“And, you, child will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76-79
This beautiful passage of Scripture is spoken by Zechariah, the priestly father of John the Baptist. John was born by the special providence and appointment of God to be a prophet whose purpose was to announce the coming of the Messiah – Jesus! Zechariah had not believed the word of the Lord to him at first, so he was disciplined by God with muteness for the time of his wife’s pregnancy with John. When the Lord opened His mouth, the first words he spoke were to proclaim what kind of ministry John was to have. His ministry was to announce to the world that the long-awaited Savior/Messiah was coming! This coming of Jesus into the world, in full humanity, to accomplish our salvation, is what we celebrate at Christmas! Let’s consider what Zechariah says about the ministry of Jesus.
First, he refers to Jesus as the “Most High” and the “Lord.” This baby to be born and the ministry of the man Jesus (full humanity) will also be the ministry of the Son of God and the Sovereign Lord (full deity). Zechariah first announces that “Jesus is Lord!” This claim will be hotly and continuously contested during the life of Jesus, and ultimately the claim that His enemies will throw at Him during His trial leading to death.
Second, John will proclaim knowledge about Jesus, that Jesus will go on to continue and expand into fullness. This knowledge concerns our salvation, how we as truly guilty sinners can have peace with a holy God. It is at heart a message of merciful forgiveness, but this message was offensive. John began this message, and Jesus continued the message, that all people are sinners and under the condemnation of God. People did not want to hear that message in ancient times any more than they want to hear it today, but the message is good news because of the tender mercy of God.
Third, the passage uses the phrase “tender mercy of our God.” God is holy and just, but He is also tender, kind, and merciful. God the Father sent Jesus the Son to be the Savior of the world from the motivation of love (John 3:16). God is not indifferent toward the people of the world but loves the world, and by mercy will forgive countless multitudes for their sins. All who believe in Jesus and confess their sins will be forgiven. To receive mercy those in Jesus’ time, and our time, must seek mercy. To seek mercy, a person must first recognize there is a problem (on their part) between that person and God. God does not call upon us to work for Him, but to believe in Jesus the Son, to follow Him, to become His disciple, and in so doing renounce your old ways of living (repent) and live in the ways of Jesus. By grace alone are we forgiven.
Fourth, a picture is used here that is used in the Old Testament prophets and throughout Scripture. It is the sobering and pitiful picture of a lost people wandering in darkness, and the coming of Jesus into the world is like the dawning of the sun on a beautiful new day. The “sunrise” of Jesus is mercy from God. Jesus is sent to bring the light of God’s truth and person into a dark world, and minister tender mercy to ruined sinners.
Fifth, the coming of Jesus will lead His disciples into a way of peace. The peace of Jesus is separated from this world. Believers in Jesus walk in the peace of God in the midst of this chaotic and dying world. Disciples of Jesus have peace in their souls with God and peace in their relationships between other followers of Jesus. There is harmony in the Kingdom of Jesus. The ways of Jesus will certainly divide us from the spirit of the world but will bring us into His kingdom of peace – for Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
John the Baptist grew up and entered into exactly the type of ministry that was foretold by His father Zechariah. John announced the coming of Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Jesus came full of grace and truth, preaching God’s word with authority, yet tender and merciful! We celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ (putting on of human flesh) this time of year. We consider the first coming of Jesus. We enter into aspects of the ministry of John the Baptist by also continuing to proclaim to all who will hear the salvation of the mercy of Jesus Christ. We also look forward to the second coming of Jesus! We know that Jesus came once to fulfill His promises and purposes, and that He will come again to conclude the world and judge the unbelieving.
I urge you to keep Jesus the center focus of this season. Actively push back against the materialization and secularization that has consumed this time of year. Read the biblical account of the birth of Jesus from the Gospels aloud with your family. Join us at one of the two upcoming Christmas Eve services. These services are very informal. Bring a friend, pack in the children, worship Jesus and give thanks for His tender mercy!
Jesus is Lord!
Pastor Vic