# The beginning of the Christmas story

Key Passage: Luke 1:5-57
Date: June 7, 2024

Turn your Bibles, if you would, to Luke chapter number one. Luke chapter number one. We want to cover this morning, I believe the Lord would have us cover, the beginning of the Christmas story. The beginning of the Christmas story. Now it’s going to be before Luke 2.

And that’s typically what is read by our family over the years, Christmas morning. We have a Christmas Eve tradition, then Christmas morning before we open up what’s left. We’ll read Luke 2. It is a great place in the Bible about the Christmas story. But a little before that, really the beginning of the Christmas story. We’re going to read about it. And it’s not mentioned very often, but it’s the beginning.

I want you to notice this morning the beginning of the Christmas story, Luke chapter number one, this morning. But Luke chapter number one, if you would please, in God’s word. We’re going to start in verse number five. Luke one, verse number five. Would you please stand as we read God’s word together just to show it some respect? Would you please if you’re able to? Luke one and verse number five, the beginning of the Christmas story.

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

Would you jump down, please, to verse number 57, verse number 57 of chapter number one. Now, Elizabeth full-time came that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son.

The son was John the Baptist. John the Baptist is what we typically will call the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Before Jesus came, someone had to prepare the way. He had to make a road to the wilderness, and on that road Jesus would come through. And that was John the Baptist. Jesus said about John the Baptist, that’s the greatest man born among women. Pretty awesome for Jesus to say that about you.

So really the Christmas story began before Luke 2, if you will, with this son coming that was making way. I think the Lord is directing the vast majority of the service between now and Christmas. We’ll talk about Christmas and we’ll cover a lot of other details. I hope you hear for all of those. But this morning, the beginning of the Christmas story. Let’s find out how it all was prophesied, but I’m talking about the actual happening, the beginning of the Christmas story. And would you pray that the Lord would give you something this morning? Would you do that as I pray the same?

There were 400 silent years from the end of the Old Testament book, Malachi. 400 years. Just silence. Very rare. Imagine 400 years. Imagine the age of America and so on. He was not speaking through the prophets. He was not speaking through judges. God was silent, if you will. He was not giving open revelation to mankind. 400 silent years.

And yet God decided to break the silence. He decided, I’m going to start communicating. I’m going to send my only begotten Son. And he breaks the silence here with this couple. It’s a great couple. A wonderful couple. And God decided, I’m going to send an angel, a messenger down. He said, I want you to go to this couple named Zacharias and Elizabeth. That’s the people he broke his 400 years of silence with. These are special people. Let’s study them out a little bit. Would you look back? We’ll just kind of study out these people as we go through this passage. Keep your finger always in Luke 1 today. We’ll be back there often. Verse number 5. Let’s just start there again. “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias.” Now, a priest.

They were from the tribe of Levi, the family of Aaron. You remember back under Moses, Aaron was the high priest. You remember that? All right. Good. Just trying to keep us all on board here. So that’s where Zacharias is from, from that family, from that tribe. Let’s keep reading here, if you would. “Of the course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron. And her name was Elizabeth.” So we know where Zacharias is from, from the tribe of Levi, the family of Aaron. Elizabeth is from the same family, not just the major family, the tribe of Levi. Now, that’s very important because the priests were required to marry inside of that tribe. That was part of being a priest in Bible times. So here, let’s just kind of bring it down to what does that mean to you and I? What does that have to do with the price of eggs in China? Here’s what it means: Zacharias and his wife married in the will of God. They took their time and they made sure that the person they were marrying was the one that God wanted them to marry.

And this couple, when they were young, they waited and they found out God’s will. They married right. Right? Great couple that God breaks the silence.

Let’s keep going to look at verse number six, if you would please. Verse number six: “And they were both righteous before God.” Now, notice how God clarifies this: righteous before God. How do you get righteous before God? You get saved through Jesus Christ. No one will ever be righteous before a holy God that knows everything without Jesus’ righteousness being put on their account. Because the best person in here, whoever it is, they still have sin. And a holy God sees that. And the only way to be righteous before God is through the Messiah, Jesus Christ. I understand they’re before Christ, but they were only looking forward to Him. We look back to Him. They were righteous before God. They were saved. They were trusting in the coming Messiah. They were born-again Christians.

Let’s keep reading verse number six: “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” Let’s just put it down on our level. They were saved. They were living for God. They were in church. They were involved. They were doing God’s will. They were obeying God. These are good, godly people here. Can you visualize this older couple, Zacharias and Elizabeth, good godly people? They’ve been living for God pretty much all their life. They married right, they’ve been serving God, great Christians here, doing God’s will for their life. Let’s keep reading. Let’s find out more about this couple that God decided to break his silence with. Verse number seven. If you’re there, would you say amen? Good, verse number seven.

“And they had no child.” Friend, in that day and time, even in our day and time, but especially then, that was a tragedy. It breaks someone’s heart. These are good people here. These are godly. He’s a priest. They’ve been obeying His commandments and His ordinances. These are some of the best you’ll find. They had a broken heart. And they had no child because Elizabeth was barren. And they both were now well stricken in years. It’s been years now. They’ve been carrying this burden ever since. They were a young couple; they’re an older couple now. All these years. By the way, friend, it’s one thing to carry a burden for a month or two. That can be horrible, but years and years and years, and it can weary you and wear you down. And this couple has just had a broken heart for years. They did not do anything wrong. It wasn’t something they brought on themselves. She was just barren. She couldn’t have a child. In that day and time, that was very disgraceful. When that lady walked around town, people were like, “There she comes. What’s up with her? She can’t have a child.”

Look if you will, verse number 25. Let’s look at it. Look at verse number 25 here. And I want you to see when she finds out she’s expecting, let’s find out what she testified, what she says. Verse number 25: “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.” People have been looking down on her for years. “I wonder what she did that nobody else knows about.” He’s a priest, but they don’t have the blessings of God on them. They can’t have a child. They were wonderful people, but they had a major burden. All those years they couldn’t have a child, and people disgraced them. People have been talking about them, and their wife is just heartbroken. And the husband, “I can’t please my wife.” You know us guys, we want to please our wives and make them happy. You hear it said all the time, happy wife, happy life, and sometimes you can’t. He couldn’t make his wife happy, and he’s discouraged. She’s battling all these years, wanting to have a child, and they could not have a child. I’m just saying, folks, even good, godly, some of the best Christians you know, sometimes carry the biggest burdens.

Sometimes it’s burdens that nobody knows about. Maybe some of you out there you’re bearing a burden that nobody knows about, and sometimes you can’t tell everybody about it. It’s just a burden for you alone to bear. This one is in the open, but sometimes it’s just a burden for you to walk alone and carry. God knows about it. But often the best of Christians have a major burden. Someone said, “New levels, new devils.” Sometimes the more you’re used by God, the greater you’re tested. Some say, “Faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.” How often I compare it to fishing line; when you get the bass on there, you want to make sure that line’s been tested pretty good. And often God tests His people with trials and burdens. And this couple, they were no stranger to that. They understood what it is to just walk with a heavy heart. You wake up in the morning and it’s burning, and you go to sleep at night, it’s on your mind. You try to just bypass it, but it’s always kind of the elephant in the room. You can’t get past this burden. That’s exactly where they were. They had a major burden.

They were good, godly people. I thought about Spurgeon. We often talk about C.H. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Prince of Preachers, and yet his wife, for the majority of their life, was in a wheelchair, unable to get around. And Spurgeon, he suffered from gout often. They didn’t have all the medical things they have nowadays. In fact, Spurgeon says he battled depression. I’m saying some of the greatest Christians have the greatest battles. So, friend, the Bible says, “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you.” The Bible says, “There is no temptation taking you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it?” I’m saying these great couple, great Christians, yet they had a major burden. That’s real for most all of us. Someone said, if you’re not going through a major trial, hang on for a second or two; you’ll be going through it pretty soon. It’s part of life. This couple, wonderful people, I love them. I want to meet them in heaven one day. They had a major battle going on in their life for years and years and years, and they’re older now. They lived as a young couple with no child, middle-aged with no child, and now they’re older and no child at this point. We miss them often when we talk about the older couples in the Bible, the miracles that God did to have them have a child. But let’s keep reading here. Let’s keep reading, if you would, please. We’re in verse number eight now. Let’s find out a little bit about them. They had this major burden, great Christians. Verse number eight:

“And it came to pass that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course.” What do we get out of verse number eight? It’s talking about his course. There were 24 families. They would divide the family of Aaron up into 24 families, and they would do it by course to serve the temple. He was the one in the eighth order. They would go into the temple, and they would eat morning and evening. They’d go in there, and they’d keep the—not in the Most Holy Place, but they’d go in the Holy Place, and they’d keep the table of showbread right over here, and the altar of incense, and the seven golden candlesticks over here, and they’d take care of those things. Here’s the thing: he was following his schedule. In other words, he had a broken heart, a major issue, a major problem, but he was staying faithful. Can I put it this way? He still got up in the morning, even though his heart was broken; he still got up in the morning, and he still read his Bible. He said, “Man, I know I’m getting discouraged, and I don’t feel like it, but I’m going to still, if I have to crawl into my prayer closet and spend some time with my Lord, I need that time.” He was still walking with God. Sunday morning, he didn’t always feel like going to church, but he was there. Sunday night, I got to go. But he said, “I don’t feel like it; my heart’s hurting.” But she said, “I’m going to be there.” He was going to be there when the doors were open. He was going to be faithful to God. Can I encourage you? Just because you have a major burden, don’t give up on the Lord. Don’t throw in the towel. Don’t say, “I’m not going to read my Bible anymore.” Don’t quit praying. Stay in that prayer closet. Friend, that’s maybe the key time for you. This was a great, great godly couple, and yet they had major burdens. And yet they kept living for God. Sometimes, living for the Lord is not all warm and fuzzy.

That’s why Paul, through this praise of God, told that young preacher, “Be instant in season, out of season.” Because everybody goes to that out-of-season time. People who quit, more often than not, they quit in the out-of-season time, when they’re burdened, they’re not getting answers to their prayers, and they drop out. And, friend, it always ends up about a hundred times worse. That’s what Satan wants. Satan is all about getting you to quit during that time. They’re older now. I imagine there have been times they were so weary, but they’re still serving God. They’re still at the gas pumps or McDonald’s at the window. Praise the Lord. I gave a tract out one time at the McDonald’s window over there, the drive-thru over here by our church, and they said, “I’ve got tons of those already.” I would joke with them. I said, “Do you all have competition in there to see who gets the most of these? Who can wallpaper their bedroom with our gospel tracks?” Praise the Lord, we had one of them visit not too long ago. But I’m saying they had a major burden, but they kept giving out gospel tracts, trying to get the gospel out some way, somehow. They’re still living for God. It’s no wonder God said, “When I’m going to break my silence, I’m going to do that couple right there.” He stayed faithful all these years, even though they had a major burden. My hat’s off to them.

Let’s keep reading, if you would. Let’s look at verse number nine. Y’all still with me? Verse number nine, amen? Look at this couple, a great couple. Verse number nine: “According to the course of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.” That’s morning and evening. Verse number 10: “And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.” This is probably the Sabbath day, their day to rest, the Jewish people, and to worship the Lord. And here’s something mighty about to happen. Verse number 11: God is about to break the 400 years of silence. This is it. This is the beginning, really, the beginning right here of the Christmas story. When God breaks His silence and begins to move and prepare the way for Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. Verse number 11: “And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.” Can you imagine it? He’s there, he’s a priest, he’s in the Holy Place, not in the Most Holy Place behind the veil, but he’s in the Holy Place, and he’s tending the altar of incense, and all of a sudden this angel appears—typically angels are mentioned with male pronouns, and typically tall and big—and can you imagine, “Whoa!” Zacharias sees this angel, and it’s awesome. God Almighty decides to speak to this man when he’s serving God. Imagine if Zacharias would have said, “Well, it’s just too much. I’ve been serving Jehovah all these years and look what has gotten me.” Imagine if he had not been there doing what God had called him to do that day. God often shows up when someone’s working, by the way. Moses is taking care of the sheep out there, and that’s when God showed up. David is out there watching the sheep, and I believe God said, “If we’ll go get that boy, we’re going to anoint him king.” God often finds workers. By the way, the seven churches of Asia Minor—I’m getting off the subject here—the seven churches of Asia: “I know thy works.” God doesn’t look at your works for you to get saved, but you are created unto good works through Christ Jesus. You are born a Christian. You ought to be working for Him somewhere, busy working for God. And that’s when God said, “I’m going to break the silence, and I’m going to appear to this man here through this angel Gabriel.”

Let’s see the message that he brings through Gabriel. Look at verse number 12, if you would please. Verse number 12: “And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.” I imagine if you and I saw an angel like that, and it wasn’t some kind of video game, that was the real deal. Probably, yes. By the way, often when God gives you a task to do, there’s fear involved. I want you to reconcile with that loved one that you’ve been estranged from for years and years; there’s fear involved. I want you to witness to so-and-so, try to tell them about the Lord Jesus Christ, your neighbor, your relative; there will be fear involved. Often it is when God gives you His task to do. Unfortunately, Zacharias doubted God a little bit, and so Zacharias couldn’t speak for nine months because of that. God knows we’re not perfect, and God still used him. We still had John the Baptist as a son, but fear was part of it. Let’s keep reading here. We’re in verse number 13. You’re in verse number 13, amen? Good deal. I appreciate you sticking with me. Verse number 13: “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife, Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”

A couple of things about this verse. We’re just doing a little Bible study this Sunday morning. One thought, two thoughts from this verse: Fear not, fear not. Sixty-three times the Bible says those two words: “Fear not.” Fear is a part of the Christian life, but God, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God comes and says, “Hey, fear not.” Someone texted me this week about trying to make something right that they did wrong several years ago. They said, “I’m afraid.” I shared with him, “He that covereth the sin shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh shall have mercy.” That was God speaking in their heart. Fear not. God always speaks in your heart when He has called you to do something. Fear will be there, but God will be there. Fear not. If God calls you to do something or be something for Him, it may be something nobody knows about. It may be that you are sick and cannot even make it to church sometimes, but in that assisted living home or wherever you may be, you can shine for the Lord. The Lord has you here for a reason. He comes to you and says, “Hey, I’ve got a mission for you.” Fear will be a part of it, but God will be there saying, “Fear not.” Now, one other thing about this verse, verse number 13, I want you to notice—it’s amazing to me. Would you look at verse number 13 one more time? “For thy prayer is heard.” All those years. They typically got married very young in the Bible. Maybe 20, probably younger. I don’t know how old they are now, maybe 45. That would be 25 years. But he’s still praying.

Friend, can I say, even when you’re battling health problems, or you’re battling financial problems, you’re battling relationship problems—whatever the battle is—keep praying. When you’re hurting, you don’t feel like praying, and you’re saying sometimes it doesn’t help, it doesn’t work, and you’re shedding tears, can I encourage you: keep praying. Whatever may be going on in your life, friend, keep praying. You said, “Every time I try to do right, it seems like it gets worse.” Can I say, keep praying, keep praying, keep praying, keep praying.

I was at the chiropractor’s office this week, and a young lady was the receptionist. I’m so proud of her. When I was leaving, I said, “You’re having a good day.” They know I’m a pastor there. She says, “No, to be honest, I’m having a horrible morning.” She didn’t go into a description of it, but she said this, and I was so proud of her: “Really, it’s been a very hard, bad morning. I’ve been praying all morning long.” I said, “I’m proud of you. I’m bad about having a bad day and worrying all day long and complaining all day long, and you’re having a bad day and you’re praying all day long. Man, good job. That’s wonderful.” Can I encourage you to continue praying? When the burdens come and you’re just weighted down, keep praying. When you feel like a thousand-pound sack on your shoulders everywhere you go, keep praying. Don’t ever let the devil get you to where you’re not praying. Keep praying, keep praying. Twenty-five plus years, and this man is still praying. Can I encourage you, moms? Mom, you have such power in your prayer life. I’m amazed how a mom can pray for a child. Can I encourage you, moms: You may have a wayward son or daughter, and you say it’s been years, and I’m about to give up. Can I encourage you? Keep praying, Mom. Dad, your prayer life too: keep praying, keep praying. Don’t give up on that uncle that’s lost. Maybe it was 30 years, but he’s still praying. Still praying. God sends Gabriel, and Gabriel says, “Hey, Zacharias, fear not. God’s been listening to your prayers.” I’m glad to serve a God that listens in when you pray. In fact, He says the prayer of the upright is His delight. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. If I’m just living in sin and harboring it, He’s not going to listen. But if you’re honest and sincerely trying to live for God and you’re willing to get things right and confess, hey, God loves to hear your prayers. Well, this angel says, “Hey, God’s been hearing those prayers all these years. They weren’t in vain.”

I think about my mom and dad. They were the first ones saved in their family, first-generation Christians they call them. For years and years and years, I’ve watched them pray for their brothers and sisters to get saved, and in years and years, I’ve seen God slowly save one and save one and save one. Some of them after 30-something, 40-something years of praying. Keep praying. Keep praying. He said, “Hey, Zacharias, God’s heard your prayer.” Verse number 13, in the middle of it: “Thy wife, Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.” That’s wonderful. By the way, John means “The Lord has been gracious.” Let’s keep going. Verse number 14. Y’all with me, verse number 14, amen? Good, verse number 14.

“Many shall rejoice at his birth.” I’m just reading the verse and preaching a little bit this morning, but can I say this? When God does something, when He brings joy, He can bring joy like this world never can. They offer counterfeit joy. They offer this joy that’s kind of synthetic, but friend, it’s not long-lasting, and it’s just kind of a cheap counterfeit. That’s why they go to the bottle and they go to drugs. That’s why it gets harder and harder and harder—drugs and alcohol and pornography and all the rest of that. Because God’s the one that can bring joy that this whole world can’t bring. All these years, this brokenhearted couple have been praying and trying to live for God, and God said, “I heard that.” And about the blessing, you’re going to have joy, and it’ll spread to a whole lot of people. It’s wonderful when God blesses; He steps in. We can’t always dictate when He steps in, but He always steps in in His time. He’s never late; always on time. And He shows up and He speaks. He says, “Oh, you’re about to have joy. It’s going to spread to a whole lot of people.” Let’s keep reading. We’re in verse number 15, Luke chapter 1: “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.” Can I just say a word or two here about children? Praise the Lord for sweet children in our church. We had the pleasure last night to be in Brother Anthony’s family there with their children and grandchildren. Praise the Lord for just sweet children in our church. But can I encourage our parents, grandparents, even influence over mom and dad and grandchildren? Can I say this? Raise your children for the Lord. Don’t raise them for yourself. God did not give them to you to make you look good or to have somebody by your side. Raise those children for the Lord. By the way, Third John says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” So much spiritually that I think it applies physically. Can I encourage you: raise your children for the Lord? And he said, “Hey, this boy, he’s going to be great. God’s going to use him in a great way.” Parents, raise your children for the Lord. No, I don’t believe in, “Mama called and Daddy sent preachers.” No, no. It’s up to God what God calls them to do. But raise every child to be and do what God wants them to be and do. Raise them for the Lord, and that will bring more joy than anything else—knowing that your children walk in truth. By the way, it’s very interesting that you hear that your children walk in truth. You don’t always see them; they’re not always by yourself, but you hear it. It’s a wonderful thing.

Let’s keep going. We’ve got to hurry along. I’m getting off on all these rabbit trails this morning. Let’s keep reading here. Verse number 16: “And he shall turn the hearts of the children of Israel unto the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah], to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said unto the angel, “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, all those years serving God. I’m an old man, and my wife well-stricken in years.” And the angel answering said to him, “I am Gabriel, that standeth in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. 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.”

Let me just say a last word or two, and I’ll kind of finish this story. It will be done. Zacharias did doubt. In the Bible, it makes it very, very clear. It’s very interesting to me; Mary, she didn’t quite understand it all, but she didn’t necessarily doubt. Zacharias, he didn’t believe it. He doubted. Can I say this, friend: when God wants to use you, there’s going to be seasons that doubt will just come and bombard your heart and your mind. Anytime you try to do something for God, whether it be raising children or having a godly marriage in that day and time or just living for God at your job, there’ll be seasons when Satan just comes and bombards you with doubt. Satan shoots his fiery arrows of doubt at your mind and your heart. He’s good at it. Sometimes it seems like every arrow is coming. You would doubt, and he’ll try to make you lose your mind with doubt, fear. Ephesians chapter 6 says, “With the shield of faith you can quench all the fiery darts, all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” You don’t have time to get into it, but he says you’ll quench all the fiery darts; the fire will be put out. You still get hurt, but it’ll quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Here’s what I’m saying: when doubt is bombarded on your mind and your heart from every angle, you’ll have seasons like that. Can I say, stand in faith? Choose to believe God. On purpose, say, “I’m going to go that way. I’m going to work out. I’m going to hide the Word of God in my heart so I have some promises that I can hang on to when I don’t feel it.” But I’m going to go by the Bible, even when I don’t feel it. You choose to believe. You choose to believe. But can I say this? Nobody’s perfect at it. Zacharias wasn’t. Satan is always good anytime you mess up; he’ll just magnify your sin to you, make you feel like the worst of the worst, try to make you feel so defiant that you can never do anything for God again. Zacharias wasn’t perfect, and God still used him. If you had to be perfect for God to use you, God wouldn’t have anybody to use, friend. Praise the blood of Jesus Christ; I can have cleansing there. God is a God of—we say second chance, but a million chances, if you will.

Nine months, Zacharias couldn’t talk. That would be pretty tough to do. Wives, wouldn’t you enjoy that a little bit if your husband couldn’t talk for nine months? Especially while you’re carrying a child. If there’s ever a good time for him not to be able to talk, this is the time. Elizabeth delivers that first—not trying to take any light from Jesus, of course—but the first of the Christmas story baby, John the Baptist. He’s making the road in the wilderness for the Messiah. And then he’s just a little baby, eight days old, and they come to Elizabeth and say, “Hey, he’s going to be called Zacharias, isn’t he?” And she said, “Oh, no, oh, no. His name’s John.” And they said, “No, there’s nobody in your family by the name of John. No, come on, he’s got to be named after his dad, Zacharias.” They gave a writing tablet to Zacharias and said, “Hey, Dad, write down the name.” And Dad said, “His name is John.” All of a sudden, God opened his mouth. Man, he began to run around and shout and said, “Woohoo! Walk now, amen!” We talk about Christmas; you won’t hear very much about Zacharias and Elizabeth. But the beginning of it was this couple. Great, great Christians. For years, they carried a burden, but they stayed faithful. They kept praying. God, in His time, said, “It’s time to break the 400 years of silence, and I’m going to break it with that couple right there.” John the Baptist.

Original File: Christians and Trials - Pastor Paul Chisgar Sunday AM 121221