A CHRISTMAS BLESSING

LUKE 1:57-80


      The second song in Luke chapter 2 took the name Benedictus from the word “blessing.” Zechariah blessed the Lord for joy in seeing His wonderful works.

 

Ps. 72:18 [ESV]. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.


  I. Blessing for a fulfilled promise (1:57-66)


Lk. 1:14 [HCSB].There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth.


      A. Magnified for the mercy (57-58)


Acts 19:17b [HCSB]. Then fear fell on all of them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.


      B. Marveled at the miracle (59-66)


Lk. 9:43a [GW]. Everyone was amazed to see God's wonderful power. Everyone was amazed at all the things that Jesus was doing.


      On the eighth day after the birth of a son, every Jewish family followed a prescribed ceremony.

•          A benediction was spoken before circumcision. Endnote

•          The child received his name in a prayer. Endnote

•          The father always named the son after someone in the family.


      The ceremony for John the Baptist took an amazing turn. Edersheim explained, “In the benediction in which the child’s name was inserted, the mother had interrupted the prayer. Without explaining her reason, she insisted that his name should not be that of his aged father, as in the peculiar circumstances might have been expected, but John.” Endnote


      When Zechariah affirmed the name of John, immediately the Lord opened the priest’s lips again. Edersheim said, “His last words had been those of unbelief, his first were those of praise; his last words had been a question of doubt, his first were a hymn of assurance.” Endnote


Lk. 7:16 [ESV]. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"


 II. Blessing for a future prophecy (1:67-80)


      When the Old Testament closed with Malachi, the spirit of prophecy ceased for four centuries (1 Sam. 3:1). Now, filled with the Spirit Zechariah spoke this prophecy.


Acts 2:17 [ESV]. "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;


      The prophetic Spirit praised Jesus, not John the Baptist (Jn. 15:26). Jamieson said, “There is not a word in this noble burst of divine song about his own child. . . losing sight entirely of self, in the glory of a Greater than both.” Endnote


      A. Visitation (68a)


Lk. 7:16 [ESV]. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"


      B. Redemption (68b)


Ps. 111:9 [ESV]. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!


Lk. 2:38 [ESV]. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.


      C. Salvation (69-71)


2 Sam. 22:3-4 [ESV]. my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.

 4. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.


          1. From enemies


          2. From haters


Ps. 18:2 [ESV]. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.


      D. Completion (72-73)


Gen. 22:17 [ESV]. I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies,


Ps. 105:8 [ESV]. He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,


          1. Covenant


          2. Oath


      E. Mission (74-75)


Rom. 11:26 [ESV]. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";


Heb. 9:14 [ESV]. how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.


          1. Holiness


          2. Righteousness


      F. Preparation (76)


Is. 40:3 [ESV]. A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.


      G. Remission (77-78a)


Lk. 24:47 [ESV]. and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.


          1. Compassions


          2. Mercies


      H. Revelation (78b-79)


Is. 9:2 [ESV]. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.


Lk. 2:30-32 [ESV]. for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.


          1. Sun of Righteousness (Mal. 4:2)


Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings,

Ris’n with healing in His wings. (Charles Wesley)


          2. Light of the World (Rev. 22:16)


2 Pet. 1:19 [ESV]. And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,


      I. Anticipation (80)


Mal. 3:1 [ESV]. "Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.


Jn. 3:30 [ESV]. He must increase, but I must decrease.