Third Advent

Third Advent 11.12.2011

Isaiah 9:1-2 NLT

1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

2 The people who walk in darkness

will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness,

a light will shine.

Isaiah 8: 23 und 9:1 Neues Leben

8:23 Doch diese Zeit der Dunkelheit und Verzweiflung wird nicht für immer andauern. Wurden früher auch das Land Sebulon und das Land Naftali gedemütigt, so wird später das Gebiet der Völker, die Gott nicht kennen, die Straße am Meer jenseits des Jordan, zu Ehren kommen.

1 Denn das Volk, das in der Dunkelheit lebt, sieht ein helles Licht. Und über den Menschen in einem vom Tode überschatteten Land strahlt ein heller Schein.

Good morning everyone……. We´re glad you´re here!

We are studying the Gospel of Luke………..last week we were in Luke 10 as Jesus sent out the 70 disciples………He was filled with compassion for the lost…….. Matthew records that Jesus said…….. they were like sheep without a shepherd………

He said …. The harvest is great…….pray the LORD of the Harvest to send workers into the Harvest………Jesus was …. As always…… moved with compassion…… mercy in action……..

Jesus said…… Go and preach the GOOD News……

Luke’s gospel is the one with the most emphasis on the Holy Spirit and on joy...... He demonstrates that the Good News is for all people……… Luke was a gentile….. an outsider……. According to the Jews……. Gentiles were outside of the grace of God……

Luke’s gospel is the one with the most emphasis on preaching the good news (the gospel)....... This term is used ten times in this Gospel (and only once in any other Gospel) as well as fifteen additional times in Acts.......

Luke understood how very important our mission is…….

He is the only Gentile (Heathen) author in the entire Bible….. someone told Him the Good News…. Today We know what the Good News is …..because of His writing…….. It is a wonderful…. Joyful account of hopefulness…. He himself was rescued from the darkness and bondage of sin….. because he heard the good news!

Luke made sure we understand the Good News….

We are now the light of the world! We have been sent!

We can trust this book.....Ignore the so called scholars who from unbelief have tried to discredit the Word of God... They will be proved wrong..... every one of them....

In 1947 the dead sea scrolls were discovered at Qumran.... Today we have a perfect copy of Isaiah that was written more than 150 years before Jesus was born….. The Isaiah scroll.....It can be viewed in Jerusalem in the Shrine of the Book…… Isaiah wrote more about the coming of the Messiah that any other prophet…..We can learn a lot about Jesus from this 5^th Gospel……. Advent is a great time to look at the Prophesies of Jesus´birth and Mission…..

In Isaiah we just read…..That Galilee of the Gentiles…will be filled with the Glory of God…..

Isaiah 9:1 NLT Neues Leben

2 The people who walk in darkness

will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness,

a light will shine.

1 Denn das Volk, das in der Dunkelheit lebt, sieht ein helles Licht. Und über den Menschen in einem vom Tode überschatteten Land strahlt ein heller Schein.

A light will shine…… written 2700 years ago……

Turn with me to Luke 1……. We will look at the time of Jesus birth….

Luke 1: 5-7 NLT

5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Luke 1: 5-7 Neues Leben

5 Zu der Zeit, als Herodes König von Judäa war, lebte ein jüdischer Priester namens Zacharias. Er war Priester von der Ordnung des Abija, und auch seine Frau Elisabeth stammte aus dem Priestergeschlecht Aarons.

6 Zacharias und seine Frau führten ein gottesfürchtiges Leben und befolgten alle Gebote und Vorschriften des Herrn.

7 Sie hatten keine Kinder, weil Elisabeth unfruchtbar war, und jetzt waren sie beide schon sehr alt.

v5…… When Herod was king…..

The years before Jesus birth were Dark times in Israel.....

1 no prophets....

2 ruled by foreigners ......Greeks and Romans for centuries..... Nehemiah was the last Jewish leader....

3 Herod.....

This is the man known as Herod the Great, who was at the end of a long and terrible reign....... a wicked man.....

he was not a descendant of Israel........ but of Jacob’s brother Esau….. an Edomite, or an Idumean........ He was politically connected.....He knew Caesar.....He knew Cleopatra... He was elected the King of the Jews by the Roman senate....

He was known for his spectacular building programs….. but even more so for his paranoid cruelty…… which drove him to execute many, including members of his own family..... and religious rulers....even some that he had appointed....

v5..... It was believed to be a double blessing to be married to a daughter of Aaron...

Of the division of Abijah: Priestly divisions (including the division of Abijah) are noted in 1 Chronicles 23-24.

v 6....God Fearers.....

Zechariah and Elizabeth, who were righteous and obedient....... Pharisees in the best sense.... not at all hypocrites.... they were sincere...( without wax....) nothing to hide...

They desired and prayed for the consolation of Israel...... the coming of the Messiah.....

Luke 1: 8-10 NLT

8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

Luke 1: 8-10 Neues Leben

8 Eines Tages, als Zacharias seinen Dienst im Tempel verrichtete, weil in dieser Woche seine Ordnung an der Reihe war,

9 wurde er nach priesterlichem Brauch durch das Los dazu ausgewählt, das Heiligtum zu betreten, um das Rauchopfer darzubringen.

10 Währenddessen stand draußen eine große Menschenmenge und betete.

Only certain priests could serve in the temple...... Over the years the number of priests multiplied....... (there were said to be as many as 20,000 priests in the time of Jesus) casting the lot determined which priests would serve when...... he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ...... only once in his life........

To a godly man like Zacharias, this would be the biggest event of his life...... a tremendous privilege, a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity....... Zacharias must have wondered what it would be like to enter the holy place.......

It is also easy to imagine Zacharias asking the other priests who had already burned incense before the Lord what it was like...... asking them if they had any unique spiritual experience when they were ministering before the Lord...... This whole event was filled with enormous anticipation......

Zaccariah.... his type of priests were called the idiot priests.... or the rustic priests....they were not educated in the best schools...... they were not born into the best and wealthiest of the priestly families..... they were plain simple folk...... God has always chosen the least ....the poor....the weak to shower with mercy and favor...

remember what Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Cor 1...... few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you......I mean the .......

The Angel Gabriel could have appeared to the High Priest...... part of the wealthy and powerful religious leaders.....that would seem a better choice in a worldly sense........but Zaccariah and his wife Elizabeth were part of the remnant that still truly Loved the Lord..... they prayed earnestly for the Messiah...the Comfort of Israel...

At long last the Lord sent them the answer to their prayers..... both private and personal ( at last a son!)..... now many years did they cry out to God for help and for deliverance..... then at long last in an instant........ a miracle of grace and a demonstration of his unfailing love... a son..... and their son John the Baptizer to be...... the forerunner of the Messiah!......Filled with the Holy Spirit from his mothers womb....

Beloved....the LORD will send you the answer to your prayers.....

He will answer the cries of your hearts.........hang on to Jesus........ trust in His unfailing love and mercy.....

(The idiot priest becomes rich.....).

It was the time of the Morning Sacrifice. ......For already the blush of dawn, for which the Priest on the highest pinnacle of the Temple had watched...... Within the Courts below all had long been busy......the superintending Priest had summoned to their sacred functions those who had washed..... according to the ordinance........ each day about fifty priests were on

duty....... Such of them as were ready now divided into two parties, to make inspection of the Temple courts by torchlight........the lot' was to assign to each his function........ Four times the lot was cast.....

It was scarcely daybreak, when a second time they met for the lot,' which designated those who were to take part in the sacrifice itself, and who were to trim the golden candlestick, and make ready the altar of incense within the Holy Place......

While the sacrifice was prepared for the altar….. the priests……. had made ready all within the Holy Place…. where the most solemn part of the day's service was to take place - that of offering the incense…. which symbolised Israel's accepted prayers..... the lot (the third) cast to indicate him…. who was to be honoured with this highest mediatorial act....... Only once in a lifetime might any one enjoy that privilege......

From now on…… he was called rich......

The priests began with prayer and confession of their sins and trust in Almighty God……

Zacharias must have been well known in the Temple...... each course was on duty twice a year….. and, unlike the Levites, the priests were not disqualified by age, but only by infirmity....... In many respects he seemed different from those around..... His home was not in either of the great priest- centers - the Ophel- quarter in Jerusalem, nor in Jericho - but in a small town in the highlands south of Jerusalem: the hill-country of Judea……. He was a priest, and married to the daughter of a priest…… It was supposed to convey twofold honour.....

Now his time had come....... He was going to stand before the Lord.... Enter the Holy of Holies and offer up the prayers of the Saints....

There had never been a vision given to an ordinary Priest in the act of incensing....... Let´s look at Luke 1:11…..

Luke 1: 11- 23 NLT

11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him.

13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.

16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

Luke 1: 11- 23 Neues Leben

11 Als Zacharias im Heiligtum war, erschien ihm ein Engel des Herrn. Dieser stand rechts neben dem Altar für das Rauchopfer.

12 Zacharias erschrak bis ins Herz,

13 doch der Engel sagte: »Hab keine Angst, Zacharias! Gott hat dein Gebet erhört. Deine Frau Elisabeth wird dir einen Sohn schenken, und du sollst ihn Johannes nennen.

14 Du wirst überglücklich sein bei seiner Geburt, und viele Menschen werden sich mit dir freuen,

15 denn er wird in den Augen des Herrn groß sein. Er wird keinen Wein oder andere berauschenden Getränke anrühren und schon vor seiner Geburt2 mit dem Heiligen Geist erfüllt werden.

16 Und er wird viele Israeliten dazu bringen, sich wieder dem Herrn, ihrem Gott, zuzuwenden.

17 Er wird ein Mann mit dem Geist und der inneren Kraft des Propheten Elia sein, der dem Herrn vorausgeht und das Volk auf seine Ankunft vorbereitet. Er wird die Herzen der Väter ihren Kindern zuwenden und die Ungehorsamen dazu bewegen, sich der göttlichen Weisheit zu öffnen.3«

18 Zacharias fragte den Engel: »Wie kann ich sicher sein, dass das wirklich geschehen wird? Ich bin jetzt ein alter Mann, und auch meine Frau ist schon in fortgeschrittenem Alter.«

19 Da sagte der Engel: »Ich bin Gabriel. Ich habe meinen Platz in der Gegenwart Gottes. Er hat mich mit dieser frohen Botschaft zu dir gesandt!

20 Weil du meinen Worten nicht geglaubt hast, wirst du nicht mehr sprechen können, bis das Kind geboren ist. Denn meine Worte werden sich erfüllen, wenn die Zeit gekommen ist.«

21 Mittlerweile warteten die Menschen draußen auf Zacharias und wunderten sich, wo er so lang blieb.

22 Als er endlich heraustrat, konnte er nicht zu ihnen sprechen. An seinen Gesten erkannten sie jedoch, dass er im Heiligtum des Tempels eine Vision gehabt hatte.

23 Er blieb im Tempel, bis die Zeit seines Dienstes vorüber war, und ging dann nach Hause.

v11…. an angel of the Lord appeared to him,

v12…… Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him……

This had never happened before……..not to a normal priest….

v13……. the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer……. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son…….

This miracle was something that they had prayed for…… for many years…….. For them to be childless was a great tragedy…… now at long last…..God had answered them with a miraculous promise……

When the priest was in the temple with the incense……. The people were outside praying to the LORD…… Trusting the Almighty God to hear and answer their prayers…….. they were standing with Zacharias’……… lifting their needs up to the LORD…..

…….. and you are to name him John……

v14…… You will have great joy and gladness…… and many will rejoice at his birth……

v15…… for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord……. John is the forerunner of the Messiah……….. Good News…… the darkness of despair was soon to end……..

The Messiah is coming…..there is hope………

You shall soon see Immanuel…… God with us!

v16….. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God.

v17….. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah….. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

The glorious light of Gospel……. Shining out from Galilee to the whole world…….

v20…… But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Zaccariah…….. was struck dumb…..unable to speak……… He had Just heard the GOOD NEWS….. The Messiah was coming to redeem and rescue man from deepest darkness…… But he was silent and unable to speak until He saw the birth of his son and named Him John……. We have heard and believed the GOOD NEWS….. but we are also often silent? Why? Are we afraid of something?…….

v25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed…… “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

These wonderful saints of God……. Waited for God to answer their prayers…… They had perhaps prayed for children thousands of times……. I suppose they had stopped praying by now……… They were old……but they never lost their trust in the LORD……. They did not allow themselves to be overcome with bitterness….. they continued to serve and trust in God….. Maybe they had lost hope by now……I think they had accepted…..The answer as no……. But God had a plan……God´s plan was far greater than they could have possibly imagined……….

The forerunner of the Messiah ? Their son? Yes!

Luke 1: 67- 75 NLT

67 Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.

69 He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David,

70 just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.

71 Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.

72 He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—

73 the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.

74 We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear,

75 in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

Luke 1: 67- 75 Neues Leben

67 Sein Vater Zacharias wurde mit dem Heiligen Geist erfüllt und weissagte:

68 »Gelobt sei der Herr, der Gott Israels, denn er ist zu seinem Volk gekommen und hat es erlöst.

69 Einen mächtigen Retter aus dem königlichen Geschlecht seines Knechtes David hat er uns gesandt,

70 wie er es vor langer Zeit durch seine heiligen Propheten versprochen hat.

71 Nun werden wir vor unseren Feinden und vor allen, die uns hassen, gerettet werden.

72 Er hat unseren Vorfahren Barmherzigkeit erwiesen, indem er seinen heiligen Bund mit ihnen nicht vergisst,

73 den Bund, den er mit unserem Stammvater Abraham schloss.

74 Wir wurden vor unseren Feinden gerettet,

75 damit wir Gott an jedem einzelnen Tag unseres Lebens ohne Furcht dienen können in Heiligkeit und Gerechtigkeit.

Redemption…. Compassion…..mercy in action…..look at verses 74 and 75…….

74 We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear,

75 in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

God´s plans are always far better than anything that we can hope for…… Let´s trust Him with our future……Let´s trust him with our lives……… He is faithful…..

He said…I will never leave you! I will never forsake you! Deut 31:6…….

We have been saved….rescued to serve to tell the GOOD NEWS……

Close

Matthew 5: 14-16 NLT

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5: 14-16 Neues Leben

14 Ihr seid das Licht der Welt - wie eine Stadt auf einem Berg, die in der Nacht hell erstrahlt, damit alle es sehen können.

15 Versteckt euer Licht nicht unter einem umgestülpten Gefäß! Stellt es lieber auf einen Lampenständer und lasst es für alle leuchten.

16 Und genauso lasst eure guten Taten leuchten vor den Menschen, damit alle sie sehen können und euren Vater im Himmel dafür rühmen.