“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby 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” (Luke 1:76–79, ESV).

Zechariah’s song in Luke 1 packs a punch. In response to the question of, “What then shall this child be?” Zechariah speaks of God visiting and redeeming his people. He speaks of how the Lord, throughout the Old Testament, spoke through the mouths of prophets about the salvation of God’s people. Those Old Testament prophets were speaking in two ways, of an immediate salvation, as God saved His people time and time again from their enemies, and how He would send a Savior to bring ultimate redemption. But at the end of his song, Zechariah sings of his present reality. His child, the promised prophet, has come. This child will be the one to proclaim that the Lord is near and then point and say, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b, ESV).

The tender mercy of God has visited us in Christ. John prepared the way by preaching repentance and forgiveness so that hearts would be ready to receive Jesus. We live in darkness and the shadow of death—cultural confusion, personal trials, grief, anxiety, and sin. Yet the Sunrise from on high has dawned upon us. Jesus, our merciful High Priest, shines the light of forgiveness and life into every dark corner. He guides our feet into the way of peace, not by our own works, but by His perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection.

Like John, our calling is to decrease so that Christ may increase. In our vocations—as parents, workers, students, and neighbors—we point others to the Lamb of God.

When all the world was cursed
By Moses’ condemnation,
Saint John the Baptist came
With words of consolation.
With true forerunner’s zeal
The greater One he named,
And Him, as yet unknown,
As Savior he proclaimed.
“When All the World Was Cursed” (LSB 346:1)

Prayer: Lord God, by Your tender mercy the Sunrise from on high has visited us in Christ Jesus. Shine the light of Your salvation into our darkness and guide our feet into the way of peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

In Christ,

Rev. Samuel M. Powell
Third Vice President
Missouri District