The soul has one outstanding advantage over the body: in the spiritual realm, the sunshine is always available. The Son indeed has come! There is both a physical winter-time and a spiritual winter-time. Sometimes God seems far away, prayer is difficult, and the Bible seems silent. But those who seek the sunshine will never fail to find it. John’s birth announced the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World, who would overcome the darkness. All who turn to Him walk in His light (Malachi 4:2).

KEY VERSES

LUKE 1:5-25 (NASB)

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of]Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

LUKE 1:67-80 (NASB)

Zacharias’s Prophecy

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 Salvation from our enemies,
And from the hand of all who hate us;
72 To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

COLOSSIANS 3:15 (NASB)

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

UNDERSTANDING

• Are you an organized planner or someone who flies by the seat of his/her pants?

• What’s one unexpected way God has worked in your life?

• Has there ever been a time in your life when you didn’t sense God working at all? How did you respond?

• Why might God stay silent for a time? Why might He choose to work in a way that surprises us?

• What characteristics of Zacharias and Elizabeth made them good candidates for a special assignment from God?

• Why do you think God waited so long to answer their prayers?

• What do you do when your prayers go unanswered? How is your relationship with God affected?

• Why was it important that John the Baptist’s parents know the work John would do?

• Either as a parent or a mentor to someone younger, how do you guide others to live out God’s call on their lives? Is it difficult or easy for you to discuss spiritual truths with your kids? Why?

• Why do you think the angel struck Zacharias silent? Wouldn’t it have been better for him to be able to speak about what happened, even if he was uncertain?

• Why did Zacharias doubt the angel’s word that he would have a son (v. 18)? What difference did he think a sign would make?

• How can you relate to Zacharias’ reaction? During what situations have you asked God for a sign or wished he would send one your way?

• How often does doubt or uncertainty keep you from telling others about Jesus?

• What do you find significant about Zacharias’ first words after his period of silence?

• What did Zacharias’ hymn foretell about Jesus? About what He would do and accomplish?

• Of the promises listed in this hymn, which one means the most to you? Explain.

• What emotions surface within you when you read verses 78-79?

  APPLICATION

• 
  Which of these three points of application stand out to you the most personally right now? Why?

• In what disappointment or unexpected circumstance in your life do you long to find the sunshine? How can the church pray for you?

• What can you do this week to be better prepared spiritually to hear from God or even not hear from God?

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GIVING

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