
He began with a monologue from Zechariah's perspective. I've included the monologue on a separate page. Click here to see it.
Following are the notes I took today. And following the notes I will put the Youtube link -- it does have a few pictures with it but you do not have to watch it. You can just listen to it (like a podcast).
the Notes:
The Jewish people had not had a prophet speak for 400 years!
Somehow through the years God's people had lost their way.
Though He didn't speak through prophets to His people He was not inacttive. At this time in history Alexander the Great brought Greek and libraries to the area. The Romans built roads throughout the Roman empire. All of this was used eventually to spread the gospel around the world!
God was actively working. God had prepared the way logistically so the gospel could be spread. We are tarting to prepare for Christmas. God prepared these things for the Good News.
Galatians 4:4-5 -- in God's time. 400 years of waiting. For Zechariah, it took striking him dumb to understand. He lived in a tiny town. Never had praise like the big city priests most likely received. He was not important in people's eyes. But then he was chosen to go into the holy of holies. To be chosen was a very special thing. People didn't see Zechariah as special but God did. People probably saw him as cursed (since his wife was barren). God saw him as blessed. Zechariah had his eyes opened through that year of silence. His whole world changed.
Zechariah was able to sit and watch what was going on. He had time to study God's propheicies. He understood what Elijah's return really meant. Most of us can't hear our own voice. We miss what God is doing in others. Be an active listener, an active observer.
Luke 1:1-3 It is different from the other gospels.
Luke 1:5 -- Don't think the silence was a punishment but a gift of silence.
Luke 1:57-66 -- The neighbors had all sorts of ideas for the baby!
Luke 1:67 -- Zechariah prophesies.