The story of the birth of Jesus Christ is also the story of John the Baptist. The two men would be bound together in their service of God’s will. When Zechariah is finally able to speak again, Luke records his first words.
After stating, “His name is John,” Zechariah bursts into praise for God, and the praise he speaks tells us about who the coming Christ is and also what God promises through him.
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.’”
Luke 1: 67-68
Like John the Baptist, Zechariah heralds the coming of Christ. It is interesting, too, how he phrases his prophecy.
‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.’
Q: Some people argue about whether or not Jesus is really God in the flesh. How does this first verse of Zechariah’s song speak to this question?
The God of Israel has come to His people in the Person of Jesus. It sounds pretty clear and with the added information from the book of John it is extremely clear that God has come in human flesh (John 1: 1 – 18; see also Luke 2: 11). We are blessed with a God who wants a relationship with each one of us and will do anything not against His nature to see that happen – and He did do what was necessary.
Boldly! & Clearly!
The Redeemer has come – Emmanuel, God is with Us!
The Perfect lamb has come to redeem His people
Thank you, all!
The directness of God’s statement through Zechariah caught me off guard.