When Discipline Is Grace; Luke 1:56-66

Delivered during the Sunday morning worship service, 3/21/2021. Our focus shifts in this message from Mary's song of worship to the birth of John the Baptist. Mary returns to Nazareth while Zechariah and Elizabeth once again take center stage. Of particular interest is the relationship between the naming of the new child, the end of Zechariah's punishment, and John's ultimate place in Redemptive History. We will ask ourselves why God insisted this child be named "John", (which means God is gracious) when his life would be so short and difficult, and his message so harsh and condemnatory? This will lead us to a discussion of what is truly gracious and what is a misleading concentration on "grace". In the end, we will find that John was perfectly named for the task he was given and that contrary to the teaching of many modern Evangelicals-- divine discipline IS grace.