Up until this point in Zechariah’s prophetic song he has been talking about the coming Messiah, Jesus. Now his vision switches to his own newly born son, John.
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…
Luke 1: 76
At the time John is born, Zechariah and Elizabeth are old people. It seems unlikely that they would have still been alive when John started his ministry, so they would never see the fulfillment of his calling with their eyes of flesh. Through the Holy Spirit, however, Zechariah is able to see what John will become: a prophet of the Most High, preparing the way before Him.
Q: What does it say about our God that He would give Zechariah a vision of what was to come?
One thing it says is that He communicates with us and wants to be known.
That he is gracious, even with Zachariah’s doubting God gives him a glimpse of what is to come.
Thank you both! I was struck by how caring our God is. That he would make the effort the let Zechariah know, and through him all of us get to know as well.