The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 1:76-79,
"You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."
Here is Zechariah's song, his prophecy, concerning his son, John the Baptist. John will be a prophet of the "Most High" and prepare the way for him. In this prophecy Zechariah speaks of light and darkness.
The reference to darkness points to the need of the great work of his son, John, in preparing the way for the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ will be following on the heels of John proclaiming the coming kingdom of heaven. This proclamation will go out to people living in darkness. In a world of sin and rebellion that has turned its back on its Creator, the people of the world have collectively cultivated a sinful nature that exists in animosity toward God. This has resulted in a blindness, a darkness and the Lord, whose way John will be preparing, will be a light that will pierce it.
I am reminded of one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2. This darkness that people walk in is a spiritual darkness that prevents them from understanding spiritual things. When folks are offered eternal life, something it would seem only an insane person would turn his back on, Jesus explains to Nicodemus it is due to this darkness they live in that causes them to reject the offer of life. Often folks don't know what to believe or how to respond to it. In a horrific poor choice they opt to remain in the spiritual darkness they have been offered escape from, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." John 3:18-20.
Jesus Christ is the light that has penetrated the darkness of this world. He offers us life to free us from this spiritual darkness and the coming judgment of God's justice.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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