Luke 1:57-80

“For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people …” (v76).  Zechariah rejoiced that God was going to use his son John to prepare people for salvation, “in the forgiveness of their sins” (v77).  The Jews expected the Messiah to save them from their enemies (v71-74), but Zechariah declared that the Messiah would do more; he would “give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (v79). 

“Because of the tender mercy of our God,” said Zechariah, we are not just temporarily helped; we are rescued from the darkness of sin and welcomed into God’s light (v78). 

#NCManna