Luke 1:76-77
And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
Have you ever lost your voice? I’ve had many sore throats and, at times, have had difficulty speaking. But only once have I lost my voice completely. It lasted for around two weeks and it was the most bizarre experience. I felt horribly disconnected from everything that was happening around me. So, I have great sympathy for Zechariah, who was rendered unable to speak for nine months. Only after the birth of his son, John the Baptist, was his speech suddenly restored - and here are some of his words.
John and Jesus were relatives, but they were brought up in very different parts of Israel and so probably didn’t know one another very well. But Zechariah recognised that John would play a crucial role in God’s plans. John’s message of repentance was crucial in paving the way for Jesus’ ministry - and his baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan marked the beginning of it.
Preparing the way for someone else might not sound like a very attractive role. But Zechariah had the eyes to see that his son’s ministry would be vital in the unfolding of God’s salvation plan. His song is full of praise as he recognised that the coming of the Messiah would be the fulfilment of the hopes of the people of Israel.
Zechariah could see that through this new chapter in history, the sun would shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, and their feet would be guided into the path of peace (Luke 1:79 ).
Most people have no understanding of why Jesus came to this earth. Christmas time is just seen as a jolly holiday. However, we will have the incredible privilege of doing just what John the Baptist did 2,000 years ago. We too can prepare the way for other people to meet Jesus for themselves.
Question – In what way can you prepare the way for someone to learn about Jesus this Christmas?
Prayer – Lord, help me to prepare the way for my friends and family members to meet Jesus this Christmas. Amen