The Christmas Story From Luke's Gospel Part 1 God's Good Plan For A Barren Wife.

Our soul is anchored to the eternal, Holy Spirit inspired truth of God's Word.

Luke 1:1-4  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2  Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3  It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4  That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. 

We spent several lessons looking at the Christmas story from the gospel of Matthew.

Today, we begin a study of Luke's account of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Luke's gospel contains the most detail about this monumental event.

Luke used strong words to express his utmost confidence in the truth and power of the gospel of Christ.

His record comes from those who were eyewitnesses of the life, miracles, teachings and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke's gospel covers the birth of Christ, His ministry in preaching and miracles, and the suffering, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Lord.

Luke was a physician and his attention to detail gives his gospel and the book of Acts many special insights.

Beginning with the parents of John the Baptist.

Luke 1:5  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 

Luke's gospel starts by introducing the parents of John the Baptist.

Zachariah was a priest after the course of Abia.

When the number of priests and Levites greatly increased, they could not serve together at the same time in the tabernacle.

Therefore, King David divided them into twenty-four groups, that they might take turns ministering in the tabernacle (See 1 Chronicles 24:1).

Each family would perform the rites and duties of law of God for a whole week, See 2 Kings 11:7; 2 Chronicles 23:8). 

Abiah was the eighth in the order in which the courses were originally established by King David (See 1 Chronicles 24:10). 

Not only was Zechariah in the line of priests descended from Aaron's family, but his wife Elizabeth was also a descendent of Aaron 

This means that John the Baptist's parents had a direct connection with the line of priests.

These details are important because the testimony of an eyewitness is viewed by the courts as the best and most reliable testimony.

God bears witness to the upright character of Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth.

Luke 1:6-7  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7  And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 

Oh, that our Lord could say this about each one of us!

It is God Himself who led Luke to write about these two faithful Old Testament believers.

With the words "They were both righteous before God" Luke relays the fact that this husband and wife committed themselves to living according to God's Word.

Luke tells us that they had no guilt before God because they walked in all His commandments and ordinances.

They were "blameless" before God which means their lives had no defect, no blemish because they obeyed God's commands.

God said "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" so they loved and obeyed God as their life priority.

God said "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images" so they did not make any idols.

God said "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" so they kept all their vows made to God and were careful in how they used His name in conversation.

God said "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy" so they honored the sabbath each Lord's day.

God said "Honor thy father and thy mother" so they made sure to treat their parents with respect and no doubt, cared for them when they grew old.

God said "Thou shalt not kill" so they did not commit murder or entertain murderous thoughts toward friends and neighbors.

God said "Thou shalt not commit adultery" so they kept themselves sexually pure and honored their marriage vows.

God said "Thou shalt not steal" so they did not steal.

God said "Thou shalt not bear false witness" so they were careful to be truth tellers and avoided lying.

God said "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house...nor anything that is thy neighbors" so they learned to be content with what God gave them.

God's commandments are moral guardrails to keep us from harm. 

For a believer in Christ, His commands are not a hard duty forced upon us by God.

Rather, they are blessings and markers of His way, showing us the path to true joy, happiness and satisfaction.

Thus, concerning God's moral law, Zechariah and Elizabeth were blameless.

Luke gave us one more important truth about this holy couple.

They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and both of them were quite old at this time.

Psalm 127:3-5  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. 

The Psalmist summarizes how people viewed child bearing in the Old Testament.

Children are a blessing from the Lord, a heritage from God, the giver of all life.

Having many children is a sign of great blessing from God and is compared to having a quiver full of arrows.

Even in early American history, having large families was a blessing to those who farmed the land. Many hands make light work.

Genesis 11:30  But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 

Abraham and Sarah were barren and childless until God answered their prayer when Isaac was born  (See Genesis 11:30; 15:2; 16:1-2; 18:11-12; 21:1-2).

Genesis 25:21  And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 

Isaac and Rebecca were barren and childless for twenty years, until God answered their prayer and gave them Jacob and Esau (See Genesis 25).

Genesis 30:1  And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 

Jacob's wife Rachel was barren and childless until the Lord opened her womb and she gave birth to Joseph and later, Benjamin.

1 Samuel 1:5-6  But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. 6  And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 

Elkhanna and Hannah were barren and childless until God gave her a son named Samuel (See 1 Samuel 1:1-28).

A barren wife experienced emotional devastation because having children was viewed as being blessed by God.

Thus, a barren wife carried a social stigma.

A barren wife often faced ridicule like Peninnah did to Hannah (See 1 Samuel 1:6).

A barren wife might face jealousy and rivalry such as between Sarah and Hagar, or Rachel and Leah.

A barren wife might have a fear of being replaced like when Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham or when Rachel gave Bilhah to Jacob.

In a culture where lineage, inheritance, and family survival depended on children, barrenness created enormous social pressure.

However, in the case of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Hannah, and Elizabeth, we shall see they were barren because God was going to do a great thing in their lives.

Each of these believing wives gave birth to sons who had a powerful impact for the things of God.

So it will be for Zechariah and Elizabeth, but at this point in Luke's narrative, they did not yet know this truth.

A barren wife giving birth like the women noted above, often mark a turning point in Israel's history.

Such miraculous child bearing is often followed by God doing something marvelous for His people.

Three truths emerge from Luke's gospel record of the Christmas story.

First, only God can bring life where none existed before. 

Psalm 40:2-3  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 

A barren wife is a picture of sinner whose heart is depraved, spiritually lifeless and barren. 

A barren wife giving birth to a child pictures the regenerating work of God's Spirit as He creates a new heart and spirit in us.

Old things begin to pass away from our lives and we start learning to walk with Christ in newness of life after we are born again (See 2 Corinthians 5:17, Titus 3:4-8).

Second, only God can bring hope from a hopeless situation.

Psalm 34:17-18  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 

God always hears our cries and He will work to deliver us according to what He knows is best for us.

When our hearts are broken and our spirit is crushed, God draws near to us, to offer comfort, consolation and hope.

Psalm 119:49  ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

Psalm 119:81  CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

Romans 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

We must remember to read the scriptures because the Word of God is the source of our hope.

When we read His Word, God fills our heart with hope.

When our soul faints from weariness in well doing God will give us hope through His Word.

Through repentant faith and hope in Christ, the love of God is poured into our hearts by the Spirit of God.

Third, a fruitful, productive and blessed life is something only God can impart. 

Jeremiah 17:7-8  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 

Like Psalm one, there is blessing when we trust Jehovah and place our hope in His saving work and the eternal Word He gave us.

We will be like trees planted near a reliable water source, growing vigorously, sending down a deep tap root and able to produce fruit in times of drought.

We will all face various trials, troubles and heartaches in this life.

When we become weak and weary in well doing, we can run to Christ because God can renew our strength when we need it the most.

When we are overwhelmed by life's' circumstances and all hope is gone, we can turn to the God of all hope.

When our spiritual life seems powerless or we seem not to have any fruit, we can ask the Spirit of God to revive us and once more work His fruit into our lives.

May Luke's narrative of the life and character of Zechariah and Elizabeth bless and encourage us today.

Bob