Do you see what I see?
A rabbit or a duck?
What seems impossible to work out at first,
but you'll get it eventually with some help.
How about this one?
Imagine a duck is eating a rabbit.
Can you see both of them now?
It works as an illusion, but in real life,
can someone be both righteous in God's eyes,
but unbelieving and not sure of themselves at the same time?
There are a couple in the Gospel of Luke,
which we just read out.
Zechariah, the husband, is a priest,
and his wife, Elizabeth.
And this couple is identified in verse 6 of chapter 1
as both of them were righteous in the sight of God,
observing all the Lord's commands and decrees painlessly.
But they were childless
because Elizabeth was unable to conceive,
and they were both very old.
Righteous in God's eyes
and blameless in obeying the law,
but childless.
The reason is because Elizabeth was unable to conceive,
and they were both very old.
The word but, at the beginning of verse 7,
highlight that this is out of expectation,
something somewhat unusual.
What would you normally expect
for someone who are considered to be righteous in God's eyes
and blameless in obedience?
Chinese greet each other in the new year by saying this.
James, can you help us?
So, sin is our heart,
xian is wishes,
si is things,
and chen is fulfilled.
So if you put that together,
we actually wish each other
whatever we wish for will come true.
We might expect the same for someone
who finds favor in God's sight.
They will get whatever they wish for,
but this couple did not have any child.
What do you think about them?
Are they really righteous and blameless?
If obeying God will get blessing,
they do not have the blessing of child.
Is there something wrong about their obedience?
Let's look at Zechariah.
His name,
his name after a prophet
that written the second last book of the Old Testament.
From what we have just read,
he is old,
and he was called to serve in the temple
by burning incense.
And then in verse 11,
then an 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.
He was startled and gripped with fear.
Fair enough to be startled.
I will be somewhat startled
if someone appeared in front of me suddenly.
But gripped with fear,
terrified.
What was the reason of that response?
One of the reasons for his fear
would have to do with his knowledge
attached to his own name and the angel.
His name means God remembers.
If I think that God remembers
both my good and bad deeds,
I would be fearful.
And in the Old Testament,
angels were often sent to execute God's judgment.
In Genesis 19,
God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah
by an angel.
In Exodus,
the angel of God brought Israel out of Egypt,
led them through the wild wilderness,
and drove out all the people in the promised land
for them to settle there.
Many examples of angels
carry out God's judgment
on individuals and ordinations
in the book of Zechariah
Zechariah
and also in the Old Testament.
His fear may have to do with
focusing too much on what someone would call
the scary side of God.
They see God as an unrelenting
punisher of wrong
and the all-powerful,
sovereign ruler
that does not care.
One that allows all the suffering and pain
without giving any explanation.
However,
the Bible also talks about
how God sent angels
to look after widows
and those in trouble
like Abraham's servant wife Hagar
in Genesis 16.
Or in Judges 13,
Samson's mom was barren
and visited by an angel
before she conceived him.
We pick and choose
the image of God
that most of the time
is not the complete picture
of what God really is
and we become fearful.
Evangelist and apologist
Ref. Zechariah says
people always tend to have an idea
that
malevolence is God's doing.
Benevolent is evolutionary wisdom,
which means
when we have a natural disaster,
tragedies,
or
a climate-like event,
those are the acts of God.
But if you have a bumper crops,
a beautiful day,
a close brush
with what should have been death
but wasn't,
a wonderful joy
and pleasure of life
are not given
such beneficent source.
Even though Zechariah is a priest,
he is fearful
because he did not see
God
as how God
see himself,
see him.
Like many of us,
he obeys God
out of fear,
out of routine
and tradition.
The fact that
they are childless
would also contribute
to their uncertainty
and fear.
When I marry
Vivian,
my wife,
we plan to enjoy
a couple of years
with our kids.
After that,
we try for a whole year
without any success.
So our GP suggested
that we should do
some tests
started with me.
And I remember
a very mixed feeling
of waiting
for that test result
about my health.
And in one sense,
I want a healthy report
so that I was not
the source of the problem.
But that would mean
that all the weight
of that problem
will fall on Vivian.
And if it's what's me,
it's a problem fixable.
What if it's not?
What other option
do we have
to have children?
Millions of questions
went through my mind.
Even though
they have concluded
that it was
Elizabeth's barrenness
and her old age,
Zechariah would also
have questioned
whether there's
something wrong
with him.
We were told
he observed
all the Lord's commands
and decrees
blamelessly.
But we weren't told
why.
Did he try
to fix his problem
or that uncertainty
about himself
by being ridiculous
in everything he does?
Did he do
everything blamelessly
hoping to win
the favor of God
in getting a child?
In Zechariah,
the book,
chapter 7,
verse 5,
the word of the Lord
Almighty
came to Zechariah
the prophet
to ask his people
when they were
performing
their religious duty,
was it really
for the Lord
that they are
doing them?
Are you not just
doing the duty
for yourself?
I used to approach
religion
with the same
kind of mindset,
treating it
like a tool
to better my life,
treating it
as a moral compass
to live a good life.
I still fall back
into traps
of being religious,
having an upright,
blameless life,
but fearful,
not 100% sure
whether I have
done enough.
Do you sometimes
feel the same way?
Not sure
whether you
or what you do
are acceptable
by God.
knowing his state
of mind,
the angel
said to Zechariah
back in Luke 1.13,
Do not be afraid,
Zechariah.
Your prayer
has been heard.
Your wife,
Elizabeth,
will bear you
a son
and you are
to call him
John.
He will be
a joy
and delight
to you
and many
will rejoice
because of
his birth.
The angel
goes on
for another
three verses
focusing on
what his son
will become
and the great
things he will
achieve
and what he
needs to do
his whole life.
The message
of the angel
is clearly
about his son
who will call
John and the
Lord that he
will serve.
But the way
Zechariah replied
so that deep
down he did
not believe
that God
can do the
impossible
of using him
in his old age
and giving him
a son
to bring back
many
of the people
of Israel
to the Lord
their God.
Zechariah
answered the angel
how can I
be sure of this?
I am old man
and my wife
is well alone
in years.
The angel
said to him
I am Gabriel
I stand
in the presence
of God
and have been
sent to speak
to you
and tell you
this good news
and now
you will be
silent
and not able
to speak
until the day
this happens
because you
did not believe
my words
which will
come true
in there
upon the time.
The angel
Gabriel
took offense
of Zechariah's
question
and the statement
about himself
and his wife.
What was wrong
with his reply?
How can I
be sure of this?
I am an old man
and my wife
is well
along in years.
When Gabriel
was clearly
focusing on
the great work
that God
is going
to do
through his
son
and the
Lord,
Zechariah
was focusing
on himself
and his
wife.
He is
beyond doubting
or questioning.
He had
decided that
God is not
going to give
him a son
or restore
Israel
in his
lifetime.
He asked
for proof
to counter
his unbelief.
Another
apologist,
Os Guinness,
pointed out
if people
are torn
between
options,
unable to
make up
their minds,
or if they
are up
in the air
over something
and unsure
which side
they should
come down
on,
or if they
are furiously
debating
with themselves
or hanging
back,
waiting up
their reservation.
There are
nothing if
not in two
minds.
This condition
of doubleness
is the
essence of
doubt.
But
Zacharias
seems very
resolute
with his
statement
about himself
and his
wife that
it is
impossible
for them
to have
a child
at their
conditions.
Zacharias'
unbelief comes
from looking
at his
ability and
condition
instead of
listening to
and believes
that word
of God.
He relies
on his
own understanding
about his
situation,
how he
sees himself
instead of
how God
sees him
and his
wife.
So when
the angels
are pleased
to say
that it's
going to
happen right
then,
then he
asks for
proof.
He asks
for proof,
a sign of
what is
going to
happen.
So God
gave him
a sign by
taking away
his ability
to speak
until the
day all
that God
has said
comes true.
He literally
becomes what
he asked
for.
He asked
for a sign
and God
made him
mute so he
has to keep
signing for
nine months.
God
listened to
what
Zachariah
asked of
him and
he
became part
of the
answer to
what he
asked.
People
often ask
or question
whether the
Bible is
the truth,
whether God's
way is a
way of life
we should
adopt and
embrace.
And Jesus
said in
John 8,
31,
32,
to those
who believe
him,
hold to
Jesus'
teaching,
not making
an excuse
even before
you even
tried.
Listen carefully
to what the
Bible tells
us about
God and
how our
relationship
with God
and with
others
mean to
be.
Live it
out in
your life
is a
way to
know the
truth and
understand how
God can
do the
impossible
in your
life.
Life has
changed for
both
Zachariah
and Elizabeth
after
Zachariah
encountered
God.
And new
life has
started in
and among
them,
growing in
Elizabeth's
tummy.
It's a
matter of
time before
the good
news of
God
will
fill.
We have
just seen
how the
husband
responds.
Let's
now look
at the
wife
Elizabeth.
After
this,
his wife
Elizabeth
becomes
pregnant
and for
five months
remains in
seclusion.
Why
Elizabeth
remains in
seclusion
for five
months?
It will
be because
she is
very cautious
and careful
about her
pregnancy.
A general
rule for
a Chinese
couple is
not to
tell anyone
about any
pregnancy
up to
three months
until the
new life
is fully
formed and
settled within
the mom.
But why
remains a
Christian
for five
months?
For
what she
said in
verse 25,
she seems
to feel
her new
situation
like
Zechariah.
The Lord
has done
this for
me.
She seems
to be
focusing
on herself
and her
own
condition.
Her
pregnancy
was great
news for
new life,
but too
good to be
true for
her old
age.
In
these days,
he has
shown his
favor.
She is
also
concerned
about how
people
see her.
She considers
herself as
a disgrace
and says,
God now
has taken
away my
disgrace
among the
people.
Having a
new life
is a great
thing,
but she
was too
worried to
be seen
as someone
who had
been touched
by God.
Every
encounter
with God
will result
in changes.
The changes
are done
by God.
like a
baby
growing
in a
woman's
tummy.
But it's
so easy
to be
caught up
and worry
about what
is happening
and forget
that you
are part
of God's
great plan
of the
salvation
to this
world.
Two
self-focused
persons,
one is
unbelieving,
another ashamed
of their
own condition,
seen by
God as
righteous and
blameless
in their
obedience,
because it
was what
God does
in and
through us
that make
us righteous
and blameless.
God is
never wrong
and he
never makes
mistakes.
That is a
truth we
should hold
on to,
even though
at times
we are like
Zechariah
and Elizabeth,
not sure
about ourselves
or God
sees us
differently
to how
we see
ourselves.
When it's
time for
Elizabeth to
have her
baby,
she gave
birth to
a son.
Her
neighbors
and relatives
heard that
the Lord
has shown
her great
mercy and
they shared
her joy.
On the
eighth day,
they came
to circumcise
his crowd
and they
were going
to name
him after
his father
Zechariah.
But his
mother spoke
up and said,
No,
he is to be
called John.
They said
to her,
There is no
one among
your relative
who has
that name.
She
overcome
her shame
and shared
her joy
with others
at the
birth.
But most
importantly,
eight days
after the
birth,
she repeated
what the
angel Gabriel
said,
He is to be
called John.
Means God
is gracious.
I can imagine
Zechariah not
able to speak,
still has
gotten through
to her
about the
significance
and the
meaning of
the birth
of their
son and
the importance
of trust
and obedience
towards the
message of
God.
She can only
rely on
Zechariah
signing God's
message to
her to be
encouraged and
God spoke to
her through
her muted
husband by
signs.
Then they
make 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 set
free and he
began to speak
and praise
God.
Zechariah had
nine months
to face how
he used to
live his life
and to become
ready to
receive a new
life.
God addressed
his unbelief,
his fear,
his self-reliance.
A self-centered
priest,
a husband of
a barren wife,
become father
of the one
who bring back
many of people
to God and
go on before
the Lord to
make people
ready for
him.
God's words
through the
angel did
come true at
that appointed
time.
Eight days
after a son
was born to
them,
Zechariah wrote
on the
tablet,
his name
is John.
He fulfilled
the proof
that he
asked for.
He became
the answer
to all his
questions about
whether God
can do the
impossible in
using him.
All the
answers to
our questions
about God
is often
found in
the question
and the
questioner.
His name
is John
means God
is gracious.
It is
declared three
times in this
passage,
God is
gracious to
Zechariah and
Elizabeth by
doing the
impossible to
give them a
son at their
old age.
God is
gracious to
this world
and his
people,
you and
me,
by coming
into this
world to
deal with
the curse
that humans
brought on
themselves.
Zechariah,
after following
God's instruction
to declare,
God is
gracious,
become a
prophet himself,
speaks of
God's great
works throughout
history to
raise up a
saviour for
us, to
enable us to
serve him
without fear
in holiness
and righteousness
before him.
Zechariah
means God
remembers.
We still
need Christmas
because it
tells us that
God remembers
us and
sees us
differently.
God
enables us
us to
serve him
without
fear.
God
remembers
his promise
to his
people that
is recorded
in the
Bible and
fulfilled in
the life of
Jesus.
Learning and
remembering
God's
word,
holding to
his teaching,
you will
know the
truth and
be able to
see what
God sees
in you and
understand how
God do the
impossible in
your life
through Jesus.
We still
need Christmas
to remind us
that we
treat God
like what
Zechariah
is with
did.
Unbelieving,
self-focused
and ashamed,
but God
never see us
in the same
way as how
we see
ourselves.
In Zechariah
2, verse 8,
it says that
the God,
our Father
in heaven,
sees us
as the
apple of
his eyes.
The apple
of his eyes
are very
dear and
close to
him.
God's
word about
how he
is going
to save
us and
this world
did come
true at
the appointed
time at
the first
Christmas and
continue to
do so.
Our
gracious God
did the
impossible by
turning disgrace
and shame
to joy.
Gracious God
did the
impossible,
changing
unbelieving
heart to a
heart full of
praise.
Towards the end
of chapter 1
of Luke,
joy and
praise is a
life that God
intends for us
to live,
not unbelieving
and ashamed
of ourselves.
So praise
be to the
Lord, the
God of
Israel,
because he
has come to
his people
and redeemed
them.
He has
raised up a
strong king
of salvation
for us in
the house of
his servant
David, as
he said
through his
holy prophets
of long
ago.