Luke chapter one ends with Zacharias, the priest and husband
of Elizabeth, both praising the Lord and prophesying about the coming Messiah
and also his son John that had just been born, who later would be better known
as “John the Baptist”. For the nine months of his wife’s pregnancy with John,
he was both mute and deaf because of his unbelief at the announcement of the
angel in the temple. But as soon as he writes on a tablet, “His name is John”,
his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he speaks, praising God.

Luke tells us the people in that region were in fear and awe
as they see and hear about what is happening. For centuries the people of
Israel have been waiting for the Messiah to come that the prophets had been talking
about! Now Zacharias has seen an angel and he and his wife in their old age
have a son and John suddenly can speak again after his nine months of silence.
The people ask concerning the new baby John, “What kind of child is this” (v.
66). And Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks first about the Messiah,
and then his son John. His message gives us several beautiful pictures of what
the coming of Jesus Christ to earth really means.

The picture of opening a prison door in verse 68. "Blessed
is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people”. The
word redeem means "to set free by paying a price." It can
refer to the releasing of a prisoner or the liberating of a slave. Jesus Christ
came to earth to bring "deliverance to the captives" (Luke
4:18 ), salvation to people in bondage to sin and death. Certainly, we are
unable to set ourselves free; only Christ could pay the price necessary for our
redemption (Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-21).

The picture of winning a battle in verse 69. “And has
raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David”. In
Scripture, a horn symbolizes power and victory (1 Kings 22:11 ; Ps. 89:17 , 24).
The picture here is that of an army about to be taken captive, but then help
arrives and the enemy is defeated. In the previous picture, the captives were
set free; but in this picture, the enemy is defeated so that he cannot capture
more prisoners. It means total victory for the people of God.

The word salvation in verses 69 and 71, carries the meaning
of "health and soundness." No matter what the condition of the
captives, their Redeemer brings spiritual soundness. When you trust Jesus
Christ as Savior, you are delivered from Satan's power, moved into God's
kingdom, redeemed, and forgiven (Col. 1:12-14).

Where did the Redeemer come from? He came from the house of
David (Luke 1:69 ), who himself was a great conqueror. God had promised that the
Savior would be a Jew (Gen. 12:1-3), from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10 ), from
the family of David (2 Sam. 7:12-16), born in David's city, Bethlehem (Micah
5:2). Both Mary (Luke 1:27 ) and Joseph (Matt. 1:20 ) belonged to David's line.
The coming of the Redeemer was inherent in the covenants God made with His
people (Luke 1:72 ), and it was promised by the prophets (Luke 1:70 ).

My friend, we have a great deliverance from the enemy of sin
and death, from the enemy of self, and from the enemy, Satan. This is all because
of God’s grace. “That He would grant us…” (v. 74). We don’t deserve this
great redemption, or in any way merit it! Paul put it this way to Titus, “But
when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved
us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom
He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having
been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of
eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7).

Have you personally experienced this wonderful grace and
salvation today?

God bless!