Advent Dec 1 - Luke 1:5-13

}}נך| Advent Dec 1 - Luke 1:5-13 {{

The nation had been counting years since Daniel's prophecy for the Messiah to come. There were still 30 to go. If they had interpreted the prophecy correctly, this would be the year he would be born. Even those wise men from the east could interpret scripture to figure it out. It was the appointed time; as Luke says, A certain time.

Using real people and their real lives, God announced his coming in riddle. 'Zacharias' means 'God remembers'. 'Elisabeth' means 'My God seven'. The seventh day was God's promise of rest. Together they say: God remembers God's promise of rest.

Zacharias was serving as high priest in the course of Abia. This is interpreted as 'The day of my Father Jehovah' or 'The Day of the Lord.'

Elizabeth became part of the prophetic pattern of women who needed the Holy Spirit's help to have a child. Mary would be next. After that, we would be born of the Spirit.

Of these women it is said they could not have a child. Mary could not have a child because she had known no man.

The world had waited from the beginning, for the promise of the seed of the women (Ge 3), but women have no seed. They wait for the Holy Spirit.

The High priest prepared the incense to enter into the temple. The crowds were gathered more heavily than usual because of the anticipation. They fell to the ground and prayed at the time of incense.

Ps 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice.

As Zacharias approached the altar of incense, an angel appeared on the right side to say he had a spiritual or mystery message. As with all spiritual messages, they are wrapped in flesh.

"Elizabeth shall have a son, and you will call him John." That's the flesh.

Here is the mystery: Lu 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. Lu 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

"He shall go before him" Who? Walk the announcement back... God! He will go before God! God is coming! They missed it then as we do now.

Scoffers claim that the Bible never says Jesus is God. Even before his birth, he is declared to be God.

They expected a political ruler. They were presented with a promise of a miraculous birth. They focused on the child. They didn't walk the announcement back.

We have entered into the promise made to Abraham. God will bless us. We will be blessed. WE SHALL BE A BLESSING to all nations. In this case we fail to read it forward.

Like the Jews, we are happy that God will bless us. We are happy when God blesses us. But we often stop short of completing the announcement: We shall be a blessing to the nations.

Walk it back: God is coming. Walk it forward: SO that we will bless the nations.

When we are seeking for miracles, we are seeking for the child that precedes God. We miss the point. Miracles precede God. Seek God!

Mt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.