Bible Study - Why (4) - Why Did JESUS Come? - Luke 1:68-79 - June 24, 2018

Bible Study – Why (4) – Why Did JESUS Come? – June 24, 2018

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Why are we here?”

Our focus scripture is Luke 1:68-79.

JESUS came to remove our sin.

JESUS not only removes our sin when we accept HIM as our Savior but obliterates it. Christians are justified before GOD because of the shed blood of JESUS. Christians are made pure, holy and righteous before GOD because of faith in JESUS.

When a king was on the outskirts of a city a herald would run ahead of the king to announce that he was coming. That gave those in that city time to prepare for the arrival of the king.

GOD, in HIS wisdom, planned for a herald to announce the coming of the Messiah. HE wanted all who were looking for the coming of the Messiah to know that HE had arrived. This was especially to alert those who were students of the scriptures e.g. the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees.

Our study will examine the birth of John to Zachariah the priest and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth was a cousin of the Virgin Mary.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Luke 1:5-25: (Background)                                      

Gabriel Predicts John's Birth

5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 

6 Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 

7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. 

8 When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 

9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 

According to Bible scholars there were 18,000 priests in this division of priests hoping to be chosen for this once in a lifetime event.

10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 

11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 

12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear.

13 But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 

14 There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. 

16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. 

17 And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people. 

18 "How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." 

19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 

20 Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." 

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 

22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless. 

23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. 

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 

25 "The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people."

Let’s read Luke 1:57-66:

The Birth and Naming of John

57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 

58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. 

59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 

60 But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John." 

61 Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." 

62 So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called.

63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN and they were all amazed. 

64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue [set free], and he began to speak, praising God. 

65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 

66 All who heard about [him] took [it] to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him.

Zechariah's Prophecy

Luke 1:67:

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

What the Prophet Zechariah prophesied is recorded in verses 68-71:

This is referred to as the Benedictus or the song of Zechariah.

Two truths are revealed in this Holy Spirit inspired prophecy:

-         GOD provided redemption for HIS people.

-         GOD saved us from our enemies.

Let’s read Luke 1:68-71:

JESUS CHRIST Came to Redeem Us from Defeat

Zechariah's Prophecy

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 

68 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. 

69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 

70 just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times; 

71 salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us.

The religious leaders knew that the promised Messiah would come through the lineage of King David thus the reference to the “house of David.”

GOD’S promised redemption as recorded in the scriptures is taking place. The horn of an animal represented “power,” “strength” and “victory.” The term is recorded in Psalm 18:2:

1 I love You, Lord, my strength. 

2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies. 

JESUS, The Messiah, delivers all from that which no person can do for him or herself. It is through faith in JESUS by the power of HIS sinless life and HIS shed blood.

As we read this scripture, you can understand how the Jews, under the rule of the Romans, jumped at the idea that the promised Messiah would be an earthly ruler and deliver them from their earthly enemies. Once we get notions in our head it is hard for us to shift gears.

When we encounter situations that perplex us, often, we need to back off and look at it from a different perspective. I know when I encounter a spiritual issue that lingers, I try to back off and ask our LORD, “What are YOU trying to teach or reveal to me?”

Let’s read 1:72-75:

72 He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant- 

73 the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, 

74 since we have been rescued from our enemies' clutches, to serve Him without fear 

75 in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days.

When GOD makes a covenant, HE does not break it. A covenant is an agreement between parties. A covenant refers to GOD’S promise to an individual e.g. Abraham or a nation e.g. Israel.  

The Apostle Paul addressed the issue of can a person trust GOD to fulfill HIS covenant relationship as recorded in Romans 8:35-39:

35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

36 As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 

37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. 

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 

39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Thus Christians are free to serve GOD as recorded in verses 74 and 75:

74 since we have been rescued from our enemies' clutches, to serve Him without fear 

75 in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days.

Let’s read Luke 1:76-80:

76 And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, 

77 to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. 

78 Because of our God's merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us 

79 to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 

80 The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

What role would John the Baptizer play in GOD’S redemptive work?

What was recorded in the Old Testament?

Isaiah 40:3:

3 A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. 

Malachi 3:1:

1 "See, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the Messenger of the covenant you desire-see, He is coming," says the Lord of Hosts. 

John the Baptist would:

-         Be the herald for JESUS e.g. HIS forerunner.

-         Prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah

-         Point to the fact that salvation would come through the Messiah.

The promised Messiah has come and fulfilled HIS mission. Do you believe it or reject it. What is the “it”? It is salvation from sin and its consequence eternal death. What are the benefits? They are eternal life, rebirth as GOD’S Son or Daughter, citizenship in Heaven. 

Blessings!!!