Luke the physician wrote how, “Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed his people, And has raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began. That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant. The oath which he swore to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear. In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life”, and in chapter one and verse seventy-six of his book Luke shared how Zacharias referred to how his child would be, “the prophet of the Highest” where we read:
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest:
for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
The verse reads, “And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: ...” Luke began with the words, “and you” or “and you, son of Zacharias”, “child” which means “little boy, infant and small male child”, “shall be called” or “will be named and known as” “the prophet” which means “the one who will be moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman and will solemnly declare to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation ” “of the Highest” or “belonging to the most High God”. Luke shared how Zacharias directed his words toward his son John and he told him he would be known as the “fore-runner or spokesman” of God Almighty.
The verse goes on to say, “... for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;” Luke added the words, “for you shall go” which means “because Zacharias' son John would precede, herald and be a messenger” “before the face” or “in front and in the presence of the countenance and person” “of our Lord” which means “belonging to Zacharias and Israel's One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah” “to prepare” or “to make ready and provide for” “his ways” which means “God's journeys, highways and side”. Luke shared how Zacharias said his son John would be a “messenger” in the presence of God and would “prepare his ways” in the world.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we discover the role Zacharias' son John would have in the world. Not only would he perform in the presence of God as His “prophet”, but he would also minister as the one who would “prepare” His “ways”. John was to be the “fore-runner” of God's Messiah Jesus, and when he began his ministry, all people in his area and those who read these words today are pointed to God's answer to the “sin” problem in the world. People “sin”, and in order to be in a “holy and righteous” relationship with God, they need a “Savior” who will save them from the penalty of “sin” which is death. They also need a “Lord” who will lead them in their lives. Let all who read these words carefully consider the prophecy concerning John, and may they understand the message he was to bear concerning God's Messiah and Son Jesus.
Next time Luke shares how Zacharias refers to how his son will, “give knowledge of salvation unto his people”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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