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1. What happened to the family of Zechariah and Elizabeth? How did they surprize their neighbours and relatives? What could the people see in all the happenings? (57-66) What is important to us here? 2. In Zechariah’s song, why does he praise the Lord in verses 68-75? What can we think of God? How is Jesus depicted? 3. What does Zechariah say of his son? (76-77) How is Jesus further described? (78-79) Specifically, what can you learn from this song?

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In the previous lesson we thought of Gods high favour upon Mary, that she was chosen as the mother of Jesus. Mary responded to Gods favour with her personal decision of faith – “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” This was her obedience to God. In todays passage we will see the obedience of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and who Jesus is as excellently shown in Zechariahs prophecy. May we newly accept his word. First, “No! He is to be called John” (57-66). In verse 57, “When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.” Elizabeth, who was barren until she was like a grandmother, became pregnant. In the sixth month of this event, God’s favour came upon Mary with the message that she would be with a child before her marriage. Receiving this high favour from God, Mary visited Elizabeth and stayed with her for about three months. Afterward, Elizabeth gave birth to a son in accordance to God’s timing. God’s timing is exact; no one can change it. At the birth of Elizabeth’s baby, her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. The community was beautiful, sharing joy together when God’s mercy was shown. We thank God that last Friday M. Moses finally got a letter of confirmation of permanent residence from Canada government. It has been 10 years since he came to Canada. We all thanked God for his mercy and shared in his joy. Look at verses 59 and 60. “On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. But his mother spoke up and said, ‘No! He is to be called John.” This was totally unexpected to the neighbours. They probably thought something was wrong with Elizabeth, an old lady with extreme joy. So, they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name,” perhaps questing, “Why are you so different all of sudden?” When Elizabeth looked inflexible, what they could do was to turn to the father and hear his opinion, since in the patriarchal society the father’s opinion was decisive. They made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. The neighbours must have been sure that the father would name the child Little Zech or Zechariah Jr. so as to continue to his priestly family line. However, asking for a writing tablet, Zechariah wrote, “His name is John.” This was everyone’s astonishment. The husband and the wife were same in their opinion of naming their child. This was against Jewish tradition, but in obedience to God. In Jewish society, tradition was the backbone of life. Going against tradition was unthinkable, like committing social suicide. Zechariah and Elizabeth could not do this with their human strength. They could do it in their obedience to God based on the word of God. In our society, most people are floating on mainstream culture, which is important to those who live in it. We should learn and follow it. However, if it conflicts with God’s word and the conflict demands our choice, we should be very clear in our choice and learn obedience to God based on his word at each crucial time. Obedience to God also includes overcoming peer pressure. More personally, changing one’s habit or life pattern is not easy at all, let alone tradition. Each one has his or her own way of living or view of things, which is really strong. One young man participated in anti-government demonstration with a sense of justice when he was in university. But he met Jesus and was changed. However, to my surprise he is still on left-wing side in his view of the nation. Another man has a great learning mind. He is ready to learn and change overcoming his own idea and constantly grows. One woman did not learn cooking. She only cooked simple things for her family in her own way. But since she learned how to cook through the internet, she improved a lot as she followed cooking directions in making foods. There are various kinds of habits – the habits of being late for appointments, procrastination or putting things to the last moment, etc. Habits, big or small, can go to the end of one’s life. I always thought that I am busy and all our members are busy in the weekly schedule and it would be difficult to have extra meetings. But I thank God that this year we could keep Friday evening prayer meeting and Wednesday early morning prayer meeting. Our life of faith is learning correction beginning with small things. Proverbs 15:10 says, “…the one who hates correction will die”, and 15:32, “…the one who heeds correction gains understanding.” We also learn the importance of having the same opinion between a husband and a wife, especially concerning their children. If they are not one in their direction, they cannot help their children at crucial times and the children can become confused between the two. At the time when a husband and wife are different in their opinions, they should pray. God will surely help them to be one in heart and mind and spirit, which is the meaning and purpose of marriage. Then what happened when Zechariah and Elizabeth obeyed God and name their son John, though it might have disappointed their neighbours and relatives momentarily? Immediately Zechariah’s dumb mouth was opened and his stiff tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. The neighbours were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. There was a mighty work of God. God’s training for Zechariah ended with good fruit. Also, the community people were filled with awe and had a great expectation for the work of God through the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Specifically, the Lord’s hand was with the child. We learn that when parents obey God, the Lord’s hand can be with their children and guide them and bless them. Parents’ obedience to God makes a spiritual environment for God to work in the hearts and lives of their children. The lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth seemed to be quiet and not that influential. But how influential and fruitful they were through their son. It was like the life of Naomi who was fruitful and influential through her daughter-in-law Ruth. We find the significance of making a spiritual environment through obedience to God to raise one man of God or one woman of God. Second, Zechariah’s prophecy (67-80). Now his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.” Zechariah’s prophecy began with praise for the Lord, the God of Israel. It was because he had come and had redeemed his people. For the last four hundred years, no word of God was heard. But finally, the Lord visited his people in his faithfulness to keep his promise. He did not forget his people but remembered them. He had come to redeem his people. Without redemption, they would remain in slavery, forever. His coming meant his redemption. At the day of circumcision for his son, Zechariah began to sing this song in his prophecy. He was really God-centred. We can go further into his prophecy, which excellently shows who Jesus is in two ways. Firstly, Jesus is the horn of salvation. In verse 69, “He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago).” The words, “a horn of salvation” draw our attention. A horn symbolizes power and strength. Satan has seven heads and ten horns (Da. 7:7; Rev. 12:3). Until now, Satan had wielded his power without restraint to impale and destroy mankind. He was matchless in power with no equal among men. However, although Satan has seven heads and ten horns, he does not appear as a formidable figure. He made his first appearance in the Garden of Eden in the form of a serpent, colourful and silky. He tempted Eve by twisting the word of God and then with a sweet lie, and made Adam fall through Eve. Since then, numerous men and women were attacked and trampled by Satan, also called the devil. According to Revelation 12:9, the devil leads the whole world astray. In our times Satan uses public figures to make laws and regulations the only appeal to people’s flesh desires. In our education system, the concept of right and wrong or the concept of truth and falsity seem nonexistent, without even a proper concept of gender. Young kids, who are in their most susceptible ages, are exposed to such a terrible environment. The development of technology makes people more and more prone to their sinful desires. So many people, young and old, are addicted to computer games and pornography. It seems that intellectual powers are used to destroy human beings. The people of modern society try to eliminate God and the words of God’s truth in the name of human freedom, not knowing that such effort will invite the rampant work of evil spirits and demons under the control of Satan. In fact, they become slaves of sin and the devil. As a consequence, there are so many rebellious teenagers, particularly rebellious and disobedient to their parents, although God’s command is to honour and obey your parents which is the first commandment with a promise of going well with them and long life (Ex 20:12; Eph. 6:1-2). They hate their parents and hate God. God-haters are increasing. Their minds are depraved to do what ought not to be done. When they cannot control themselves, they plan and attempt suicide. Who can defeat the horn of Satan? Human beings are totally powerless and helpless under the power of the horn of Satan. Then what a grace it is that he has raised up a horn of salvation for us. Jesus the Lamb has seven horns, written in Revelation 5:6. With seven horns his power is perfect. When we read the gospel story, evil spirits could not bear the presence of Jesus and fell down before him (Mk 3:11). On one occasion, six thousand demons were driven out of a man. He gave his disciples authority to drive out demons. When seventy-two disciples experienced demons submitting to them and were excited, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy…” (Lk 10:17-18). One young lady at U of T was exposed to drug and sex from her young age. From fourteen to twenty she lived a very wild life, making her living by prostitution. She was easily angry at people and cursed them and God. When her inner conflict became unbearable, she attempted to commit suicide. She failed in ending her life, but at that moment she could see a spiritual world that on one side many demons in dark clothes welcomed her and on the other side angels in white clothes tried to encourage her to come to God. In her sinfulness she thought she was unworthy for God and was coming closer to the side of demons. At that moment she could see Jesus in dazzling light. At the appearance of Jesus all the demons fled away in an instant and she vomited all poisons of evil and was made new. This was one sided love of God for her. She confessed that in God’s mercy and grace her spiritual eyes are widely open to see that so many U of T students are under the rampant rule of demons and going through self-destruction, rejecting God. Now she is struggling to grow in Christ through the words of God and be a servant of God. When I heard of this story, I could believe it and realized more the vivid reality of the spiritual world between good and evil, that is, between God and Satan. This is as Paul said in Ephesians 6:11 that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Praise God that he has raised a horn of salvation for us as he promised. Thank God that we can have victory over the horn of Satan through faith in Jesus, the horn of salvation. We can claim this victory as we are armed with the words of God and in prayer. Zechariah continues in his prophecy, “salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—” (71). At that time Israelites were under the rule of Roman. The people thought that Rome was their enemy and they were suffering because of their cruel ruling. However, in truth they were suffering and groaning under the power of sin and Satan. Satan is the enemy of God and the very enemy of mankind. The prophecy goes on, “to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham; to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days” (72-75). Here we see clearly why God raised up a horn of salvation. It is to rescue us from our enemy Satan and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. When we serve God, we are really in the safety zone and have true satisfaction and joy in fulfilling our life purpose. What a grace it is to serve God to the end of our lives. The alternative life is to serve Satan with fear in unholiness and unrighteousness and much inner trouble, probably with some momentary pleasures and worldly security. It can go to the end of one’s life. May we bear the privilege of serving God in Christ Jesus with full submission and dedication to him and have increasing joy and fulfillment in life. Secondly, Jesus is the rising sun. Now Zechariah briefly talks about his son in verses 76 and 77. “And you my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins.” Zechariah was abundantly happy that his child would be called a prophet of the Most High as a servant of God in God’s work and history of saving souls from their sins. People are perishing because they do not know and receive the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Zechariah’s child would prepare the way for the Lord preaching a baptism of repentance so that people might be saved from their sins through the Lord Christ Jesus. What a precious mission and life! Then Zechariah turns again to the main topic of God’s Son Jesus, saying, “because of the tender mercy of God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Here Jesus is depicted as the rising sun. The rising sun shines the whole world, giving light to every dark place of the world. In this dark world of sin, all live in darkness and in the shadow of death, regardless of their social standing, high or low, in this world. Last Wednesday, there was a funeral ceremony of George H.W. Bush, the 41st present of America. It was done as a state funeral in the national cathedral church. Hymn songs were considerately chosen to praise God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. The 41st president, George Bush, was even called “brother George Bush”. The funeral ceremony was conducted in a very traditional Christian way. Those who gave the eulogy praised him for his integrity, courage, sincerity, gentleness, honour, great contribution to the world. On the front seats there were the present Donald Trump and Melany, and the surviving former presidents and their wives, Barack Obama and Michelle, Bill Clinton and Hillary, and Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn. It was a beautiful scene that showed the country fellow men’s respect for their presidents. People’s honour and praise matters, but whoever they are, without Jesus the rising sun they are in the darkness of the power of sin and death and will be thrown in the eternal darkness. Jesus said to his disciples, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very soul?” (Lk 9:25) In the gospel story the only son of a widow died. Who could understand the sorrow of the widow? But Jesus knew her sorrowful heart and raised the dead son in the coffin, saying, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” (Lk 7:14). Jesus gave him back to his mother. What a joy and what new hope for the mother! At our 2016 Toronto UBF SBC, Abraham Lee delivered a fresh and clear message on this passage, May God help him to have firm faith in this Jesus. When Jesus began his public ministry, Matthew wrote, “the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Mt. 4:16). Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” M. Debora and Warmherz Elsholz were told that their son was autistic and had to be sent to a special school. They did not succumb to the ‘scientifc’ diagnosis and did not allow dark fatalistic thinking to come into their minds. By faith in Jesus, they raised Josua with the words of God and in prayer. Now Josua is one of the top students, a good coworker for his parents, and a source of spiritual influence for his classmates and friends. When we have Jesus in our hearts, we can have the light of life that dispels all the darkness from dark and fatalistic thinking (about school study, job, future or marriage), living, and even dressing. Malachi 4:2 says, “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” It is easy to fear physical diseases and illness. Instead we should revere God and put our faith in Jesus the sun of righteousness, who he can heal all the physical diseases and spiritual sickness. This is the reason we need to fix our thoughts on Jesus and fix our eyes on Jesus. Especially, Jesus the rising sun shines through the gospel. Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God.” This is the reason Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” And the rising sun Jesus guides our feet into the path of peace. The gospel is also the gospel of peace through his death and resurrection. Praise God for sending Jesus, the horn of salvation and the rising sun into this world and into our lives. May we put our absolute faith in him and obey him so that his power and light may work in and through us.

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