God Gets His People Ready to Meet His Son (December 4 FirstLook)

We pray that you had a great Thanksgiving with your family! We have so much to be thankful for!  Now its time to transition into the Christmas season.

In FirstLook, that means we take a break from our chronological study of the Bible to learn about Christ's birth.  As you gear up for Christmas this year, please use this and future posts to help talk about Jesus in your home.

Believe it or not, God prepared the people for the birth of Jesus before he was even born. In FirstLook this week we will open to Luke 1 and see how God used Zechariah to prepare the way for Jesus. Also make sure you check your inbox later this week as I send out the December Children's Ministry E-Newsletter.

 As God was preparing the people to meet His Son, He chose Zechariah, one of about 18,000 priests serving Yahweh. Due to sheer numbers, priests served in the temple only twice a year. It was extremely rare for a priest to have the honor of serving the Lord by entering the holy place within the temple. Those chosen were selected by casting lots (a practice often used to determine God’s will in given situations). This opportunity to enter the holy place would probably happen once in a lifetime.

Luke chapter 1 says Zechariah offered incense as a sacrifice to the Lord, representing the prayers being lifted to God. During this time of service, he would have lifted up prayers specifically for Israel. Psalm 141 says, “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” As the incense rose, these were holy moments. While Zechariah lifted his prayers for the nation, the other priests prayed and waited outside.

These priestly rituals had been carried on for centuries. In the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament, there is no record of God speaking to His people. This is often referred to as the period of silence or the 400 Silent Years. Then, “God renewed His activity on behalf of His people in light of promises made long ago” (InterVarsity Press Commentary). God sent a message for His people to Zechariah. The angel Gabriel declared, “Your prayer has been heard” (Luke 1:13). There were two parts to the message that was given. While it is clear that Zechariah, as an elderly Jewish male with no descendants, must have frequently prayed for an heir, Gabriel is also addressing his prayers for the nation. This is clear in the angel’s prophetic message of John’s life. He assures Zechariah that not only will he have a son, but that his son will turn the hearts of many Israelites back to the Lord. God had chosen this holy, pious moment to unveil His plans for Israel.