Preface for Pastors and Parents
This children’s sermon on Luke 1:68-79 would be great in Advent if you are not following the lectionary. The lectionary does use the Song of Zechariah, both on the 2ⁿᵈ Sunday of Advent and on “Reign of Christ” Sunday (also known as “Christ the King”) at the very end of year C.
However, on both of those days, this song about the birth of John the Baptist is appointed as a “canticle” in place of the usual Psalm. I regret that its never used for the actual Gospel reading. To me it is a surprising omission, since John the Baptist is featured prominently in the Gospel readings.
It is a challenging text for a children’s sermon, largely because it isn’t a narrative. It’s the conclusion of a terrific story, but the lectionary gives us the song itself without any context. Adding back some of the story content is probably one key to creating a children’s sermon on Luke 1:68-79.
A Children’s Sermon on Luke 1:68-79
Good morning, kids! I’m so glad to see you this morning. Thanks for coming up to hear the children’s sermon.
Usually, I tell you a story about Jesus. Sometimes I’ve told you stories about Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. But today I’m going to tell you a story about John the Baptist’s dad. His name was Zechariah. His wife, John’s mom, was named Elizabeth.
When our story starts, Zechariah and Elizabeth were very old. Too old, really, to be able to have children—at least in any ordinary way. They had always wanted to have a baby, but it just never happened. By the time our story starts, they had given up hoping years ago.
Old Zechariah was a priest. Most of the time he lived with Elizabeth up in the hill country. But every so often, Zechariah had to go to Jerusalem to work in the Temple.
Gabriel
One day, Zechariah was alone in a very special room of the Temple. He was burning incense. That was a very important part of worship in the Temple.
Suddenly there was an angel in the room with Zechariah! Zechariah was so surprised! He almost dropped his incense!
But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. I came from God to tell you good news! Your son is going to be a great prophet! He will help people prepare their hearts to meet the Messiah!”
“Wait a minute!” said Zechariah. “I don’t have a son. What’s this all about? Are you making some kind of joke?”
“It’s no joke,” said the angel. “That’s the best news of all. You and Elizabeth are going to have a baby!”
“No way!” said Zechariah. “I don’t believe you. We’re too old to have a baby.” Then he started to feel sad. “Why couldn’t you have come 40 years ago? There’s no way it could happen now.”
“Look, Zechariah,” said the angel. He was sort of scowling. “My name is Gabriel. I’m not just any old angel. I’m actually the head of all the angels. I stand before God in heaven. If God says you’re having a baby, then you’re having a baby. Get it?”
“But—,” sputtered Zechariah.
“No ‘buts’!” said Gabriel. “I brought you a really good message! I told you God was giving you what you always wanted. But you didn’t believe me! I’m gonna give you some time to think about that.”
“But—,” sputtered Zechariah.
“Didn’t I tell you ‘no buts’?” said Gabriel. “Now listen: you aren’t going to be able to speak for the next nine months. When your baby is born, I’ll give you your voice back.”
Zechariah tried to say “But–“ again, except he couldn’t make a sound.
Back Home
Then Zechariah headed back home. Boy, was Elizabeth surprised to find out that Zechariah lost his voice.
She made him tea with honey and lemon to soothe his throat, but it didn’t help. Eventually Zechariah was able to explain, writing notes about it and trying to describe it all with his hands.
It was hard for Elizabeth to believe. But when the baby started to grow inside her tummy, Elizabeth believed. So did Zechariah—but he couldn’t talk about it. All he could do was think about how amazing and generous God had been to them.
All the while, as Elizabeth’s tummy grew bigger with baby John inside, Zechariah still couldn’t say a word. All he could do was think about how amazing it was that his baby was going to be a prophet for God.
Mary’s Visit
About six months later, when Elizabeth’s tummy was getting really big, their niece, Mary, came to visit from Nazareth.
Zechariah listened as Mary said the angel Gabriel had visited her, too. He listened as Mary said she was going to have a miracle baby too. Mary’s baby would be God’s very own son!
But Zechariah couldn’t say anything about it. All he could do was think about how amazing it was that Mary was having God’s baby.
It seemed to Zechariah like God had finally remembered the promises he made so long ago, to rescue Abraham and Sarah children. It seemed like God was bringing a new king from the family of the great King David. But he couldn’t talk about it.
It seemed like God had finally smiled on his people. God was really going to save them. Maybe God had already saved them. They would finally be free from all the people who were so mean to them. But he couldn’t say a word about it.
Zechariah had nine long months to think about these things. Since he couldn’t talk, Zechariah took all his big thoughts about Jesus, about God’s mercy, about his own son John, and he turned them into a song.
Zechariah’s Song
But he couldn’t sing it. Not until John was born. Then he held his baby boy in his arms, with his heart full of love, and tears streaming down his face, and he sang.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people
and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets
from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us that we,
being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him
all our days.
And you, child,
will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(Luke 1:68-79, NRSV)
Wondering
I wonder what it was like to see an angel?
I wonder what it felt like to hear that God was going to do something too big to imagine?
I wonder if you’ve ever had big feelings inside that you just couldn’t say out loud?
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