Zechariah’s Prophecy
67Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:
68“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69He has sent us a mighty Saviorg from the royal line of his servant David,
70just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.
71Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.
72He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—
73the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.
74We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear,
75in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.
76“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
77You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
78Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,h
79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
80John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
Zechariah starts by talking about a promise being fulfilled, and at this point the Messiah (Jesus) hasn’t even been born! Zechariah obviously doesn’t see his child as the Messiah. I don’t know what he really knows and understands, but unlike when Gabriel first visited him, he is seeing things from “presence of God” now.
Time is irrelevant to God and if he intends for something to happen, that is what happens. Prophecies like this so often speak of future events as if they were already completed. That is God’s way, and it should be my way. If God promises it, it’s a done deal and I don’t have to worry about it. Whatever has happened to Zechariah while he was unable to speak, I really need it to happen to me!
Verse 77 reminds us again that salvation is through the forgiveness of sins, not being good. Just a perpetual theme in the Bible and I am always amazed at how often it comes up. From Genesis to Revelations, it never changes.
And finally in verses 78-80 we given the hope of our lives and perhaps what we can hope for in the rest of Luke’s Gospel. The light from heaven is breaking through our darkness. No more stumbling in the darkness of our souls and lives without hope. A new day is dawning, quite personally, for me and your right now.
Lord, help me to be in your presence. Fill me with the light of your Holy Spirit. Bring about a new day in me as your light floods every part of my heart and soul. In your light I can see things as you see them and be filled with your love and peace.
Here comes the Son…..
