Tim BarkerNovember 04, 2024Comment

Think about the greatness of your freedom

Tim BarkerNovember 04, 2024Comment

Luke 1:57-80

God’s people at this time were suffering from the oppression of Roman rule. They felt surrounded by darkness and death. They longed for a liberator to set them free from the pain and the sorrow of their situation. They were looking for someone who would come and put things right. They had waited for a long time.

Zechariah was John the Baptist’s father. His nine months of silence may be symbolic of the longer period of prophetic silence that was about to come to an end. As Zechariah’s ‘mouth was opened and his tongue set free’ (v.64), he ‘was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied’ (v.67).

The birth of John the Baptist was an occasion of great celebration, joy, and expectation (vv.57–66). When Zechariah (unable to speak) wrote, ‘“His name is to be John” ... it took everybody by surprise. Surprise followed surprise – Zechariah’s mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!’ (vv.63–64, MSG).

Even John’s name was an expression of God’s blessings – it means ‘the Lord is a gracious giver’.

It was said of John the Baptist, ‘The Lord’s hand was with him’ (v.66). That is a good prayer to pray for yourself, your family, and your community: that the Lord’s hand will be with you.

Zechariah was filled with the Spirit and prophesied that salvation was coming. He said, ‘He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives’ (v.69, MSG). John the Baptist was to ‘present the offer of salvation to his people, the forgiveness of their sins’ (v.77, MSG).

Zechariah sees that God is coming to bring salvation to his people. But his prophecy goes well beyond political salvation. Something far deeper and wider is about to happen, fulfilling the great promises of the Old Testament. It will involve ‘redemption’ (v.68b), rescue from enemies (v.74a), and forgiveness of sins (v.77b). Salvation is the ‘path of peace’ (v.79). Zechariah, in this description of salvation, summed up so many of the freedoms that Jesus would bring to us: