Luke 1:68-79
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us – to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:68-79 (NIV)
This verse is a song Zechariah sang at his son’s birth. Much like Abraham and Sarah, Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were an older couple that was visited by an angel. This angel, Gabriel, told them that they would have a son, and they were to name him John. Zechariah was understandably skeptical upon hearing this. As we all know in our own lives, it can be so difficult to live out a situation with “blind faith’. Zechariah said to the angel, “do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.” But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. So, God punished him by making him a mute. It wasn’t until the baby was born and they named him John, as instructed, that his voice was returned. That is why Zechariah was singing God’s praises at his son’s birth.
Zechariah’s son, John, was created to pave the way and prepare people for the coming of Jesus. He called for people to repent for their sins and be baptized in preparation for the Messiah.
Zechariah’s prophecy also brings hope to each of us. Just as he described Jesus as “the rising sun” who will shine on those living in darkness, so does Jesus bring light into the darkest areas of our lives. We can hold onto the assurance that Jesus has come to guide us from darkness to light. In response to this, we are invited to praise God for his faithfulness and mercy. We should proclaim his goodness and remember that He keeps his promises. We, too, are called to prepare the way for Jesus, reflecting his light to those around us. The verse urges us to trust in God’s promises and to live in the peace that comes from having a relationship with Him.
Questions for Reflection:
- When was a time in your life that you had to trust in blind faith?
- How did your thoughts and prayers keep your mind at peace with the situation?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for giving me your light in my life. It gives me peace to know you are with me always. Even when it is hard to trust, I know you have the best intentions for me. In your name we pray, Amen.
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