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2^nd Sunday in Advent (Populus Zion) – December 8, 2024 Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas Rev. Joshua Woelmer Text: Luke 1:5–25, 57–80 “The Waiting Came to an End” Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The Mayflower arrived at what is now known as Cape Cod, Massachusetts on November 21^st, 1620. That happened a little over four hundred years ago. Now imagine if one of the pilgrims made a prophecy that they and their descendants and other immigrants would fill this new land and result in a great nation. Not only that, but that prediction would be about a man who would arise to do remarkable things. This man would remind people of a significant figure 400 years before that pilgrim prophet. That historical figure would comparatively have lived around 1220, or roughly when the Magna Carta was signed. Just for the sake of historical timespan, it would be like a pilgrim predicted that Donald Trump would be like Henry III of England. It boggles the mind to think about the time spans we’re talking about. Malachi, written about 430 BC, predicted that someone like Elijah would come. Elijah had died around 850 BC, ~400 years before, and John the Baptist, the second Elijah, would not be conceived until 4 BC. The waiting had finally come to an end. Luke 1 is a remarkable chapter of the Bible. It contains the announcement by Gabriel of two miraculous conceptions, and then the births of those two boys. Both Zechariah and Mary sing hymns to God, which are absolutely beautiful and filled with meaning. Yet there are differences, as we will see this Advent. Today we will look at the conception and birth of John the Baptist. Next week we will hear about his life and preaching, and the week before Christmas will be about Mary. Let’s first look at Zechariah: who was he? He was a priest from the tribe of Levi. The priests were divided into twenty-four division as to when they would serve monthly in the temple. You can read about that in 1 Chronicles 24. It seems like the divisions were chosen by lot as to which months of the year they would serve (1 Chron 24:7, 19). So, Zechariah was serving as the priest in the temple that day. It is possible that this was a high feast, such as the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, which happens in September. The high priest would go into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood there. What is more important is what happens while Zechariah is in the Holy Place of the temple: the angel Gabriel appears to him. The promise of Gabriel is that Zechariah and Elizabeth will have a baby in their old age. John will be different, not drinking wine or strong drink, for he will be filled with the Holy Spirit (5). He will make a people “prepared” for someone yet to come (17). This is what Zechariah and all faithful Israelites had been waiting their whole lives for. It had been 400 years since Malachi, and now someone is coming. I also love what follows: Zechariah says, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years” (18). I love this response because it is so human. I’ve been humbled before on my knowledge of the Bible and applying it to my life. I see something similar with Zechariah here. Of all the miracles in the Old Testament, there is one that comes up again and again: God opening the womb of barren women. Sarah was 90 and Abraham was 100 when they had Isaac. Rebekah and Rachel were both barren for a time. Samson’s mother received Samson. Hannah gave birth to Samuel. Zechariah should have known that “with God all things are possible,” especially the miraculous birth of a child (Matt 19:26). Then, he gets a punishment that I think is tailored to him as a priest: he will not be able to speak “until the day that these things take place” (20). This would be one of the worst punishments to me as a pastor, so I get it. One thing we should note from this text is that Zechariah never actually finishes the service. What would your reaction be if I lost my voice here and now and couldn’t pronounce the final benediction on you? You would be confused. Regardless, people knew that something had happened, and something big was coming. The reading does skip, by the way, an even more miraculous conception. John’s conception is a foreshadowing of Jesus’s, and we will hear about Gabriel coming to Mary in two weeks, the Sunday before Christmas. God will do something there that has no precedence in the Old Testament, for a virgin will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s skip forward to the birth of John. There was still no speaking for Zechariah when the baby was born. Rather, it was in the circumcising and naming of John that Zechariah gets his voice back. God wanted to make sure that Zechariah named him John. John’s name is important. It means “God is gracious” or “Yohanan” in Hebrew. Zechariah, by the way, means “God remembers.” Then Zechariah speaks, and what a song it is! It emphasizes the power and mercy and faithfulness of God. God is righteous, and he has raised up this child to be his prophet. Zechariah knows that God will dwell with his people. This last paragraph summarizes Jesus wonderfully: “to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (77–79). What should we take away from this whole passage? God Is Faithful in His Promises. Even after 400 years, he answered. God is faithful to save you. Hold onto his promises and apply them to your life. Whether you are going through good times or bad, God’s promises do not change. God is faithful to you all your life. He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5). Finally, we can take to heart the dual meanings of Zechariah and John. God remembers. He remembers his promises, and he remembers you. God is gracious. He is merciful. Even though John’s message had some law to it, even still, John pointed people to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. God remembers, and God is gracious is how God speaks to you now in this Advent season. All of this focuses our hearts and minds on the light of Christ in this dark time. He is the one who brings salvation to his people, to you. Now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen. Return to Top \| Return to Sermons \| Home \| Email Church Office

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2^nd Sunday in Advent (Populus Zion) – December 8, 2024

Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas

Rev. Joshua Woelmer

Text: Luke 1:5–25, 57–80

“The Waiting Came to an End”

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Mayflower arrived at what is now known as Cape Cod, Massachusetts on November 21^st, 1620. That happened a little over four hundred years ago. Now imagine if one of the pilgrims made a prophecy that they and their descendants and other immigrants would fill this new land and result in a great nation. Not only that, but that prediction would be about a man who would arise to do remarkable things. This man would remind people of a significant figure 400 years before that pilgrim prophet. That historical figure would comparatively have lived around 1220, or roughly when the Magna Carta was signed. Just for the sake of historical timespan, it would be like a pilgrim predicted that Donald Trump would be like Henry III of England. It boggles the mind to think about the time spans we’re talking about. Malachi, written about 430 BC, predicted that someone like Elijah would come. Elijah had died around 850 BC, ~400 years before, and John the Baptist, the second Elijah, would not be conceived until 4 BC. The waiting had finally come to an end.

Luke 1 is a remarkable chapter of the Bible. It contains the announcement by Gabriel of two miraculous conceptions, and then the births of those two boys. Both Zechariah and Mary sing hymns to God, which are absolutely beautiful and filled with meaning. Yet there are differences, as we will see this Advent. Today we will look at the conception and birth of John the Baptist. Next week we will hear about his life and preaching, and the week before Christmas will be about Mary.

Let’s first look at Zechariah: who was he? He was a priest from the tribe of Levi. The priests were divided into twenty-four division as to when they would serve monthly in the temple. You can read about that in 1 Chronicles 24. It seems like the divisions were chosen by lot as to which months of the year they would serve (1 Chron 24:7, 19). So, Zechariah was serving as the priest in the temple that day. It is possible that this was a high feast, such as the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, which happens in September. The high priest would go into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood there.

What is more important is what happens while Zechariah is in the Holy Place of the temple: the angel Gabriel appears to him. The promise of Gabriel is that Zechariah and Elizabeth will have a baby in their old age. John will be different, not drinking wine or strong drink, for he will be filled with the Holy Spirit (5). He will make a people “prepared” for someone yet to come (17). This is what Zechariah and all faithful Israelites had been waiting their whole lives for. It had been 400 years since Malachi, and now someone is coming.

I also love what follows: Zechariah says, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years” (18). I love this response because it is so human. I’ve been humbled before on my knowledge of the Bible and applying it to my life. I see something similar with Zechariah here. Of all the miracles in the Old Testament, there is one that comes up again and again: God opening the womb of barren women.

Sarah was 90 and Abraham was 100 when they had Isaac. Rebekah and Rachel were both barren for a time. Samson’s mother received Samson. Hannah gave birth to Samuel.

Zechariah should have known that “with God all things are possible,” especially the miraculous birth of a child (Matt 19:26). Then, he gets a punishment that I think is tailored to him as a priest: he will not be able to speak “until the day that these things take place” (20). This would be one of the worst punishments to me as a pastor, so I get it. One thing we should note from this text is that Zechariah never actually finishes the service. What would your reaction be if I lost my voice here and now and couldn’t pronounce the final benediction on you? You would be confused. Regardless, people knew that something had happened, and something big was coming.

The reading does skip, by the way, an even more miraculous conception. John’s conception is a foreshadowing of Jesus’s, and we will hear about Gabriel coming to Mary in two weeks, the Sunday before Christmas. God will do something there that has no precedence in the Old Testament, for a virgin will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s skip forward to the birth of John. There was still no speaking for Zechariah when the baby was born. Rather, it was in the circumcising and naming of John that Zechariah gets his voice back. God wanted to make sure that Zechariah named him John.

John’s name is important. It means “God is gracious” or “Yohanan” in Hebrew. Zechariah, by the way, means “God remembers.”

Then Zechariah speaks, and what a song it is! It emphasizes the power and mercy and faithfulness of God. God is righteous, and he has raised up this child to be his prophet. Zechariah knows that God will dwell with his people. This last paragraph summarizes Jesus wonderfully: “to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (77–79).

What should we take away from this whole passage?

God Is Faithful in His Promises. Even after 400 years, he answered. God is faithful to save you. Hold onto his promises and apply them to your life. Whether you are going through good times or bad, God’s promises do not change. God is faithful to you all your life. He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5).

Finally, we can take to heart the dual meanings of Zechariah and John. God remembers. He remembers his promises, and he remembers you. God is gracious. He is merciful. Even though John’s message had some law to it, even still, John pointed people to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

God remembers, and God is gracious is how God speaks to you now in this Advent season. All of this focuses our hearts and minds on the light of Christ in this dark time. He is the one who brings salvation to his people, to you.

Now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.

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