Luke 1:76-77
And 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.

After recalling hundreds of years of God’s work in history, beginning with Abraham and going on into eternity, Zechariah personalized the story.

His son had been chosen for a key role in the drama of the ages. Although God has unlimited power, He chooses to work through fragile humans who begin as helpless babies. We must never minimize what God can do through those who are faithful to Him. Zechariah proclaimed what the angel had told him (1:16-17), words Zechariah had at first doubted. John will be called the prophet of the Most High.

Zechariah speaks these same amazing words in a land where the voice of prophecy had been silent for over 400 years.

John would go before the Lord to prepare his ways, as had been predicted by Israel’s last prophet, Malachi (Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6). John would give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.

The “salvation” referred to in 1:69-71 is here spelled out as “forgiveness of sins.” John would explain this to people as he prepared the way for the Messiah. His message would be “repent,” for only through repentance can sinners find forgiveness.

A Parent’s Prayer
As Zechariah looked at his baby son, so full of potential and promise, could he see what John would become; how John would challenge Roman immorality, how John would die in prison? No, Zechariah could see none of that, only John’s little life to be blessed and used by God.

Every Christian parent can echo Zechariah’s dreams.Before Jesus comes again, many prophets (preachers, teachers, enablers) will tell the world about God’s salvation.

Will your child endure hardship along the way? Don’t worry, God is in control.

Pray that your child will prepare the way of the Lord, helping many find God’s mercy and eternal life.