GOD INTERVENES IN HUMAN HISTORY

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LUKE 1:1-25
Lesson #02
GOD INTERVENES IN HUMAN HISTORY

• Memory Verse: Psa 83:1
• Luke begins his gospel with the events in time before the events in Matthew and in Mark.
  • Matthew begins his gospel with the pregnancy of Mary.
  • Mark begins his gospel with the ministry of John the Baptist.
• The context of time:
  • It is important to know that God had not spoken to His people on earth for 400 years.
  • There is 400 years of silence between the books of Malachi and the four gospels.
    • What does this tell us about God?
    • God is not in a hurry.
      • He has a plan and waits for the perfect time to set that plan in motion.
      • God begins to move quietly in the background to arrange the people and the events in their proper places.
• Read Luk 1:1-4 The Purpose of this Gospel
  • The declaration of the things believed: (1)
    • Luke tells us that there was a group that held certain beliefs based on what they had seen and experienced.
    • Some, like Matthew and Mark, had already written about their beliefs and experiences.
    • Luke wants to add his beliefs and experiences to theirs. It is not that what he has to say is different or contrary to what they wrote, but that it adds weight to the knowledge already accumulated.
  • “…eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;” (2)
    • Luke uses two important words in this phrase:
    • Luke was a doctor so he will use many medical terms in his gospel.
      • =1= The word, “eyewitnesses” is the Greek word, “autoptai”
        • The first part of this word is “auto” which means = that which is of itself.
        • The second part of this word is “opsomai” which means = to see.
        • Therefore, the two parts together mean = to see for yourself.
        • This word “eyewitness” is the first medical term Luke uses.

When used in medicine, this word means to do an autopsy.

In other words, Dr. Luke will do an autopsy of the beliefs surrounding Jesus Christ.

Then he will tell us what he has found in his autopsy.

• • • • =2= The word “ministers” is a Greek word “huperatai”.
        • This word means = a rower on a boat with lesser authority.
        • A person on the hospital staff with lesser authority is called “an intern”.
        • Those disciples and apostles in the early church, like Luke himself, were interns learning as they went along under the authority of Jesus Christ, the Great Physician.
  • In the days of Herod, the king. (5)
    • This is Herod the Great who reigned from 37 BC to 4 AD.
    • Herod was a foreigner and a half Jew. He was an appointee of Rome. Rome had made Judea a province of the Roman Empire.
    • Luke mentions this because the scepter of governmental rule passed from the tribe of Judah to Rome when Herod became the king of Judea.
• Read Luk 1:5-25 The Announcement of the Birth of John the Baptist
  • The appearance of the angel Gabriel is the first event of God’s intervention in human life after the 400 years of silence.
    • The parents of John the Baptist were Zacharias and Elisabeth.
      • The name Zacharias means = God remembers.
      • The name Elisabeth means = His oath
    • It is through these two people that God remembers His oath after 400 years of silence.
      • What oath did God remember?
      • Read Psa 89:34-37
      • God remembered His promise to King David that the Messiah would come through the lineage of David. He would be a king with a throne. He would rule forever.
    • The character of Zacharias and Elisabeth
      • Zacharias was a priest that ministered in the temple in Jerusalem on a cyclical basis for 1 week twice a year.
        • King David had divided all of the priesthood into groups that served in the temple on a rotating basis according to specific dates on the Jewish calendar. (1Chr 24:10)
        • Zacharias served according the “course of Abia” which served in April and October. (5)
      • Luke clearly tells us these two people were just and blameless before God, keeping the commandments and ordinances of God. (6)
        • In other words, they had a personal relationship with God by faith.
        • They recognized that they committed sins. When they sinned they brought the appropriate animal by faith to the temple to sacrifice that animal to cover their sins with animal blood and to seek God’s forgiveness.
        • Therefore, the Bible tells us they were righteous or right with God.
      • These two righteous people were past the age of child-bearing. (7)
        • For a Jewish woman to be barren was considered a disgrace in society.
        • Many believed a barren woman was God’s punishment.
        • In Elisabeth’s case it was a matter of God’s perfect timing: The right event coordinated with the right people in the right place at the right time.
  • Zacharias in the temple:
    • Zacharias was serving as a priest in the temple at the altar of incense.
      • The altar of incense was located in the Holy Place in the temple where only the priests could go.
      • The altar of incense represents prayers of God’s people that rise to heaven in the smoke of the burned incense.
    • While Zacharias was praying at this altar and the people were praying outside in the temple courtyard, the angel Gabriel appeared to him. (8-12) The name Gabriel means = man of God. The people were to continue in prayer until the priests came out of the temple.
      • What were these prayers?
      • Personally Zacharias and Elisabeth had been praying for a son.
      • But officially as a priest performing his duty, Zacharias would be praying for Israel’s part in the coming of the Messiah in the plan of God.
        • The angel told him his prayer was answered. (13) But which prayer?
        • Both prayers were answered. The birth of a son through Elisabeth is a sign that God was also answering the prayer of Israel’s part in bringing the Messiah to earth.
    • The prophecy for the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth:
      • His name:
        • His name would be John. (13) We know him as John the Baptist to differentiate him with other men in the Bible with the name John.
        • The name John means = gracious gift of God.
      • His lifestyle:
        • John would be under a lifetime oath called a Nazarite vow.
        • There are only 3 Nazarites from birth mentioned in the Bible: Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist.
        • Read Num 6:1-6 The Nazarite Vow:

He must not drink anything that is fermented like wine or vinegar.

The spiritual significance:

He must get the joy of his life from serving the Lord.

He must not cut his hair.

The spiritual significance:

He must be willing to bear the laughter and reproach of people for the joy of serving the Lord.

He must not touch any dead animal or human.

The spiritual significance:

He must live his life as a testimony of serving a living God.

• • • • His ministry:
        • John the Baptist would be filled with the Holy Spirit.

It is important to note here that through the Old Testament no person was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit only came upon a person to anoint him for performing a task for the Lord. Then the Holy Spirit would leave.

It is not until after the crucifixion that people experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit on a regular basis.

John the Baptist was the exception to that general rule according to verse 15.

• • • • • John the Baptist as a prophet would turn the Jews to God. (16)
        • John the Baptist would have a dynamic ministry reminiscent of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. (17) Like Elijah, John the Baptist would:

….preach the need of repentance to a corrupt generation.

….preach with boldness about sin to those in high authority.

….suffer persecution because of his message.

….have a successful ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Why does the angel mention Elijah?

Read Mal 4:5

The last time God spoke to His people He told them that one like Elijah would return to prepare the way for the Messiah. John is the fulfillment of the Malachi prophecy.

• • • • • John the Baptist would prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. (17)
  • Zacharias’s doubt
    • Because people were not used to hearing from God or used to receiving visits from angels, Zacharias questioned God’s message through the angel, Gabriel.
    • He prayed for a son, but he did not pray in faith because he did not believe God would give him a son. He doubted God. (18)
      • Often times we are just like Zacharias. We pray and ask God for something and are surprised when God answers us.
      • What are we supposed to do with our doubts?
        • We are to take our doubts to the Lord so He can turn our doubts to faith.
        • We are to read and study the Word of God that increases our faith.
  • Gabriel’s response (19)
    • God specifically sent Gabriel with this very personal message to Zacharias.
    • As a sign to Zacharias, God would cause him to be unable to speak for a period of time. (20) Why?
      • Unbelief has an empty testimony.
      • Unbelief has no words of truth to communicate.
  • Zacharias’ lack of speech (20-22)
    • We can see God’s sense of humor in all of this.
    • He had not spoken to His people in any way for 400 years.
    • When He did finally speak to Zacharias, the man did not believe it.
    • So while God was arranging events to bring about the fulfillment of the prophecy to Zacharias, no one could talk about what God was doing. Zacharias could not even tell his wife.
  • Elisabeth’s faith (25)
    • Elisabeth knew God did a miracle for her when she became pregnant.
    • She gives the glory to God.
  • Homework
    Luke 1:26-38
• Application of Luk 1:1-25
  • What do you do with your doubts?
  • What should you do with your doubts?
• Preparation for Luk 1:26-38
  • Read Luke 1:26-38
    • Why do you think the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is important?
• Memory Verse: Isaiah 7:14