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November 30, 2016 – Advent Text: Luke 1:5-25
Dear Friends in Christ,
In the first year of their marriage, with his wife sick with a fever, her husband insists, “I’m taking you to the hospital for a complete checkup.” In the 2nd year of marriage, when his wife gets sick again, her husband announces, “I’ve called the doctor and he’s coming over.” In the third year the husband says, “I’ll make you something to eat, do we have any soup?” And in the 4th year of their marriage, when his wife is sick again, her husband says, “After you’ve fed the kids and washed the dishes, you’d better hit the sack.”
Family life. It can be the best of times. It can be the worst of times. This Advent through Christmas morning we have a new sermon series called “Family Life.” There is much to learn from the families connected with Jesus’ birth. They faced infertility, rejection, frustration, loss, and so much more.
Luke 1:5 introduces us to two of these families. “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah.” Tonight we zero in on . . .
“TWO FAMILIES”
Herod’s family. This is the Herod responsible for the execution of all boys under age two in and around Bethlehem. Herod was a monster in the flesh. He was born into a politically connected family in 73 BC, and was destined for a life of political hardball. He married ten times and ordered the execution of two of his wives and three of his sons.
When Herod knew he was dying and that no one would mourn his death, he devised a final, brutal plan. He brought the top leaders from Jericho together for a meeting. Once they arrived, he had the fortress gates locked. Just before he died, he would have these leaders massacred. One way or another people would cry when Herod died. That is the tragic picture of Herod and his family.
“Thank God,” I can hear us all say. “I’m not like Herod. I never raise an angry hand against my child. I pay my taxes and slip some money in the offering box. Once at a nursing home I even played bingo with grandma.”
But if we are honest, there’s a part of us who would rather rule than serve, dominate rather than submit, and get ahead at the expense of our own family. We’ve left words unsaid in support of our spouse; we’ve not been faithful to the Lord’s words when making decisions about our children. The result. Though family can be the best of times, too often family is the worst of times.
Zechariah’s family. “But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.” (v. 7) In Luke 1:25 Elizabeth describes her barrenness as a “disgrace.” In those days not having children meant you had nothing. Zechariah and Elizabeth longed for a child. But now it’s too late. They are both too old – that fertile time in their life left the station. They were both well along in years. The pain of regret hits us most frequently when it comes to family.
Maybe you’re like Zechariah and Elizabeth, wanting children but not able to conceive. Or maybe you’re single, desperately wanting to be married, but it just hasn’t happened. Maybe you are married and it hasn’t turned into the fairy tale you envisioned. Like Zechariah and Elizabeth we can all feel disgrace and shame among the people. End of story? No way! God intervened. He gave Zechariah and Elizabeth gifts – the same gifts he gives to our families. What are they?
God’s promises never end. Israel’s three matriarchs Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel were all barren at one time. All eventually had children. Zechariah and Elizabeth must have believed if God could do it three times before – He can do it again.
Has family life left you frustrated and empty? Then hear this. If God was faithful to Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, he will be faithful to you. God loves you. His promises for you in Jesus Christ, never, ever end. You may have give up on you. But God will never give up on you. He replaces barrenness and brokenness with goodness and grace.
God’s presence never disappoints. “He (Zechariah) was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.” (v. 9) Luke 23:45 records another time that someone has access to the temple; “The curtain of the temple was torn in two.” In Luke 1, Zechariah has access to God’s presence. In Luke 23, because of Christ’s death, we all have access to God’s presence. And this presence never disappoints.
God’s presence is most evident in the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ. The body that suffered and was crucified – that true body is present for you. The blood that was shed, spilled, and splattered – that true blood is present for you. By the blood of Jesus you have access to the most holy presence of the most Holy God. And this real presence forgives all your family failures – every last one of them.
God’s plan never fails. God gave Zechariah and Elizabeth a child. And God’s promise is that this child, John the Baptist, “will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of their fathers to the children.” (v. 17) God’s plan is to turn our hearts toward home, to replace vengeance and bitterness with forgiveness and love. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of the children towards their parents.
Family life. It can be the best of times. It can be the worst of times. The next time it gets rough in your family, don’t fly off the handle like Herod – you could lose it all. Instead, trust in God’s promises, God’s presence, and God’s plan. They are real. They are alive. And they work. Don’t believe me? Then just ask Zechariah and Elizabeth.
Amen.