Well, good morning. Great to see so many of you here this afternoon.
If you've got a Bible, and it will really help you if you have a Bible that you can sing.
And we're going to be reading a song by Zechariah.
Zechariah, John the Baptist's dad.
And you'll find it in Luke chapter 1 and verse 67.
Last week we heard about Mary singing a medley as she bursts forth, singing a song full of scripture.
She's been told that she is going to be the mother of Jesus, mother of the Messiah.
She goes to see her relative Elizabeth.
And Elizabeth gives her all these confirmations that God is really in this.
And she sings this amazing song about how she is blessed, how she will magnify the Lord.
And between that song and the song we're going to look at today, one thing has happened.
And that is that Elizabeth has given birth to a baby.
And there's a bit of a kerfuffle about what they should name him.
Everyone in the community says you should name him Zechariah after his dad.
But Elizabeth's very adamant, you must call him John.
And then Zechariah who can't speak because he's been struck dumb because of unbelief, writes on a tablet.
You shall name him John.
And we break into our story right there.
So let's read Luke chapter 1 verse 67.
His father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied.
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.
As he said through his holy prophets of long ago, salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
To show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant.
The oath he swore to our father Abraham.
To rescue us from the hand of our enemies and to enable us to serve him without fear.
In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him.
To give his people the knowledge of salvation.
Through the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of the tender mercy of our God.
By which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.
To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death.
To guide our feet into the path of peace.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit.
And he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
Let's pray.
Father God, we thank you for this amazing song.
We thank you that it shows us so much about the work and person and mission of your son, the Lord Jesus.
So, Father, as we look at it this morning together.
Father, would you show us great things?
Would you apply its truths to our hearts?
And would we leave rejoicing in God, our saviour?
Father, bless us in the name of your son, we pray.
Amen.
So, yesterday, last week Mary sung a medley.
This week, Zechariah sings a distracted lullaby.
Zechariah sings a distracted lullaby.
And hopefully I'll show you why.
I think that's a good title.
I want you to think of something you've had to wait a long time for.
Perhaps if you've got children and they've been talking about what they want for Christmas since about August.
And they think the anticipation, they're going to burst.
Perhaps you could think of when you were small and you wanted something for your birthday.
So you said, Mum, I want a new bike.
But it was March and your birthday wasn't until October.
And you had to wait and wait and then one day you opened it.
I don't think you opened bikes, they're a bit big.
Perhaps it was a proposal.
You were dating for a long time.
And you thought any day now.
I'm just assuming.
Not being a female, this was not my experience.
I was more the ditherer.
Waiting for a proposal.
You've been dating for a long time.
You thought any day now there's going to be a muddy knee.
And a little box.
And a question.
And it's going to be great.
But the weeks passed.
And the months passed.
And you thought, would this ever happen?
Or perhaps you were waiting for a clean bill of health.
There's a few really interesting looks going on.
Of wives looking at their husband and nodding.
Or a clean bill of health.
You know, you've been ill for seemingly forever.
Struggling, sore, pained, desperate.
And then one day you woke up and energy had returned and the medicine had worked.
The operation was a success.
How did you feel when the waiting was over?
Something you'd wanted for so long had now arrived.
Well, Zechariah is in that position.
Zechariah has been married for decades.
Zechariah wanted children.
But it turned out that Elizabeth was barren.
And just as hope was fading,
Zechariah went and did a stint in the temple.
And he waved an offering before the Lord.
And an angel appeared and said, Elizabeth is going to give birth to a son.
That's amazing.
Something that Zechariah had waited so long for was now on the horizon.
But because hope was so slim,
he said, I don't really believe you.
And the angel strikes him dumb.
And says, you will not be able to speak again until your wife gives birth.
And he's waited for nine months in silence.
Not able to speak.
And this day,
Elizabeth gives birth.
Just imagine how we feel.
So excited.
Finally, it's happened.
Everything God told me is true.
And I have a son.
And I can just imagine the scene in the hospital,
although I don't think it was a hospital.
That Zechariah is handed this newborn baby John.
And he's overcome.
And he's so excited.
And full of the Holy Spirit,
he sings a prophetic praise.
He sings a song where he's literally bursting
because all that he's hoped for has finally arrived.
He sings a lullaby to his new son.
But it is a distracted lullaby.
Because I don't know if you clocked as we read it.
He doesn't really sing about John the Baptist.
In fact,
John gets one verse,
verse 76.
Where Zechariah says,
and you,
my child,
finally,
after he's gone on for a bit,
like the fifth verse,
he says,
and you,
my child,
will be called a prophet of the most high.
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way.
Zechariah sings a distracted lullaby about his son,
John,
but seems to be focusing on someone else all the more.
And even when he gets around to mentioning John,
it's only really to say that you're a warm-up act.
You're really only part of Jesus' entourage to go before him.
You know that joke,
don't you,
that the Queen thinks that all of Britain smells like fresh paint.
Because everywhere she goes has been newly painted.
And,
yeah,
I guess it's the same.
That John was going to be that advanced party
to prepare people's hearts and minds
to see their God.
Just as John the Baptist,
this baby,
will bridge the gap between Old Testament prophecy
and the Old Testament prophets and the Lord Jesus.
So John the Baptist's song,
the song that Zechariah sings,
is going to bridge the gap between
all that God promised in the Old Testament
and all that is now available in the Lord Jesus.
Zechariah sings a distracted lullaby
about a greater son given by his glorious God.
See as well that Zechariah sings in the past tense,
everything Zechariah sings about
as though it's already happened.
Even though all the events he sings about
are still to happen
because Jesus is still three months away.
Still haven't had that first Christmas
in Bethlehem.
But because this is God's plan,
guaranteed by God's faithfulness,
he can sing with prophetic assurance.
Because it's God who's going to do it
and therefore it is
as guaranteed as though
it had already happened.
And as I was thinking about this week,
I think this is exactly the song
that John would have wanted his dad to sing.
The whole of John's life was about
pointing away from himself
to the Lord Jesus.
And therefore the first words
that come to his ears,
I'm sure he would have been so delighted
that his dad doesn't sing a lullaby
about him to him.
But he sings a lullaby to him
about the Lord Jesus who was to come.
Zechariah sings
a distracted lullaby
about a greater son
given by his glorious God.
So let's have a look
at what this baby,
this son,
this other son
is going to look at like.
Look at verse 69 with me.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David.
It's a pretty odd image, isn't it?
A horn of salvation.
This is Old Testament imagery.
Let's remember,
Zechariah is a priest.
He is a trained priest.
His job is to teach people
the Old Testament.
Therefore,
when he's describing Jesus,
he uses
a very
provocative
Old Testament image.
He says,
Jesus is going to be
a horn of salvation.
Time and time again,
God in the Old Testament
is described as
Israel's horn of salvation.
All through the Psalms
in 2 Samuel and Ezekiel
says,
God is the horn of salvation
for Israel.
And the horn image
is one of a mighty warrior.
It is like the top trump
of military personnel.
The image we're supposed
to think of
is a wild bull
with flared nostrils,
head down,
horns showing,
ready to go into battle
and decimate
all
of his enemies.
Zechariah says
he's also from
the line of David.
So put those two together.
What we have
is a warrior king.
We have a marauding Messiah,
a conquering
Christ.
We have someone
who's going to come
and fight
for his people.
Someone who's going
to come and fight
and win for us.
Is there anything better
than to know
that God is fighting
for you?
That God has fought
for you.
He's come
and he's engaged
in a battle
that would cost him
his life
in order that you
might be his forever.
That's the truth
of the gospel.
Our God fights for us.
Our God has won us.
And we are his
because of what he has done.
And in this quite
dense passage
and we'll go through it
very, very quickly
I promise.
We have five pictures
of all that Jesus
fulfills.
Of all that this
divine champion
will do for his people.
As Zechariah sings
this distracted lullaby.
And the first one
is this.
Jesus will bring
redemption
from slavery.
It's there in verse 68.
Praise be to the Lord
the God of Israel
because he has come
to his people
and redeemed them.
The first stanza
of Zechariah's
distracted lullaby
is about God
visiting his people
and God
redeeming his people.
And we're supposed
to read that
and think Exodus.
We're supposed
to think
of Exodus chapter 3
where Moses
is at the burning bush.
And God said to Moses
I have heard
my people's cries
and I have come
to visit them
that I might
rescue them
and redeem them
from Egypt.
God's people
at this time
are enslaved
in Egypt.
They are under
the foot
of a cruel Pharaoh
who is making
them slave away.
making bricks.
And God said
I have come down
to rescue them.
And Zechariah
is saying
this son
who is coming
is doing
exactly the same
thing in a new
and better Exodus.
He has come down
not just to rescue
his people
from slavery
in Egypt
but come to
rescue them
from slavery
to sin
and death
and the prince
of the power
of the air.
He has come
to rescue them
fully and finally.
And we know
that though
the Israelites
left Egypt
the first opportunity
they got
they turned away
from God
and worshipped
themselves
and golden idols
so although
they were free
geographically
spiritually
they were still
enslaved.
And Zechariah
sings
and says
this
Jesus
who is coming
this horn
of salvation
from the house
of David
is coming
to set people
free
fully and finally
in a new
and better
Exodus.
won't Jesus
grow up
and say
if the son
sets you
free
you shall
be free
indeed.
Graham's
going to go
into this
much more
this evening
as he talks
about free
in Christ
being freed
to love
Christ
and worship
Christ
and turn
from sin.
but no
there's only
two
Facebook
statuses
when it
comes to
redemption
slave
to sin
or free
in Christ
there's no
halfway
house
there's no
middle ground
we're either
in Christ
Jesus
or we're
slaves
to sin
and Zechariah
sings and
says the only
freedom available
is in Jesus
Christ
the first
picture is
is that
Jesus is the
one who brings
redemption
from slavery
the second
thing we see
is that
Jesus is the
fulfillment of
promise
look at
verse 70
as he said
through his
holy prophets
of long ago
verse 72
to show mercy
to our ancestors
and to remember
his holy covenant
the oath he swore
to our father
Abraham
Zechariah sings
that God is
faithful
he's saying
none of this
that is happening
is God playing
jazz in
redemption history
he's not making
it up
this is not
a new thing
that God
is doing
this is
something that
God has
always said
that he
would do
he knows
that the
covenants
initiated by
God
when we get
to the
Old Testament
have only been
partially and
temporarily
realized
and only for
sporadic
periods
and he knows
that God
completes
everything
that he
starts
he knows
that God
is good
for his
promise
and therefore
he sees
all of these
promises
tied up
in the birth
of this
son given
by a greater
saviour
he knows
that the
Old Testament
has only been
shadows
and pictures
and incomplete
promises
and he knows
that God
is good
and will do
all that he's
promised to do
and that is
why Zechariah
sings of this
greater son
that's why
he sings
of the
promise
to Abraham
the promise
to Abraham
is that
you will be
the father
of a great
nation
you will have
a land
I will be
your God
and you
will be
my people
and that
all nations
of the world
will be
blessed
through you
and Zechariah
knows that's
not really
been fully
fulfilled
it's been
partial at
best
and temporal
at most
yes they've
been in
Israel
for 120
years
there was
just
kind of a
golden age
particularly
in David's
reign
but he knows
they were
exiled
he knows
that even
now
Israel
is conquered
by the
Roman Empire
and so
Zechariah
proclaims
that that
promise to
Abraham
will be
fully
fulfilled
in Jesus
that it
is in
Jesus
that God's
people will
finally and
fully be
his
blessed
it's in
the better
and eternal
promised land
of the new
heavens
and the new
earth ushered
in by this
Jesus
it's only
when Jesus
has come
that God's
people will
finally be
his people
with an
undivided
heart
and he
knows
that it's
only in
Jesus
the descendant
of Abraham
that all
the nations
of the earth
will be
blessed
you see
Jesus
wasn't
plan
B
God
didn't
have a
stab at
it in
the old
testament
and when
it didn't
work he
kind of
drew a
line
got his
tit picks
out and
said right
I'll send
my son
God
from the
very beginning
said all
of creation
has always
and only
been about
Jesus
I gave
you this
stuff in
the old
testament
so you
know who
Jesus
was and
what he's
come to
do when
we got
to the
new
testament
the whole
old
testament
is
God
getting
us
ready
to see
exactly
who his
son
is
and
exactly
what
he
would
do
Zechariah
sings a
distracted
lullaby
about a
greater
son
because it
is in
God's
gift
of his
son
that the
bible
finally
makes
sense
it's only
in Jesus
that the
square of
the old
testament
is finally
circled
and that
we say
yes
God
you are
faithful
to your
promises
because you've
sent your
son to
make them
all real
and applicable
to us
thirdly
Zechariah
says
there's
deliverance
from
danger
verse 71
salvation
from our
enemies
and from
the hand
of all
those
who
hate
us
verse 74
to rescue
us from
the hand
of our
enemies
and to
enable us
to serve
him
without
fear
the old
testament
God
does some
incredible
things to
deliver his
people
he ambushes
people
God
fights for
his people
we've just
been going
through
Joshua
and we've
seen how
he does
that
we saw
the judges
that time
and time
again God
raises up
someone
and that he
fights and
delivers his
people from
danger
Zechariah
knows that
old testament
history has
been about
God delivering
his people
from danger
he knows
that his
God is the
God who
fights for
us
protects us
and defends
us and
ensures that
no bad
will come
to us
but he knows
that that
deliverance has
not been
full
he knows
that again
an enemy
came
a difficulty
came
a nation
came
he knows
even now
that the
Romans
have occupied
Israel
and yet he
sees that in
Jesus there's
final and full
deliverance
Zechariah
sees forward
that this life
might be painful
and enemies
might seem to
be winning
that in this
life there may
be casualties
but he says
but know this
that in Jesus
there is real
eternal
deliverance
and the
wounds
that have been
inflicted in
this life
will be but
fleeting memories
and the scars
that we've
suffered
will shine
like the stars
in the glory
of Jesus
Christ
Zechariah
says that
do you want
to be delivered
from all your
enemies
will trust
Jesus
because he's
the one
who does it
do you see
as well
that he just
doesn't deliver
us so we
can sit in
the hammock
smoke a cigar
with our
slippers on
verse 74
rescued from
our enemies
to enable us
to serve him
without fear
he's rescued
us and
delivered us
so we can
be that
kingdom of
priests
that God
has been
looking for
since the
creation
of the
world
we are
now in
Jesus
able to
be
holy
righteous
servants
in his
kingdom
know that
God didn't
save you
to give
you an
easy life
he didn't
save you
for your
own
self
advancement
he saved
you to
be his
holy
his
to serve
him all
of your
days
with all
that you
are
Zechariah
sings a
distracted
lullaby
because the
deliverance
brought by
this other
son will
elevate God's
people to
be a royal
priesthood
to Jesus
Christ
forgiveness
from debt
he says in
verse 77
that he's
come to give
his people
knowledge of
salvation
through the
forgiveness
of sins
John the
Baptist will
tell people
about a
greater sacrifice
how does
John first
introduce
Jesus
behold the
lamb of
God who
takes away
the sins
of the
world
Zechariah
has been
a priest
he's killed
a lot of
animals in
his life
year in
year out
people bring
him animals
and he
kills them
and he
throws blood
everywhere
it just
seems to
go round
and round
and yet
Zechariah
says finally
finally
a son
will come
finally
there will
be a
great
high priest
who himself
will get
onto the
altar
and be a
once time
sacrifice for
all that
sins will be
forgiven
that the
debt that
we have
accrued by
consistently
falling short
of God
will finally
be wiped
clean as
it's paid
for by
another
in the
Lord Jesus
we have
categorically
failed
we are
absolutely
bankrupt
because of
our sin
and Zechariah
says
now in
Jesus
there's
forgiveness
now in
this one
who is to
come into
the world
there is
hope
and
reconciliation
as debt
has been
paid in
full
we are up
sin creek
without a
paddle and
the waterfall
of death
is lurking
downstream
and we
are careering
towards it
and the
only hope
we have
is this
son
whom
Zechariah
sings about
the birth
of this
greater son
means that
our cosmic
treason
performed
against a
holy God
can be
wiped
clean
by the
mercy
of a
benevolent
and gracious
God
who would
give his
son
for us
now
Zechariah
sings at
the top
of his
lungs
his
distracted
lullaby
saying that
in Jesus
there is
forgiveness
to all
who will
come
and turn
from that
sin
and to
Christ
and then
lastly
we have
the dawning
of a
new day
these last
two verses
are incredible
because of
the tender
mercy of
our God
by which
the rising
sun
will come
to us
from heaven
to shine
on those
living in
darkness
and in
the shadow
of death
to guide
our feet
into the
path of
peace
finally
Zechariah
brings home
his distracted
lullaby by
singing of a
new dawn
he sings
of a
heaven filled
sunrise that
will never
set
as the
sun of
righteousness
rises to
shine life
giving light
to all who
walk in
darkness
he says
it's Jesus
for whom
Isaiah 9
is fulfilled
saying
Psalm 23
even though
you walk
through the
valley of
the shadow
of death
I'm there
and he's
saying that
is Jesus
he's pulling
all these
old testament
images of
darkness
and saying
that in
Jesus
the new
sun has
risen
and it's
totally
obliterated
though
Zechariah
knows that
the coming
of Emmanuel
is the
dawning
of hope
the birth
of Jesus
is the
heralding
of eternal
hope
to mortal
humanity
and I love
this phrase
to guide
our feet
into the
path of
peace
you get to
Isaiah 59
one of the
lesser known
songs in
Isaiah
and Isaiah
spends the
first 15
verses just
categorically
listing
all the
ways that
humanity
has fallen
short
he says
things
like their
hands have
been defiled
with blood
their fingers
with iniquity
their lips
are overflowing
with lies
their tongues
muttered
wickedness
justice
honesty
are absent
from them
Isaiah
writes
their feet
run to
evil
and they
are swift
to shed
innocent
blood
their thoughts
are thoughts
of iniquity
desolation
and destruction
of their
highways
the last
thing he
says in
Isaiah
59
the way
of peace
they do
not know
and there
is no
justice
in their
path
they have
made their
roads crooked
no one
who treads
on them
knows peace
Isaiah
writes
they don't
know the
way of
peace
best thing
about
Isaiah
59
is that
from verse
16 to
the end
of the
chapter
it's like
God says
I'm coming
down to
do something
about that
it's like
he's getting
suited up
to do
something
himself
he talks
about putting
on a
breastplate
and a
helmet
he talks
about coming
as a
warrior king
to fight
for his
people
and he
says if
they don't
know the
way of
peace
I'm going
to come
down and
show them
I'm going
to come
down and
give them
the ability
to walk
in my
ways
finishes by
saying that
a redeemer
will come
to Zion
to those
in Jacob
who turn
from
transgression
it's an
incredible
verse
and Zechariah
says I'm
going to
piece all
this together
in Jesus
a sun
will rise
in Jesus
death
will be
banished
in Jesus
those who
don't know
God and
sit in
darkness
will finally
know God
for themselves
and they
will finally
be able to
walk in
my ways
as in
my son
my spirit
is poured
out
Zechariah
sings a
distracted
lullaby
as his gaze
is filled
with Messiah
as his
mind is
flooded
with Jesus
the warrior
king
who comes
to fight
for his
people
and usher
in God's
perfect
inaugurated
kingdom
of promise
Zechariah
is in
essence
just singing
the words
that the
apostle Paul
would pen
to the
Corinthians
in 2
Corinthians
chapter 1
he says
for no
matter how
many promises
God has
made
they are
yes
in Christ
and so
through him
the amen
is spoken
by us
to the
glory of
God
Paul is
saying that
the whole
Old Testament
is about
Jesus
Zechariah
is saying
the whole
Old Testament
is about
Jesus
Zechariah
sings of
Jesus
our redeemer
our promised
Messiah
our deliverer
our forgiveness
and the
eternal sunrise
of our new
day
Jesus
our everything
the one
who like
Zechariah
is to be
the distraction
of all
of our lives
let me pray
Father God
thank you
for this
great song
Father
thank you
for this
great song
that focuses
our minds
on Jesus
Father
thank you
for this
great song
that centres
all of the
Old Testament
on Jesus
Father
thank you
that this
song
shows off
Jesus
in all
of his
glory
the one
who completed
redemption
the one
who forgives
us of
sins
the one
that you
promised
of long
ago
and now
at Christmas
we celebrate
that he's
finally come
and Father
I thank you
that because
of him
we can live
in the dawn
of new
day of
Messiah
a day
where death
has lost
its sting
a day
where sin
no longer
rules
and a day
where Christ
can truly
be our
all
in all
so Father
bless these
things to
us
Father
distract
our minds
this Christmas
with things
of your
son
and that
we might
cling to
him
and love
him
and serve
him in
righteousness
and holiness
the very
thing that
he's freed
us to do
Father
thank you
for Jesus
and may
we love
him more
and serve
him most
amen
I
will
Bob
take
him
do
anything
never
he
I
will
take
him
to
see
him
a
them
in
quez
he
eu