an unlikely Christmas passage {luke 1:67-79}

Tucked in between Mary’s famous Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) and “the Christmas story” (Luke 2) lies a prayer/prophecy that is often overlooked. At least, I’ve overlooked it every year.

Luke 1:67-79 outline another prayer, but this one is spoken by Zechariah, the father of Jesus’ forerunner, John.

I’m still trying to memorize this prayer, but the words really hit me in a way they never have before. God has been consistently reminding me how important it is to reflect on His faithfulness in my life to combat any feeling of sadness or discontentment. And that’s what Zechariah is doing here.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
    for he has visited and redeemed his people
 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David,
 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

He starts out by praising God for sending an answer to Israel, just as He promised to the forefathers of Israel. And the word “visited” is very important, because it hints at Jesus’ deity.

that we should be saved from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
    and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham . . .

This answer would save Israel from their enemies, show mercy, and fulfill the holy covenant God promised (particularly to Abraham).

to grant us
 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And, in turn, Israel could serve God without fear in holiness and in righteousness.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation to his people
    in the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God,

The next part of the verse speaks to baby John, and it gets me so excited because while I am not the forerunner of the long-waited-for-Christ, God has a purpose for me and you just like He did for John. And He has known that purpose since we were babies.

Regardless of our purpose, we still can relate with John in that we are supposed to “give knowledge of salvation” by being a witness of God.

This verse ends with this: The sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

There are two darknesses.

One is the darkness of a life without God. Jesus came to earth to be a bridge between humans and God, so that we might enter into God’s perfect light.

The other darkness can come in many different shades and go by many different names, but it occurs even when we’re saved. It’s perhaps that much more difficult to get rid of because we are often blind to it because believing the lies of Satan has become second nature.

Jesus came so we don’t have to live in that darkness. Instead, we can live in light and walk in peace, guided by a God who cares for every individual on the face of this planet.

See how this verse is so rich? Share below what part of the verse stuck out to you, and continue to meditate on it this Christmas season.