

he encountered God’s messenger,

disbelieved his message,

Lived in the wilderness of his discipline for a season,

let God nurture and teach him through that season,

received an amazing blessing/mercy,

received an incredible responsibility (the one to prepare the one to prepare the way...),

impacted his own neighborhood nad nation for the glory of God...and the nations (67-80).

“For the Lord’s hand was with him.” (V. 66)

This reminds me of Joseph over his 13 years in prison. His unjust imprisonments and deliverance foreshadowed both Israel’s enslavement and deliverance, as well as, our enslavement and deliverance from sin to freedom in Christ.

Z’s song

He was filled with the Holy Spirit (like Elizabeth and son were) as he composed this song. This means God was fully involved.

• “Praise be...” (he starts here (appropriately). Who God is...

• “Because” - the reason he’s moved to praise God—rescue/redemption of Israel (future faith spoken in past as if done deal)

• Looks ahead to coming salvation with confidence

• To show mercy

• Remembers his covenant with Abraham

• Rescue/salvation is the reason for praise (mercy)

• To enable/empower the nation to serve him without fear

• New section begins in v. 76 (note change in tense)

• J the B a prophet of God

• Prepare the way for the Lord (God incarnate)

• To give knowledge (experiencing salvation) that leads to the change (repentance) required to be prepared. No repentance, no forgiveness—knowledge of precious truth salvation escape

• Again, mercy (not getting what they deserve)

• Light shines because thats’ what light does. It can’t help it. To reveal to those in darkness their current reality and their way of escape. Jesus is that light directly and later indirectly through his people.

• This path of hope leads from sin and death, shame and guilt, and hell itself to...peace. Jesus is the prince of peace. His kingdom is a kingdom of peace.

• J the B was raised by this man—this father—alongside an equally glorious mother Elizabeth. He grew in spirit (the Holy Spirit?).

• Lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel to begin his ministry.

• Apparently, Z’s discipline shaped him profoundly. He now valued silence and solitude enough to pass it on. J the B took it to another level foreshadowing Jesus’ time of temptation in the wilderness where Jesus was prepared and shaped for his public ministry. Remember, the HS drove Jesus to the wilderness right after his baptism.

• I wonder if Jesus and J the B ever interacted in the wilderness...

Notes from New American Commentary, Luke by Stein starting on p. 96.

• Lots of parallels to Jesus’ birth narrative.

• 3 parts

  • Birth

  • Circumcision

  • Hymn of praise

    • Praise to God

    • Prophecy of J the B

• “The function of the Benedictus is clear. Luke wanted his readers to understand this as Z’s divinely inspired hymn praising God for fulfilling his promises to his people and describing the roles of J the B and especially the Messiah.”

• Cycle -

  • Sin/disobedience of child of God

  • Discipline and mercy

  • Repentance and growth on new path

  • Deliverance from discipline

  • Praise and worship and joy

• Apparently is was unusual to name a son after his father because he would then be called Zechariah son of Zechariah or Zechariah Bar Zechariah. But they still named after family members.

• Z was both deaf and mute.

• Writing tablet was plank of wood covered in wax

• Z being able to speak immediately after naming him John amplifies the miraculous nature of this event. As a result, the neighbors (who were not aware of Elizabeth’s pregnancy) realized this work of God.

• Z was a model believer.

  • Starting with his character (1:6)

  • His first words after being disciplined were praise

  • He is filled with the Holy Spirit after trusting and obeying Gabriel’s command to name him John

  • He starts his song with praise

• Awe or literally fear. The proper reverent attitude which those who witness a heavenly intervention or manifestation of divine power should express. It may begin as a terrifying fear of judgment or wrath, but it progresses to a holy awe of God and a recognition of his otherness, which leads to “glorifying and praising God”.

• “What then is this child going to be?” What instead of Who emphasizes J the B’s role as the one who will go before his superiors to prepare the way.

• Salvation is described as a past event in vv. 68-75 even though it’s describing a future event. This is because there is so much confidence in this happening it’s sung as as good as done. This is true for us as well as we think about the hope we have in Christ and our glorification.

• In going from, v. 75 to 76, there is a change in tense and focus.

• The focus is now on J the B until it returns to Christ at the end.

• J the B is seen as great because of God and Christ—not because of anything he’s going to do or because of Z. Same for us.

• “Sun” most likely refers to Jesus.

Truths

• We can trust God’s word because God’s word is true.

• God’s mercy leads to joy (for E) and praise (for Z).

• God’s mercy leads to awe, fear and transforming neighbors.

• God shows us mercy when he gives us less wrath/judgment than we deserve.

• Circumcision was a sign of God’s faithful covenant relationship with Israel.

Applications

• Trust God’s word.

• Receive children as a mercy and blessing from God. Receive them with the joy E received J. No matter what the circumstances. (Even rape; even if poor)

• Embrace God’s sanctifying discipline and affliction as a spiritual promotion. (JC Ryle)

  • “The sorrow that humbles us, and drives us nearer to God, is a blessing, and a downright gain.”

  • The wave that dashes us against the rock of God’s glory is a mercy indeed.

• Are you handling your suffering by allowing God to grow you better or bitter? Is your heart towards God growing warmer or colder?

• Everyone knew that God was at work among them with this child. (66)

• What does that look like? Spiritual strength

• Enter the Wilderness to prepare - When God’s hand is on our children, they grow and become strong—not just in body but more importantly, in spirit. (Ex. Silence, solitude, Fasting)

• There’s a connection between John’s spiritual strength and his growth in the wilderness. (Silence, solitude, fasting) Wilderness is where prophets are prepared for the hardship of public ministry.

• Doesn’t the first part of v. 80 make you want the last part of v. 66?

• JC Ryle quote below.

• Joseph in Genesis.

• God waits to be asked. Are you asking? Praying? Seeking?

• God’s mercy means joy and praise for E and Z. It means the same for us if we receive it.

Benedictus Doninus = blessed be the Lord God

Ben·e·dic·tus

/ˌbenəˈdiktəs/

noun

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

1. 1.

   an invocation beginning Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini (Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord) forming a set part of the Mass.

2. 2.

   a canticle beginning Benedictus Dominus Deus (Blessed be the Lord God) from Luke 1:68–79.