Elisabeth

Today we come to Elisabeth, wife of Zacharias. We have seen Joseph, the wise men, Herod, the chief priests & scribes, and Zacharias. Like a diamond, reflecting the light from its many sides, they serve as excellent illustrations of the different aspects of faith. Elisabeth is a portrait of a wonderful and beautiful faith.

I noticed something in these portraits of faith that I think is very interesting – Joseph saw an angel; Zacharias saw an angel; Mary saw an angel; Elisabeth did not. She is the only one of the inner circle who had no divine visitation. Let’s get to her story, which all takes place in Luke 1.

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
Elisabeth was the daughter of a priest. She appears to have been named after Aaron’s wife, Elisheba (Num 6:23; which in Greek is Elisabet, and in English, Elisabeth). She was righteous, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no children, which she herself calls a reproach (v 25).*

And they had no child - And to make it worse, they were now well stricken in years. So old that the hope of having children had died. If they were unable to have children when they were young and in the prime of life, it was an impossibility now. When I looked at Zacharias I suggested that the failure to have children, the unanswered prayer, had resulted in discouragement. The question, as we consider Elisabeth, is, did she share his despondency?

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
Elisabeth was not with Zacharias in the temple when the angel appeared to him. But surely he told her about it when he got home (wrote it down). I believe the evidence demonstrates that he told her about the angel and the promise of a son. After all, when the baby was born, she wanted to name him John (see v 60).

24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
But did she have faith? It doesn’t say, but I am absolutely convinced that when Zacharias explained what had happened to him in the temple and the promise of the angel, her heart was filled with faith. By faith she took steps to get pregnant and praised the Lord when she conceived. And God’s commentary on this as told to Mary, And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
I asked, Did Elisabeth have faith? The answer is supplied abundantly here – YES!
What a wonderful and amazing passage! The babe in her womb leaped at hearing the voice of Mary and Elisabeth herself was filled with the Holy Ghost.
She spake out with a loud voice – it seems that prophecy was uttered in a loud voice.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb – as excited and thrilled as Elisabeth was to be pregnant in her old age, she knew Mary was blessed among women because of the baby she carried.
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? – has she faith? Yes! She knew that the babe in Mary’s womb was the Lord Christ.
And blessed is she that believed – she blesses Mary for believing, but she also believed. Mary believed that she, a virgin, would have a son; Elisabeth believed that God would give her, an old woman past childbearing years, a son. The power of God is on full display here and these women are walking in faith!

56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house - Mary seems to have remained with her until just before the delivery.

57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
What she said of Mary can be said of her, Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John.
These neighbors and cousins seem rather pushy to me, trying to name her baby and arguing with her about her chosen name! But Elisabeth was full of faith and stood her ground, Not so; but he shall be called John.

Elisabeth was a woman who believed God. She was ready to believe. I don’t mean she was gullible and would believe just anything, but that she was a woman who walked with God and was quick to believe Him.

When the weather gets cold enough, slowly the top of a creek freezes, but there is still running water under the ice, just waiting for an opportunity to bubble up and freely run. That was Elisabeth. She had faith in God, and even if she had grown discouraged, as soon as the Word came her faith bubbled up once again. She believed the most amazing things without the assistance of an angel, or dream, or star! All she had was Zacharias’ report of his angelic visitor and the promises spoken to him. She laid hold of them and pressed on! She had faith to receive grace to conceive, faith to recognize Christ, and faith to rejoice in God's grace. She had a quiet but sturdy and steady faith. This is a testimony to pay attention to and emulate!


Ah, Lord God, Thou has made the heavens
And the earth by thy great power
Ah, Lord God, Thou has made the heavens
And the earth by Thine out-stretched arm

Nothing is too difficult for Thee
Nothing is too difficult for Thee
Great and mighty God (clap clap)
Great in counsel and mighty in deed
Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing
Nothing is too difficult for Thee
(Kay Chance, 1976)

NEXT: The Blessed Virgin Mary

* “For the ancient Israelites, fulfilling the first commandment given by God in the Bible - “Be fruitful and multiply” - was thus a need urgently felt.” (“Women in Ancient Israel and the Hebrew Bible”, article by Susan Ackerman). Consequently, marriage was the norm and childbearing was the expectation and hope of every married couple.

The Prophecy of Zacharias

 

Luke 1:57-80 Birth of John and the Prophecy of Zacharias

57  Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 

58  And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59  And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60  And his mother answered and said, Not [so]; but he shall be called John.

61  And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62  And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

63  And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

64  And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spoke, and praised God.

65  And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

66  And all they that heard [them] laid [them] up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

67  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69  And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70  As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71  salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;¹

72  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73  The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,

74  That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75  In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76  And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 

77  To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78  Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and [in] the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

This is beautiful! Read it, let it wash over you. Just a few notes, as few as possible.

A word about the form. There are two parts, actually two sentences: 68-75, 76-79

+ The first part, 68-75, speaks of the salvation of God which is coming through the Messiah or Christ.

+ The second part, 76-79, answers the question, What manner of child shall this be?

Reading this prophecy is like reading the Old Testament, and that would be because they are still in Old Testament times.

He doesn’t mention Jesus or Christ, but everything about this has the aroma of Christ:

Visited and redeemed his people – Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us

A horn of salvation – horn speaks of strength, He is the mighty Savior

In the house of his servant David – Jesus is the son of David

The oath which he swore to our father Abraham – Jesus is God keeping his promise

Dayspring – the Greek word translated dayspring is the word for The Branch in the Greek Old Testament, which is a reference to Messiah

How beautiful is the description of the salvation of God! that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

 

NEXT: Elisabeth

 

¹ Verse 71 in the KJV reads, “That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us” I used the literal translation. I like it better.

Zacharias

This is the 5^th in my series Portraits of Faith, in which I examine the faith of the people surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. I’ve already looked at Joseph, the wise men, Herod, and the chief priests and scribes. The last two, Herod and the priests, were sobering, they had a faith I want to avoid - because of their malformed faith they missed out on the grace found in Christ. Today we see Zacharias, a backslider restored. He is probably my favorite because I can so easily relate to him.

Zacharias – Discouragement to Delight

Here is an interesting little tidbit to begin with - more space is devoted to Zacharias than any one else in the first two chapters in both Matthew and Luke. All of this is from Luke 1.

1:5-7 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Zacharias and Elisabeth are introduced:- he was a priest and she was the daughter of a priest; they were righteous, which is explained as walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, or as Tyndale translated it, no man could find fault with them.

Sadly, they had no child, which was a keenly felt source of reproach among the Jews. And to make it worse, they were now well stricken in years (I like how Wycliffe translated it, and both had gone far in their days). They were old. How old? So old that the hope of having children had died. If they were unable to have children when they were young and in the prime of life, it was an impossibility now.

1:8-10 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

“We are informed in the Talmud, that it was the custom of the priests to divide the different functions of the sacerdotal office among themselves by lot: and, in this case, the decision of the lot was, that Zacharias should at that time burn the incense before the Lord, in the holy place...Incense was burnt twice a day in the temple, in the morning and in the evening. The incense was itself an emblem of the prayers and praises of the people of God. While, therefore, the priest is performing the rite, the people are employed in the thing signified. Happy the people who attend to the spirit as well as the letter of every divine institution!” (Adam Clarke)

1:11-12 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

I have learned that supernatural experiences in the temple were not uncommon, nevertheless seeing an angel always resulted in fear.

1:13-17 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Zacharias is afraid but the angel comes with great news! Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. This is wonderful! and amazing! and awesome!

And it gets even better: He, your son, the answer to your prayer, will be the forerunner of Messiah! Yes, the time is fulfilled, Christ is about to appear, and your son will prepare the people for him. Exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.

1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

What??? This is great news and Zacharias is stumbling over it.

1:19-20 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

Here’s the problem – Zacharias didn’t believe Gabriel. As a result he was unable to speak until the boy was born. Why didn’t Zacharias believe this announcement? We are not told, but I’m persuaded it was discouragement. They had prayed with faith and expectation for years, and nothing had happened. That’s discouraging. Now, "I am old, and my wife hath gone far in her days. This can’t happen, it is a physical impossibility." How sad - discouragement has robbed this righteous man of faith in the power of God. This still happens. Discouragement keeps us from believing God, and we slowly stop expecting God to answer our prayer, maybe even praying about it at all.

Now to be sure the angel is asking Zacharias to believe a lot – “Hey, old man, your old lady is gonna have a baby.” But in the angelic worldview, God said it and that settles it, so he doesn’t take kindly to this unbelief, as a result Zacharias will be unable to speak.

And now for “the rest of the story.” Yeah, it doesn’t end here. I believe Zacharias, when he was smitten by the angel, repented of his unbelief and believed the word and promise of the Lord. I think we have three proofs of this repentance in the rest of the chapter.

1:21-24 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months...

He finished his week of ministry, went home, told Elisabeth what happened (obviously, wrote it down), and then in faith, well, they were married! And Elisabeth conceived! Oh his faith is soaring now! That’s First.

Second
1:57-63 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

Elisabeth not only conceives, she goes full term and delivers a baby, a boy, just as the angel announced. When it is time to give this boy a name, Zacharias goes with John. He was indeed a righteous man, and when he stumbled, he repented, believed, and obeyed.

and Third
1:64,67 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God... And was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

He prophesied. Yes, his mouth was opened and he prophesied, which can only be done by faith. (His prophecy, 68-80, is one of the most powerful sections in the whole New Testament.)

Zacharias walked in obedience and righteousness, but became discouraged and lost faith; but to his credit, once rebuked, he repented and believed again, and in that faith knew his wife, had a baby, named him John, and prophesied of the salvation of God. Oh the grace of God!

What does Zacharias teach me about faith? Pray. Pray. Pray again; believing the Lord to answer my prayer. And if discouragement creeps in and faith and prayer falter, repent and believe the Lord again, and pray until God answers my prayer!


When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
(John H. Sammis, 1887)

NEXT: The Prophecy of Zacharias Luke 1:68-80

The chief priests and scribes

Portraits of Faith is a look at the faith of the people surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. I have already considered Joseph - faith to obey, the wise men - faith to worship, and Herod - faith without repentance. If you missed any of these you can always go back and read them. Today we see the chief priests and scribes.

Matthew 2:3-6
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel

This is all that is said about the chief priests and scribes at the time of Christ’s birth. I don’t see anything about faith. And that’s the point.

We know they heard the story of the wise men – Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. This could hardly not include them. They heard the wise men were looking for the king of Israel and that his birth had been announced by a star. When Herod asked them where Christ was to be born, they were ready with the answer, Bethlehem. And it was the right answer - they knew the Scriptures and the hope of Israel.

So, they heard the report of Christ being born. They told Herod where to look. And that’s the last we read of them. The wise men go on to Bethlehem to worship Christ. Herod seeks to have Christ murdered. They. Do. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. They just go on like nothing has happened. What?!? What is this? Unbelief. Well, for my purpose today it is faith without works. And as James said: faith without works is dead, being alone.

Now wait a minute. They were the chief priests, as such they were very involved in the worship of the temple. That’s works. They were scribes, active in the study and copying of Scripture. That’s also works. How can I then accuse them of having faith without works? In Hebrews 6:1 Paul mentioned repentance from dead works. These are real works or activities, but they are useless, lifeless; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Jesus said to the Jews, including the scribes, Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:39-40) Their faith was lifeless. This is why I say they had faith without works – They could give the right answers, but did not act on the right answers.

The knew the Scriptures and the hope of the Coming One, but it made no difference in their lives. The wise men arrive and share a supernatural testimony that Christ has been born - they do not believe it. Herod asks them where Christ is to be born - they’re the experts in all things Jewish, they provide the correct answer, but then they go back home. The wise men are moved to worship Christ; Herod to kill the Child; they do nothing. How sad is this? How this must have grieved the heart of the Father – His own people can tell where Christ was to be born, but the report of his birth moves them not an inch. Oh how unbelief hardens the heart!

Take heed, Jeff, lest you think this could not be you. “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:12)

Do they tell us anything about Christ? Yes!

[Herod] demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

First, it is written by the prophet. This reemphasizes the importance of the Old Testament and the vital role it plays in the Gospel itself.

Second, And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea. The prophecy was incredibly specific!

Third, out of thee shall come a Governor. The wise men, Herod, and now the priests speak of Christ as king. I’m not the sharpest kid in class, but even I catch this. We almost exclusively talk about Christ as Savior, they’re all talking about Him as king. Must be something to this! This is how the opponents of Paul described his preaching, these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. (Acts 17:7) Maybe we need to give our current preaching a tune-up?


6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel

They are quoting Micah 5:2†

Micah 5:2 (LXX) And thou, Bethleem, house of Ephratha, art few in number to be reckoned among the thousands of Juda; yet out of thee shall one come forth to me, to be a ruler of Israel; and his goings forth were from the beginning, even from eternity.

But notice how they only quoted the first part of the verse. In their defense it may be because they had so little regard for Herod they didn’t want to cast their pearls before swine. But the rest of the verse tells us who this Ruler/Governor/King is:

and his goings forth were from the beginning, even from eternity.

This is amazing! His goings forth were from eternity! This is the Son of God, “begotten of his Father before all worlds” (Nicene Creed). He has been going forth from the beginning: to create all things, to speak to Israel (He is the Word of the LORD), to deliver and save His people Israel, and now to be born of the Virgin. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18)

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Not a bad testimony from folks who had a dead faith!

King of kings and Lord of lords
Glory (Clap) Hallelujah (2x)

Jesus, Prince of peace
Glory (Clap) Hallelujah (2x)
(Sophie Conty, Naomi Batya, 1980)


NEXT: Zacharias

†  The LXX or Septuagint is a translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek, made by the Jews in Alexandria, Egypt, 300-400 years before Christ. I really like the Septuagint translation of Micah 5:2. Here is the translation of the Hebrew: 

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

As you can see their quote doesn't exactly match the Hebrew or the Greek.

Herod

This year, for my Advent / Christmas series, I am looking at the people around the birth of Jesus and examining their faith. The first week I looked at Joseph; last week, The Wise Men. I've also made two extra posts, "What do we learn about Jesus from Joseph" and "The Holy Innocents". Today I am taking a hard look at Herod.

Herod

Matthew 2:3,4,7,16
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

King Herod is right in the middle of all this, as was Pilate at the crucifixion. He was not Jewish, but being in Jerusalem, he would have been familiar with Jewish ways, practice, beliefs, and hopes; and he would have heard about the Coming One. So, when the wise men appear in Jerusalem and cause a stir asking about Christ, he was troubled. He knew who to ask too – he “demanded” of the chief priests and scribes, Where is Christ to be born?

This is interesting. Herod does not appear to have the hope of Christ, yet he believed the wise men that Christ had been born. He believed the chief priests and scribes that Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. He had faith, yet this faith had no positive affect on him - he was not moved to obedience as Joseph; he was not moved to worship as the wise men. He was moved to seek Christ, but not personally, and, as it turns out, with evil intent. 

What’s going on? How can he have faith but receive no blessing from God? This is powerful: Herod had faith without repentance.

He loved his position as king, he loved wielding power, he loved indulging his passions. Joseph was minded to divorce Mary, but when the angel said, “Marry the girl”, he changed his mind and said, Yes. The wise men were living a fine life in the east, but when they saw the star they left that life and came to worship Christ. Yet when Herod heard of Christ, rather than bow to the King, he sought to slay Him so he might continue as sovereign; rather than turn from his iniquity, he sought to kill Him so he might continue in his sin. He believed but to no avail, because he refused to repent.

This is why the Bible everywhere speaks of turning to the Lord.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Be converted sounds passive, like it is something that happens to you or is done for you, but this word is actually an imperative, just like repent: Repent, therefore, and turn to God. (NRSV) They've added "to God", but that gives the sense; as in 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 ...in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad... how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. Their faith in God moved them to turn to God and away from their idols, that they might serve God and wait for his Son from heaven (see v 10).

What does Herod tell me about Christ? Christ is king. He is a mighty king - simply by being born He is a threat to Herod. He brooks no competition. I cannot be king, He is king. I cannot be lord, He is Lord. I cannot be my own savior, He is Savior!

What then does Herod teach me about faith? If I would have faith that avails with God, that secures His blessings and grace, it must be accompanied by repentance, a turning from self and sin. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. If I persist in my own way, living my life my way, my faith is empty; if I continue in my sin, my faith is vain. Repent, therefore, and turn to God.

Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.

Pity from Thine eye let fall,
By a look my soul recall;
Now the stone to flesh convert,
Cast a look, and break my heart.

Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.
(Charles Wesley, 1740; to Take My Life and Life and Let it Be; repeat final line)

NEXT: The chief priests and scribes

The Holy Innocents

 

Matthew 2:16-18

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”

This tragic event has been a source of distress and consternation from the earliest days of the church. It is not really talked about in evangelical circles, and I confess that in all my years as a pastor, I don’t believe I ever addressed it. It is commemorated in liturgical churches every year as The Feast of the Holy Innocents. I will let them explain it:

“The Feast of the Holy Innocents, or Childermas in Old English, commemorates the death of male children in Bethlehem who were two years of age or under. King Herod the Great had ordered this, in order to ensure that the infant Messiah sought by the Magi would be unable to displace him on his throne. This is why Joseph was told in a dream to take the Child and the Blessed Virgin and flee to Egypt to escape the persecution of King Herod.” (Holy Innocents EWTN)

What is the meaning of the “Holy Innocents”?

“The young boys killed by Herod were innocent of any crime, except the imagined crime of being potential usurpers of Herod’s throne. They are acknowledged as “holy” by the Church because of the holy circumstances of their death. They died in hatred of Christ, as martyrs do, and thus the liturgical color of the day is red.” (Holy Innocents EWTN)

Feast of the Holy Innocents

Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches observe it on December 28, the Orthodox on December 29, the Syrians and Chaldeans on December 27. These dates have nothing to do with the chronological order of the event; the feast is kept within the 12 Days of Christmas because the Holy Innocents gave their life for the newborn Saviour. These first flowers of the Church accompany the Holy Child Jesus entering this world on Christmas day. (Catholic Encyclopedia)

From a Homily¹ of St. Augustine (AD 354 – 430) On the Feast of the Holy Innocents

“Today, dearest brethren, we celebrate the birthday² of those children who were slaughtered, as the Gospel tells us, by that exceedingly cruel king, Herod. Let the earth, therefore, rejoice and the Church exult — she, the fruitful mother of so many heavenly champions and of such glorious virtues. Never, in fact, would that impious tyrant have been able to benefit these children by the sweetest kindness as much as he has done by his hatred. For as today’s feast reveals, in the measure with which malice in all its fury was poured out upon the holy children, did heaven’s blessing stream down upon them.

“Blessed are you, Bethlehem in the land of Judah! You suffered the inhumanity of King Herod in the murder of your babes and thereby have become worthy to offer to the Lord a pure host of infants. In full right do we celebrate the heavenly birthday of these children whom the world caused to be born unto an eternally blessed life rather than that from their mothers’ womb, for they attained the grace of everlasting life before the enjoyment of the present. The precious death of any martyr deserves high praise because of his heroic confession; the death of these children is precious in the sight of God because of the beatitude they gained so quickly. For already at the beginning of their lives they pass on. The end of the present life is for them the beginning of glory. These then, whom Herod’s cruelty tore as sucklings from their mothers’ bosom, are justly hailed as “infant martyr flowers”; they were the Church’s first blossoms, matured by the frost of persecution during the cold winter of unbelief.”

(You can read the article here)

The Catholic Collect³ for the Feast of the Holy Innocents is: 

"O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day, not by speaking but by dying, grant, we pray, that the faith in your love which we confess with our lips may also speak through our manner of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.” Amen.

 

NEXT: Herod 

¹ A homily is a commentary that follows a reading of scripture

² In the early church your birthday was the day you died and entered heaven

³ “A collect is simply a prayer meant to combine the people’s intentions and the focus of worship into a succinct prayer. All of the collects more or less fit a pattern that Archbishop Thomas Cranmer developed in the first Book of Common Prayer (1549). The form of collects is quite simple:

First, there is an address to God and to his character or actions in the world on our behalf.

Second, there is a request.

Third, there is an invocation and doxology.

Finally, there is the Amen.”   (https://anglicancompass.com/the-collects/)

The Wise Men

This year for Advent and Christmas, I am looking at the people around the birth of Jesus and examining their faith. Last week it was Joseph; today, The Wise Men. This is all from Matthew 2.

1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem - I believe most people say this event was approximately two years after his birth.

there came wise men from the east - funny how we want to automatically add "three". There could have been three, but to be honest, Matthew doesn’t say how many wise men came.

Who were these ‘wise men’? The word is μαγοι which we transliterate magi. This was the name given by the Babylonians, Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, soothsayers, sorcerers.

"The Jews believed that there were prophets in the kingdoms of Saba and Arabia who were of the posterity of Abraham by Keturah; and that they taught in the name of God, what they had received in tradition from the mouth of Abraham. These, knowing the promise of the Messiah, were now, probably, like other believing Jews, waiting for the consolation of Israel.” (Adam Clarke)

This helps! They were waiting for and anticipating the coming of Christ. How did the wise men or magi know to expect Christ? I’m persuaded they knew the ancient prophecy in Numbers 24:17 (LXX)

I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near: a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Seth. 

But to be honest, Scripture is silent on this – it doesn’t explain how they knew to expect Christ. I conclude it doesn’t matter how they knew Christ was coming and would be announced by a star, the facts are: they did know and when they saw the star they immediately set off to find and worship him. They believed he was coming, they believed the star announced he had just been born, and as a direct result of this belief they came to Jerusalem. They had faith to seek Christ.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

When Herod heard of the arrival and question of the wise men he was troubled: disturbed, distressed, and probably afraid. I mean, if the King of the Jews has been born he is on his way out. Isn’t it interesting how people react to Jesus? Salvation has come and all he can think about is how he will lose his position and power.

I get why Herod is troubled, but why all Jerusalem with him? It is the same result but for different reasons. Herod was disturbed, disquieted, filled with dread, but I believe all Jerusalem was full of inward commotion so that they lost all calmness of mind – “What is this? Messiah has been born? Has this really happened? What will this mean? What’s going to happen?” It is one thing to say you want the Messiah to come, it is another thing to be ready for him. This explains why John’s message was Repent.

Herod called the chief priests and scribes and asked where Christ should be born. They had a ready answer, Bethlehem of Judea. Actually their answer was a quote of Micah 5:2. It is interesting that their quote left out the last line of Micah 5:2, and his goings forth were from the beginning, even from eternity. This says quite a lot about just who Messiah is.

7-8 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the

star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

 Oh the deceitfulness of Herod – that I may come and worship him. He had no intention of submitting to the King. Chrysostom observed, “And he said not, go and learn concerning the King, but concerning the young Child; for he could not even endure to call Him by the name of His dominion”; then he piles up words to describe Herod’s actions: “an act of extreme idiocy; utmost folly; extreme folly”

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh

Herod told them where the Messiah was to be born, so they pressed on.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy – “Moreover, the star, when it stood over the young Child, stayed its course again: which thing itself also was of a greater power than belongs to a star, now to hide itself, now to appear, and having appeared to stand still. Hence they too received an increase of faith. For this cause they rejoiced also, that they had found what they were seeking; so great a longing had they for Christ. For first it came and stood over His very head, showing that what is born is Divine; next standing there, it leads them to worship Him; being not simply barbarians, but the wiser sort among them.” (Chrysostom)

I love this! They were being divinely guided in their journey, they knew it, and rejoiced with exceeding great joy! They had the joy of the Lord before they had even met him!

We have found the Christ who’s all in all;
He is everything to us;
O how blest upon His name to call,
How divine, how glorious!

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
And the half has never yet been told!
(Barney Elliott Warren, 1900; you can hear it here being sung in a Baptist church)

And when they were come into the house, they fell down, and worshipped him – this was no intellectual or academic journey, they were seeking the King with the full intention of worshipping him. Hallelujah! They had faith to worship.

What is the significance of their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh? Adrian Rogers, in his sermon, The Gifts Of The Wise Men, said:

Gold -- His Sovereign Dominion

Frankincense -- His Sinless Deity

Myrrh -- His Sacrificial Death

Sounds good to me!

2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

They also had faith to obey. The wise men had a vibrant faith!

What does this mean for me? Faith in Christ is not merely knowing the right things about Christ, it is a spirited and vigorous conviction and trust that moves me to seek Him, to worship Him, and to obey Him.

The wise men teach us that Jesus is Christ. As Christ he is King. And as King he should be worshipped!

This also shows us a little about worship. Worship means to do obeisance to, that is to bend the knee, bow the head, fall down before. In so doing you acknowledge Him to be worthy, glorious, powerful. This is the goal of every worship service: to come to the place where we bow before Him.

At one point in a liturgical service you come to the Sursum Corda (below in bold), which  dates back at least to the third century:

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

This is where we want to be, “Lord, I lift up my heart to You.” Worship can be expressed in music, prayer, lifting our hands, bending the knee, but it all begins in the heart. I want to join the wise men and worship Christ the King!

O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord
(Adeste Fideles, John Francis Wade, 1751; translated into English as O Come, All Ye Faithful by Frederick Oakeley, 1841)

NEXT: The Holy Innocents