Word of Salvation – Vol. 31 No. 42 – Nov 1986

 

In Preparation Of The Lord’s Coming

 

Sermon by Rev. P. Abetz on Luke 1:14-17

Reading: Luke 1:5-17, 57-66, Malachi 4:1-6

Introduction:

 

Brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ.

When a government, or a national leader makes an important announcement, we hear of it within hours.  We hear about it by way of a news flash, perhaps on TV.  Or as a newsflash over the radio.  Or we read of it the next day in the newspaper.  It is hard for us to imagine how we would get to hear important news if it were not for TV, radio or newspapers.  But there was a time, when these things did not exist.

Back in those days, most cities had a town crier, who would announce important news in the city square.

And in those days a king always employed at least a few heralds.  The task of the herald was to walk ahead of the touring king, and to announce his coming.  By giving such notice, the people could be prepared to meet the king.  When the king was not touring, the task of the herald was to make known the decisions of the king.  The herald had to say exactly what the king wanted said.  A herald could not make up his own story.  He had to tell exactly what the king had sent him to announce to the people.

Can any of you tell me the name of a person who was a very famous herald?  (Note to the reader: Ask one of the children and expect them to give you the answer!) He announced the coming of a very important king.  Can you tell me...?

Of course, it was John the Baptist, about whom we read in the Bible reading.  Remember the story?  It was about what the angel told Zechariah (John the Baptist's father) about his son who was yet to be born.  Remember how Zechariah had a vision as he was going in to the inner sanctuary to light the incense outside the curtain of the most Holy Place.  It was a very special day for Zechariah, because a priest only got one turn in a life-time to do this.  So he must have been very excited - perhaps even a bit nervous about what he had to do.  The first thing that the angel said to Zechariah was that his prayer for a child had been answered, and that his son was to be called John.  The next thing the angel told Zechariah was about...

1.  THE JOY OF JOHN'S BIRTH

The angel said, "He will be a joy and a delight to you" (v.14).  Any baby is a delight and a joy to his parents.  But for Zechariah and Elizabeth, this would be especially so.  For in Israel, for a woman to be barren was a terrible thing.  Most people regarded barrenness as a sure sign that God was very displeased with a woman.  The common view was that barrenness was God's way of punishing a woman for her sin.  Every childless woman in Israel lived in the hope that one day they might still have a baby.  If Elizabeth could have a baby it would lift her shame!

So not only would Zechariah and Elizabeth get the normal joy of having a baby, but they would get the bonus of being publicly restored to God's favour.

But there is more to it than just the parents' joy.  Our text says: "Many will rejoice because of his birth." (v.14).  In 1:58 we read that the neighbours too were delighted.  So in that sense the prophecy of the angel was fulfilled straight after John's birth.  But there was another dimension as well: He would lead people from darkness to light.  He would preach repentance, and many would turn to God through his ministry.  People would also rejoice because he would clearly be a man who was great in the sight of the Lord.

Let us leave the joy that John's birth would bring for a moment, and let us see what our text means when it speaks of his greatness.

2.  HIS GREATNESS

Just how great was John the Baptist?  Does he really rank with the great men of the world?  If you ask people, who do you think is the greatest man that ever lived, their answer would no doubt be coloured by the area of their interest.  For an atomic physicist, Einstein might be the greatest man that ever lived.  To a dyed-in-the-wool evolutionist, Charles Darwin might be the choice.  But where do we rank John the Baptist?

According to Jesus, "Among those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist...!" (Matt.11:11)

But why did our Lord Jesus hold John in such high regard??

Firstly... because John was the herald of the Messiah.  The Messiah was no ordinary king.  He was King of Kings.  The task of herald for an earthly king was a very responsible task.  But now to prepare the way for the king of heaven and earth, the King of Kings, that was no mean task!  He had to convey the message of the King of Kings.

Secondly... John the Baptist was so great because he was so humble.  He wanted to recede into the background once the king came on to the scene.  Remember those words of John (referring to Jesus) "He must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:30) That is true greatness.  Doing the task assigned by the king, that brings greatness to the herald.  John the Baptist wanted all the honour and glory given to Jesus.  My friend, how is it with you?  Do you want to increase in importance because of your service to the Lord?  What is your motivation for serving?  Is it that Christ may increase, and you may decrease?  That is the way it ought to be with God's children!

Thirdly... John the Baptist was great because he would come in the spirit and power of Elijah.  That was a tremendous promise to Zechariah.

As a priest he knew that Malachi 4 speaks of the return of Elijah prior to the visitation of God to judge this world.  In a literal sense, Elijah did not come before Christ, but in a figurative sense, he certainly did.

Elijah was the prophet who fearlessly called people to repentance, whether they be high or low in society.  You will recall that Elijah challenged Ahab and Queen Jezebel (1Kings 17:18) to repent.  John the Baptist was also renowned for boldly condemning sin; for calling people to repentance.  John challenged Herod about having his brother's wife (Mat.14:4).

And fourthly... John was great because he was empowered by the Holy Spirit to do his God-given task.  Right from birth, he would be enabled to do and to be what God wanted him to do.  It is very significant, that John was great precisely because he did not operate under his own steam.  God the Holy Spirit was the power source behind John the Baptist!

So we see that the greatness of John the Baptist does not flow from John's intellect, his wisdom, his foresight or anything else.  For his greatness he was totally dependent on God's gracious provisions.  John the Baptist was happy to be an instrument in God's hand.  How is it with us brothers and sisters?  Do you want to be great?  The only true greatness comes from being totally dependent on God's provision, and carrying out the task that HE sets before us, and doing that task in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let us now look at what our text says about John the Baptist's work.

3.  HIS WORK

The angel told Zechariah what John's work would be: [re-read Luke 1:16-17].  There is a three-fold work here for John the Baptist:

Firstly, let us look at the fact that "Many of the sons of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God".

Did you notice that God is still their God, even though they did not recognise Him as such.  The prophets of the O.T. often spoke that way too: "Return to the Lord your God" they frequently cried.  God has a claim on you.  HE has made Himself your God.  And God calls for a response to that glorious fact from His people.

Parents of young people who have strayed away from the faith, there is great comfort here: God is their God – whether they recognise it or not!  God has not abandoned them.  They have abandoned God.  And God leaves the door open for them to return!

God cared so much for the rebellious Israelites that he sent John as the herald to prepare the way for the Messiah – to call the people to repentance.  God still calls His people to repentance today.  He still cares about His covenant people.  So if you know of a covenant child that has gone astray – and they don't need to be young – there are many who have wandered who are also quite old.  Pray for them without ceasing; because God is still in the business of calling people to repentance.  He used John the Baptist for that some 2000 years ago.  John the Baptist is dead now.  But you are alive.  Will you let the Lord use you to call people to repentance?

The second aspect of John's work that is mentioned in our text is that he will restore family relationships – “...to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous...!”

Why is this mentioned here?  It may seem out of place at first glance.  But not so, my friend.  True conversion results, among other things, in a restoration of family relationships.  Conversion results in a revival of harmonious and loving relationships in the home.

Malachi called the people of Israel to repent of their multiple sins of mixed marriages and easy divorce.  Their sin led to disrupted family relationships.  And Malachi says that when Elijah comes, he would set this right: That fathers would have a genuine concern for their children's spiritual well-being.  (Mal.4:5-6)

That is indeed the effect of the preaching of the gospel:

Acceptance brings about a glorious harmony, a restoration.  Rejection brings about a terrible disharmony and broken relationships.

The third aspect of John the Baptist's work was "...to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Now Zechariah knew from his knowledge of the book of Malachi that Elijah would precede the coming of the Messiah.  Now, to be told that your son is to be the Elijah implied that he would be the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah's coming!  In the case of John the Baptist, he had the privilege of preparing the way for the first coming of the Messiah.

You and I, we live after that glorious event.  After the time that the glorious events of the death and resurrection and ascension of our Saviour occurred.  We look forward to the second coming of Christ.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas, let us acknowledge God's faithfulness and love to us in keeping His promise in sending the Saviour.  Let us openly acknowledge that if it had not been for the coming of the Son of God, we would all still be hopelessly lost in sin.  Instead of being hopelessly lost in sin, we who have put our trust in the Saviour, are no longer hopeless sinners, we are servants of the Most High God, called to be prophets, priests and kings!  John the Baptist had a task as a prophet to prepare the way for the Lord's coming.  His first coming.

You and I are called to prepare people for the second coming of the Lord.  It is our task as prophets to boldly call people to repentance.  Unless a person has repented of his sin, he is not prepared for the Lord's coming!

Conclusion:

Congregation, I am sure that everyone here will celebrate Christmas in one way or another.  But let us in this advent season not only look back to the event of the Saviour's birth, but let us also look forward to glorious day when He will return to come to judge the earth.  Only then will the purpose of His birth be brought to a complete fulfilment, as we receive our glorified bodies and live eternally in His presence.

Are you prepared for the Lord's return?  Are those around you prepared for his coming again?  Then we have a task to do!  The only way we can be prepared and eager for His return is to put our trust in Him.  Knowing that by his work of suffering and dying in my place, he has paid for my sin, that he has given me new life.

May the Holy Spirit enable each one of us to say, I am ready Lord Jesus, come quickly.

AMEN.