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Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David (Luke 1:67-69)
The first two chapters of Luke tell the story of a miraculous birth, announced by an angel, confirmed with signs, of a child who would play an important role in God’s plan of salvation.
The miraculous birth I have in mind isn’t the birth of Jesus – it’s the birth of His cousin John, whom we often call “John the Baptist.” John’s birth was a miracle, was announced by an angel, confirmed with miraculous signs, and as an adult John played an important role: announcing the arrival of the Messiah.
Here, we read of what John’s father Zacharias said after John was born, and Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied. This another stirring of the long-silent prophetic voice of the Lord. But just in Luke 1, God spoke through Gabriel, Elizabeth, Mary, and now through Zacharias. When God spoke again, it was all connected to the theme of Jesus and His work.
Zacharias could truly say, Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. It was as if God was present for Israel (has visited) in a way they had not experienced for a long time.
God’s redemption of His people was present because He had raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David. In the phrasing of the Old Testament, a horn was a symbol of power and strength. With the ultimate power and strength, Jesus would bring salvation to His people and fulfill the promises of an ultimate ruler to come from the house of David.
Zacharias had just become the father of a miracle baby, but in his prophecy, he focused on Jesus – who had not yet been born!
– Jesus is the horn of salvation for us (Luke 1:69).
– Jesus is the One who saves us from our enemies (Luke 1:71).
– Jesus is the One to perform the mercy promised to our fathers (Luke 1:72).
– Jesus is the One to remember the covenant (Luke 1:72).
– Jesus makes us able to serve Him without fear (Luke 1:74).
Inspired by the Spirit of God, Zacharias spoke of the work of Jesus the Messiah in detail that was probably beyond his own understanding. We see the depth and the truth of what Zacharias said so clearly looking back, but for him – the Messiah was still in Mary’s womb.
Zacharias didn’t even know Jesus yet, but he praised Him, he loved Him, and he was passionate about Jesus. We know so much more about Jesus than Zacharias did, so we should exalt the Savior even more than the father of John the Baptist.
This Christmas season is the perfect time to exalt Jesus.
Click here for David’s commentary on Luke 1
Click Here for Daily Devotionals from David on Apple Podcasts