Zacharias’s mouth is un-muted and he is praising the Lord, but then….he is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied. Remember there has been a 400 year silence to the nation of Israel….this boy, John the Baptist will be the final Old Testament prophet. He will be the mouthpiece of the word of God announcing the WORD of God’s arrival - Jesus.
The Spirit filled Elizabeth when she spoke to Mary, but that was in a very private setting…still amazingly precious but nonetheless private. This setting is different….it is public; news has traveled from friends and family to the region about the birth John and how miraculous it is. Now Zacharias’s unmuted mouth is speaking Truth…Truth about what is to come. Things are going to be publically quiet for quite a few more years, at least 30 or so, until the pubic ministry of John starts, introducing the public ministry of Jesus.
So look at the words and see the significance of what the SPIRIT is testifying too. It is SO powerful and speaking of the Truth of what the New Covenant is going to do because of the finished work of Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. I’ve bolded the amazing Truth that the Spirit is speaking about what the New Covenant will accomplish…it’s a pubic peak into the plan of God. Salvation from our true enemy- sin.
Luke 1:67-80
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant— 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old— 71 Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; 72 To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, 74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. 76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; 77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, 78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, 79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Jesus is our Peace, our Salvation and our Rescue from our enemy, darkness and death. What mighty Spirit- filled words of the Hope of our Salvation….even to the Gentile. What a blessing!
No comments:
Post a Comment