If you came in late, Pastor Nick and his family are in the panhandle. They'll return today sometime. But I'm going to continue on with our sermon series that we've been in. It's all about Jesus. And if you've been using the sermon companion that most of you have, you might have noticed that up until last week, our main scriptures were in the Old Testament.

And then we had supporting scriptures in the New Testament. And then starting last week, now our main scriptures are in the New Testament with supporting scripture from the Old Testament. And so like we've said so many times throughout the whole Bible, it's all about Jesus. Our scripture for last week and for day is in the first chapter of Luke's Gospel. And Luke told us in the first few verses of, of that why he was writing it.

He was writing, he addressed it to Theophilus and he said that he thought there should be a record of the things that have been said and taught and happened during the time of Jesus birth. There was a lot of false information out there and he wanted to make sure that there was a truthful record of those things that happened. In fact, he said in those first few verses that he didn't witness everything that he was recording for himself, but that he checked it out and he got his information from eyewitnesses. In other words, he didn't just Google his information, he fact checked it. He wanted to make sure that the truth was there and that people could know the things that really happened.

The book is addressed to Theophilus and he addressed it as most excellent Theophilus. So Theophilus must have been a person of prominence, maybe a Roman officer of some kind. But it's also possible that he was Luke's publisher and it was common practice at that time to dedicate your book to your publisher. So he might have been doing that when he addressed Theophilus. So that being said, it's no coincidence that the meaning of Theophilus is one who loves God.

So even though it was addressed to him, it can be addressed to us, those of us that love God and worship him. The Old Testament ends And then there's 400 years of silence. Nothing was heard from God, no prophecies, no word or anything like that. And there was a lot of writings during those 400 years. There was spiritual writings that weren't included in the Bible, but they were there.

There were writings from Roman secular writings, writings from philosophers and scientists and historians and mathematicians, and the Dead Sea Scrolls were actually written during that time.

And since Our story today and the story we heard last week, they overlap and they're intertwined a little bit. I want to read some scripture from last week, and then in a few minutes, we'll read from this week as well. So most of our scripture is going to be found in the first chapter of Luke, just like it was last week. So if you got your Bibles, your phones, there's a Pew Bible you're going to want to kind of stay open to. The first chapter of Luke.

So we're going to start reading this morning. Chapter one of Luke, verse 11.

Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him, do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you're to give him the name John.

Then skip down to verse 23. When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. The Lord has done this for me, she said. In these days, he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.

So that silence that we Talked about for 400 years ended with Zechariah being visited by the angel when he was in the temple burning the incense. I think it's no coincidence that Zechariah was in there, that he was chosen that time to go into the temple and to burn the incense. A priest was not guaranteed a chance to do that service, to be in the temple. There were so many priests at that time that they were actually divided up into groups. And twice a year, their particular group would have a chance of going into the temple and burning the incense.

And that chance was decided by lot. Their names were in a hat, and they pulled their name out. And so many priests never had the chance. Even though they would come and hope and pray that they would be honored by going into the temple and burning the incense, they didn't always get that opportunity. It's kind of like if you're selected for a jury duty and you go and you're there and you're in a big group of jury possible people, and maybe you're called and maybe you're not.

And it was that way with the priests. They would go in hopes, they prayed, and they dreamed of having their chance to do that service. And yet sometimes they never did. It was very likely. The.

The odds were one in a thousand that they would get Chosen. Zachariah was chosen. He burned the incense. He went in the temple and he burned the incense and he prayed. I know that when they went in there, they prayed for the people.

They took the prayers of the people into the temple. And I think that right at the top of Zachariah's list was two things. I think his main prayer was twofold. I think number one was that he and Elizabeth could have a son. I think they prayed that all the time.

And I think year after year it might have seemed less likely, but I think he still prayed for a son. And I think the other part of his prayer was that he was praying for the deliverance and the consolation of Israel. I think that when Gabriel talked to him, he meant that both his prayers were heard. Zechariah was told that he would have a son. Prayer number one.

And he was told that his son would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to get ready a people prepared for the Lord. Prayer number two. We're told in our scripture that Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were upright in the sight of God observing all the Lord's commandments and, and regulations blamelessly during that 400 years. Even though they didn't hear anything from God, there was still a lot of people that worshiped God, that obeyed his commandments and followed through with what they had always been taught. And Zechariah and Elizabeth, we're told, did all of that.

But we're also told that they were childless, that Elizabeth was barren, and that they were well along in years. In other words, they didn't have much hope of ever having children, let alone a son. At least humanly speaking, we can be sure that Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed for years that they could have children. Not only were they missing the joys and happiness of having a family, but, but it was considered disgraceful to not have children. And sometimes it was thought that if you didn't have children, it's because you had done something wrong and you were being punished for that.

That's why in verse 25, we read that Elizabeth said that he, God, had taken away her disgrace among the people. In fact, when the angel told Zachariah that he and his wife would have a son, he doubted him. And, and remember, there was a lot of false teachings and, and things going on during those 400 years. And, and we can sort of understand Zachariah's hesitation, why should I believe you now? And that resulted in him not being able to talk for the next nine or ten months.

Not until Gabriel's proclamation came true.

Gabriel told Zechariah that the baby should be given the name John, and that he, John, would be filled with the Holy Spirit even at birth, and that he would be instrumental in many people returning to worshiping God. Apparently, Zechariah still had some testosterone in him, because when he got home, we read that Elizabeth got pregnant. Now let's look at some more scripture still in chapter one at verse 26.

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you. Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

But the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary. You have found a favor with God. You'll be with child and give birth to a son, and you're to give him the name Jesus. He'll be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.

His kingdom will never end. How will this be, Mary asked the angel. Since I am a virgin, the angel answered, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age.

And she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God. I'm the Lord's servant, Mary answered. May it be to me as you have said. Then the angel left her.

So here we've got two stories. Two miraculous pregnancies. Humanly speaking, neither one was possible. Elizabeth was barren, and both she and Zechariah were old. They were well off in years.

But she became pregnant. And Mary had never had sexual relations with anyone, but she became pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Both pregnancies were miraculous. Humanly speaking, Elizabeth couldn't bear children, and she was old. And Mary was a virgin.

But apparently God had other plans. On a personal note, my parents were told that they would never have kids. Here I am. I've had an older brother. I got two younger sisters, four nieces, three children and one great granddaughter.

So God does do miracles. Both Elizabeth's and Mary's pregnancy were a part of God's Plan and God's timing. Women. Without answering me, let's say you're over 65 or so, and let's say you're still married and all of a sudden you've got an oops, baby. What are you thinking?

That was. That was Elizabeth. And when you were 14, what were you thinking? Maybe you were boy crazy, but you probably weren't thinking about getting married or raising a family. In verse 26, we read that Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy and her relative, probably a cousin, Mary, was visited by Gabriel.

Most likely, Mary was about 14 years old and she was engaged to Mary Joseph, who was probably around 30 at the time. Because we know that Joseph was old enough to have established his own business. He was a carpenter. And we know that he was young enough to have more children. But we also know that he died sometime before the crucifixion.

Gabriel told Mary that she'll become pregnant and would bear a son and was to give his name to Jesus. Naturally, Mary wondered, how could this happen? I mean, just try to put yourself in her place. How is this ever going to happen? Gabriel explained things to her and told her who Jesus would be and what he would do.

And Gabriel also told her about Elizabeth's pregnancy. And he concluded his visit by saying, nothing is impossible with God. Mary said to the angel, I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said. And then the angel left her.

I want to look at Scripture again. Still in our first chapter of Luke, verse 39.

At that time, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear. But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. Then drop down to verse 56. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

The way our scripture reads, I think as soon as Gabriel left Mary, she made quick preparations and left to go visit Elizabeth. Elizabeth was apparently not at her permanent home, but she was at the cabin in the hills. Maybe it was more comfortable for her there. Maybe the climate was a little bit better there. Or maybe, maybe Elizabeth secluded herself not because of customs or because of shame, but maybe she wanted to make sure that she got past the early period of pregnancy, those times when maybe you miscarry or something.

And she wanted to wait until she was past that high risk area before she let her pregnancy be wildly known. I think that Mary made that trip, which was about a hundred miles and took about a week to do. But I think she went right away as soon as she heard from Gabriel. She wanted to help Elizabeth in any way that she could. After all, Elizabeth was well on in years, and the last three months or so of a pregnancy can really be difficult.

Now, I'm definitely not a woman and I've never been pregnant, but I have lived with a pregnant woman. And I know that during the last three months or so, it's hard to do normal activities. Even younger mothers have difficulty. I remember the backaches and the shortness of breath and the lack of energy and the mood swings. We can imagine that even though Mary was visited by the angel, she still had some anxiousness.

Mary still, I'm sure, had questions in her mind. And maybe she thought that Elizabeth was the only person that she had confidence in and could go and share what's going on in her mind and in her body. It could also be part of God's providential plan that John would be sanctified in the womb by the presence of Jesus and Mary. Many of you have iPhones and smartphones and you're able to do what they call airdrop a message. You can take information of your phone, and if you're close by somebody else's phone, you can just airdrop that information.

And I thank the Holy Spirit that was in Jesus in Mary's womb was airdropped to John and to Elizabeth. And we're told from then on that Elizabeth had the Holy Spirit. I don't think that Elizabeth knew that Mary was coming and certainly didn't know of Mary's angelic visitation.

Mary arrived, knocked on the door, greeted Elizabeth, and the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. By the way, babies often kick, so I've been told. But I'm also been told that there's no room in there for leaping. And yet the baby leaped. I think that when a person receives the Holy Spirit, there should be leaping for joy.

We read that in a loud voice. Elizabeth exclaimed, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear. But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? And then we read that Mary stayed with her for about three months, but then that Mary left before John was born. Mary returned to her hometown, and now she was three months pregnant.

Let's create a little bit of a scenario. We're told that Mary went immediately to visit Elizabeth. She might have told Joseph that she was going, but I don't think she told Joseph that she was pregnant. Maybe she didn't even tell him she was going. We read that she went immediately, then she returns in three months, and all of a sudden Joseph's fiance is pregnant.

There's some details we don't have. But imagine Joseph's reaction upon seeing her when she returns. He knew she was pregnant, and he knew it wasn't his. I'm sure he had questions. She's been gone for three months and now she's pregnant.

What am I supposed to do during a Jewish betrothal or an engagement? Although there was no sexual relations, it was much more of a binding relationship than an engagement is today. In fact, it lasted about a year. And even if during that year, the man whom she was to marry died, she was still considered married, a widow, even though she was still a virgin. So we read that Joseph considered breaking the engagement, divorcing her.

That was the only way they could end an engagement was by divorce. You couldn't just say the engage, the wedding's off. I want to read now. Now we're going from Luke to Matthew. The first chapter of Matthew, verse one, Verse 18.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary, was pledged to be married to Joseph. But before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace. He had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She'll give birth to a son, and he're to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son. And they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us.

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son and he gave him the name Jesus.

One last thought in our Scenario here this morning, Joseph decided not to divorce her. He continued the engagement and they began a family. From then on, they lived together as a family, although they didn't consummate until after Jesus was born. But that's not the end of our two miraculous pregnancies. I want to look at the first miracle this morning.

Pastor Nicol will talk about the second miracle next week. Let's look at one more portion of Scripture. Back to our first chapter of Luke, chapter one, verse 57.

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy and they shared her joy. 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's to be called John. They said to her, there's no one among your relatives who has that name.

Then they made signs to his father to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet. And to everyone's astonishment, he wrote, his name is John. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed and he began to speak, praising God. The neighbors 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. Now skip down to verse 80. And the child grew and became strong in spirit.

And he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel. John the Baptist was born, the forerunner of the Savior of all mankind.

Take time this week to go back to chapter one of Luke and read Mary's song and Zechariah's song. We didn't take time to read those this morning, but go back and read those. Look back at some of the sermons we've had in our sermon series. Stories of how God has prepared for the Son, for the arrival of his Son, for the arrival of John the Forerunner, and then Jesus. God accomplishes his plan on his timetable and he works through people who are willing to be used of Him.

Have you been praying for years for something? God hears the prayers of his people. He heard the prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth. He hears our prayers. I know I have prayers that seemingly haven't been answered the way I thought they should be, but God is still in the miracle working business.

Do you make use of the devotionals that Pastor Nick sends out each day that that follow along with with what where we are in our sermon series if you don't get them and if you want to put your phone number on a connection card and just say that you want to be Add to the text messages Take some time to imagine the thrill of Zechariah and finally being chosen to represent the people in the temple and to burn the incense.

And then he was visited by the angel with the message from God, an answer to long, long prayers. But then Zechariah doubted the message and he was made speechless for his disbelief. Think about the years that he and Elizabeth prayed for a son and then the joy of the good news. Think about a 14 year old girl being told that she'll become pregnant but not through intercourse. Take time this week to allow the Holy Spirit to give you a new excitement for adventure, the advent of our Savior.

And take time to read the second chapter of Matthew, the first chapter of Mark and all of the first chapter of Luke.