The Other Christmas Baby

Luke 1:18-20, 57-65

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to 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 at their appointed time.”

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, 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 relatives who has that name.” Then they made 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, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.

1) Resignation to Transformation

“Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.””Luke 1:18 NIV

““I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:38 NIV

2) Resignation to Transformation

““Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them… 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.”Luke 1:68, 74-75 NIV

3) Resignation to Transformation

“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, praising God.” Luke 1:63-64 NIV