Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were righteous but childless. During his time as a priest, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and announced that Elizabeth would bear a son named John who would bring joy and prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. Zacharias doubted and was made mute until John's birth. Elizabeth gave birth to John and Zacharias' voice returned, praising God and prophesying about John's role in bringing salvation through the forgiveness of sins by making people aware of the coming Messiah who would bring light to those in darkness.

1. Luke 1:5-25; 57–79
1
Surprise Gift

2. Key Concept
The things which
are impossible with
men are possible
with God.
Luke 18:27b 2

3. Luke 1:5-25; 57–79
3
Surprise Gift

4. The proud parents to be
Zacharias- “remembered by
YHWH,” priest, old man
Elizabeth- “God fully
satisfies,” wife of Zacharias,
advanced in years
Childless couple
4

5. How God saw them
They were both
righteous in the
sight of God,
walking blamelessly
in all the
commandments
and requirements
of the Lord. 5

6. A special day
He was performing his priestly service before God
…he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the
Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude
of the people were in prayer outside at the hour
of the incense offering.
6

7. Something different happened
And an angel of the Lord
appeared to him,
standing to the right of
the altar of incense.
7

8. The angel Gabriel has a
message
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.
You will have joy and
gladness, and many will
rejoice at his birth. 8

9. Great News!
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.
9

10. His purpose
And he will turn many
of the sons of Israel
back to the Lord their
God. It is he who will
go as a forerunner
before Him in the
spirit and power
of Elijah,
10

11. His purpose (continued)
to turn the hearts of
the fathers back to the
children, and the
disobedient to the
attitude of the
righteous, to make
ready a people
prepared for the Lord.”11

12. A baby with a promising future
Prophet
Great message
People will respond
Prepares the way for
the Messiah
12

13. 13
Doubt
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.”

14. A stern rebuke
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. And behold,
you shall be silent and
unable to speak
14

15. A stern rebukeuntil the day when
these things take
place, because you
did not believe my
words, which will be
fulfilled in their
proper time.
15

16. A stern rebuke
Doubt
16

17. Meanwhile
The people were waiting for Zacharias and were
wondering at his delay in the temple. 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.
17

18. God keeps His promises
When the days of his priestly service were ended,
he went back home. After these days Elizabeth his
wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in
seclusion for five months,
18

19. A blessing
“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.”
19

20. God’s promise
fulfilled
Now the time had come for
Elizabeth to give birth, and
she gave birth to a son. Her
neighbors and her relatives
heard that the Lord had
displayed His great mercy
toward her; and they were
rejoicing with her.
Luke 1:57–66 20

21. According to the LawAnd it happened that on
the eighth day they came
to circumcise the child,
and they were going to
call him Zacharias, after
his father.
21

22. According to the Law
But his mother answered
and said, “No indeed;
but he shall be called
John.” And they said to
her, “There is no one
among your relatives
who is called by that
name. 22

23. Ask dad
And they made signs to his father, as to what he
wanted him called. And he asked for a tablet and
wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they
were all astonished.
23

24. Unexpectedly
And at once his mouth was
opened and his tongue
loosed, and he began to
speak in praise of God. Fear
came on all those living
around them; and all these
matters were being talked
about in all the hill country
of Judea.
24

25. Another Gift
And his father Zacharias was
filled with the Holy Spirit,
and prophesied
Luke 1:67–79 25

26. Speak a good word
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He
has visited us and accomplished
redemption for His people, And has raised
up a horn of salvation for us In the house
of David His servant—
26

27. YHWH Elohim
The covenant God
Is working redemption
Bringing about salvation
27

28. Physical deliverance
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets
from of old—Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And
FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; To show
mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His
holy covenant, The oath which He swore to
Abraham our father,
70-73 28

29. Not something new
Promise to Abraham
Prophesied by many
The Covenant
29

30. By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because
you have done this thing and have not withheld your
son, your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you, and
I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the
heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore;
and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.
In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be
blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
This promise
Genesis 22:16–18 30

31. A gift we can use
To grant us that we, being rescued from
the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him
without fear, In holiness and righteousness
before Him all our days.
74-75 31

32. Gift of redemption
Fear is caused by sin
Messiah removes sin,
fear and penalty
Freedom to serve
32

33. Blessing his son
And you, child, will be
called the prophet of the
Most High; For you will
go on BEFORE THE LORD TO
PREPARE HIS WAYS;
33

34. Eulogy
Speak a good word
Speak life
Speak blessing
34

35. Defines his mission
To give to His people the knowledge of
salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will
visit us,
77-79 35

36. Defines his mission (continued)
TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND
THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into
the way of peace.”
77-79 36

37. His mission
1. To bring about a spiritual sense
of need
2. To bring knowledge of salvation
3. Point toward Jesus, the Messiah
and the provision for God’s gifts
37

38. The coming giftsBut for you who fear My
name, the sun of
righteousness will rise
with healing in its wings;
and you will go forth and
skip about like calves
from the stall. Malachi 4:2
38

39. The coming gifts (continued)The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light; Those who
live in a dark land, The light will
shine on them.
Isaiah 9:2 39

40. The coming gifts (continued)
True instruction was in his mouth and
unrighteousness was not found on his
lips; he walked with Me in peace and
uprightness, and he turned many
back from iniquity.
Malachi 2:6 40

41. Luke 1:5-25; 57–79
41
Surprise Gift