Sermon Notes - Luke 1:57-80 - Light - Littleby Baptist Church - February 8, 2026

1.        We have learned a lot in the first chapter of Luke.

a.        Zechariah and Elizabeth would have loved a son at a much younger age.

b.       But God had other plans.

c.        Helping us to see that our prayers are not always answered when and how we prefer.

d.       Gabriel appears to a young girl whose life may have seemed out of control.

e.        She had been married to Joseph but had not been with him yet.

f.          And then Gabriel throws some amazing, but overwhelming, news her way.

g.        She is going to be the mother of the Son of God.

2.        Mary was called by God to carry His Son and she submitted to His leading.

a.        Reminding us that we are each called by God to do something.

b.       Sometimes it is easy.

c.        Other times it seems impossible.

d.       But remember what Gabriel said.

e.        Read vs 37.

f.          When we are following the Lord’s leading and walking in His will.

g.        Nothing is impossible.

3.        Last week we saw another of Gabriel’s predictions come true.

a.        John, while in his mother’s womb, was filled with the Holy Spirit.

b.       Followed by both Elizabeth and Mary praising God.

c.        Helping us to remember that we should be praising God through every situation in our lives.

d.       Praising Him when we see God at work, as well as when we wonder what the future holds.

e.        In all ways praise the Lord.

4.        That is a lot so far and we haven’t even finished the first chapter.

a.        Which we will do this morning.

5.        As we pick up this morning, we find God’s promise to Zechariah and Elizabeth come to fruition.

6.        Luke 1:57-58

a.        Gabriel stated that there would be joy for many at the birth of John.

b.       Zechariah, Elizabeth, and many in their lives rejoiced over his birth.

c.        God has shown mercy to them.

d.       Providing them with a son.

e.        Helping the many who read this letter see that God is faithfully working in the lives of those who love Him.

f.          God was faithful to them.

g.        He is faithful to us.

7.        Luke 1:59-61

a.        The righteous couple continue to follow God.

b.       They bring John forward to be circumcised as commanded by God.

c.        It would be normal for the son to be named after the father, or another family name.

d.       Calling him John as Gabriel had stated, made no sense to those who were there.

e.        But Elizabeth was being faithful to God.

8.        When we give our lives to Christ, we are to follow His ways.

a.        We are not saved by our works or actions.

b.       Not by how much we give.

c.        Not by our service.

d.       Salvation comes from faith alone.

e.        But that faith is to be lived out in how we respond to life.

f.          Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous due to their love for God.

g.        And it was seen in how they faithfully followed His commands.

9.        Luke 1:62-63

a.        Thinking Elizabeth must have been mistaken.

b.       They ask Zechariah.

c.        And he clearly wrote that their son was to be named John.

d.       They were following God’s will.

10.   Luke 1:64

a.        Zechariah showed his faithfulness.

b.       And God worked.

c.        His mouth was opened.

d.       Exactly as Gabriel had said.

e.        In line with God’s plan.

11.   If Luke is trying to build the faith of his audience.

a.        We have seen several instances of God being faithful so far.

b.       Zechariah was unable to speak.

c.        Elizabeth became pregnant.

d.       John was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb.

e.        And Zechariah’s voice was restored at the appointed time.

12.   Seeing God work as promised.

a.        Seeing prophecies fulfilled.

b.       Should build the faith of any who read these words.

c.        If we trust the Word of God, they should build our faith.

13.   Luke 1:65-66

a.        When people heard how Zechariah was impacted and the age of John’s parents.

b.       They thought that there must be something special about this baby.

c.        Earlier in the chapter we were told that he is going to point people to God.

d.       He is the herald of the Messiah.

e.        But no one sees that yet.

f.          They see a little child.

g.        Whose birth was surrounded by miracles.

14.   Our God is faithful.

a.        He was faithful to John’s parents.

b.       He is faithful to us.

c.        We need to believe in His faithfulness and trust in His promises.  

15.   Luke 1:67

a.        Zechariah was praising God when he got his voice back.

b.       Now he is given a prophecy from the Holy Spirit about Jesus and John.

16.   Luke 1:68

a.        Blessed is the Lord.

b.       Praise God.

c.        For whom He is and what He has done.

d.       Praise Him for visiting His people.

e.        For sending Gabriel to Zechariah and then Mary.

f.          For working in the lives of His people.

g.        For providing redemption.

h.        The herald of the Messiah has been born.

i.          Jesus is growing in Mary’s womb.

j.          The path is set.

k.        Jesus will eventually end up on that cross.

l.          Paying for the sin of all who believe.

m.     He will rise from the dead providing an eternal life for those who follow Him.

n.        God has provided redemption.

17.   Luke 1:69

a.        We touched on this a couple of weeks ago.

b.       Jesus is of the line of David.

c.        He is the fulfillment of God’s promise to David.

d.       A horn of salvation… a horn of strength.

e.        Meaning salvation will come through the conquering King.

f.          The Messiah.

g.        Conquering the first time by being the only one who is strong enough to bear all of the sin.

h.        Jesus dying on the cross was not a sign of submissive weakness.

i.          His dying on the cross was a show of great strength.

j.          Jesus took on the sin of all creation and died.

k.        Something only He had the strength to do.

l.          Jesus is the only one who could bring salvation to the world.

18.   Luke 1:70-71

a.        The salvation He will provide.

b.       Which is the fulfillment of prophecies of old.

19.   To those of us sitting here roughly 2,000 years later.

a.        Salvation has come.

b.       Jesus was born.

c.        He lived a perfect sinless life.

d.       He died on that cross paying for our sins.

e.        Rose again granting all who believe a new life.

f.          And we know that He is coming again.

g.        We don’t know how much time we have.

h.        But we do know that if we believe in Jesus, repent of our sins, and follow Him we are saved.

20.   Zechariah may have thought that the Messiah was going to forgive them.

a.        And that He would set them free from Roman oppression, their enemies at the time.

b.       Those are not the enemies being prophesied about.

c.        Jesus was going to set us free from those who convict us.

d.       The evil one.

e.        He saved us from our sins the first time.

f.          It is during His second coming He will set free those who are under political oppression.

21.   Luke 1:72-73

a.        The Messiah.

b.       The descendant of David.

c.        The coming Salvation.

d.       Shows God’s faithfulness.

e.        His fulfillment of the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

f.          That the world will be blessed through them.

g.        Jesus is the fulfillment of those promises.

22.   Luke 1:74-75

a.        In one aspect the people, us included, will be freed from oppression through Jesus.

b.       He will clear the way, according to His will, so that we can serve God.

c.        But there is another meaning here.

d.       We have been freed through our faith in Jesus.

e.        We no longer need to fear those who wish to do us harm.

f.          Specifically, we no longer need to fear the evil one.

g.        Jesus has saved us.

h.        So that we can serve Him.

i.          Thanks to His gift of grace, though faith we are made Holy and righteous.

j.          We will spend the rest of our days in His presence.

23.   What a blessing, to be with our Jesus forever.

24.   Now the prophecy shifts to his son John.

25.   Luke 1:76-77

a.        Malachi 3:1

b.       John is the fulfillment of prophecy.

c.        He was called to serve God.

d.       To help people see that they were sinners.

e.        That they need a Savior.

f.          John is the one who will prepare the way for Jesus.

g.        Preaching repentance and baptism.

26.   Luke 1:78-79

a.        Salvation is coming, it is dawning like a new day.

b.       Shinning on those who live in darkness.

c.        Helping sinners to see that they are living in sin.

d.       That they need to be forgiven.

e.        That we need a Savior.

27.   A Savior that will guide us.

a.        Show us that there is a new way.

b.       A better way to live our lives.

c.        Following Him and living in His will.

28.   Luke 1:80

a.        John grows as a man.

b.       He grows as one who follows God.

c.        One who is in tune with the Holy Spirit.

d.       Even before the Holy Spirit was released to all who believe.

29.   Zechariah’s prophecy tells us that the Messiah, Jesus will light our path.

30.   John 8:12

a.        If we follow Jesus, He guides our way.

b.       He shows us how we are to live.

c.        Calls us to serve.

d.       It is His light that breaks through the darkness of our hearts.

e.        Through the darkness in our lives.

f.          The darkness in this world.

31.   Jesus is the light we need.

a.        He is the light that changes our hearts.

b.       Jesus is the only one who fits all of the prophesies.

c.        He is the promised Savior.

d.       Are you ready to let Jesus breakthrough the darkness in your life?

32.   If you don’t know Jesus, He is knocking.

a.        He is ready to forgive you of your sins.

b.       He is asking you if you are ready to believe.

c.        To trust in Him.

d.       Today is the day to give you life to Jesus.

e.        If you are ready, I would love to talk with you.

33.   Brothers and Sisters, Jesus’ light guides us.

a.        If there is something in your life that is holding you back, Jesus can set you free.

b.       He can point out the darkness.

c.        He can shine a spotlight on it.

d.       He can show you sin you may be holding on to.

e.        He can guide you down the path you have been called to.

34.   Whatever it is, we need to let our Jesus guide our steps.

a.        Trusting that He will lead us in the way of peace.

b.       If you have a need you would like to talk or pray about, I am here.