zechariah's song of prophecy

Songs of advent

Today

Zechariah’s song of

prophecy

Zechariah

A faithful priest

… Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was

also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God,

observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly – Luke 1:5-6

But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive,

and they were both very old

Luke 1:7

Zechariah

A fearful priest

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him … When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and

was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has

been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John’ – Luke 1:11-13

He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the

Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the

disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’

Luke 1:16-17

Zechariah

A faithless priest

‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well on in years’

Luke 1:18

‘your prayer has been heard ...’

Luke 1:13

And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this

happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at

their appointed time

Luke 1:20

‘The Lord has done this for me … In these days he has shown his favour

and taken away my disgrace among the people’

Luke 1:25

Zechariah’s song of prophecy

Ministry of Jesus

Luke 1:67-75

Message of John

Luke 1:76-79

Zechariah’s song of prophecy

Ministry of Jesus - Redemption

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them

Luke 1:68

‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to

proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for

the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free

Luke 4:18

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom

with the blood of his Son …

1 Peter 1:7 NLT

Zechariah’s song of prophecy

Ministry of Jesus - Salvation

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us … salvation from our enemies … to rescue us from the hand of our enemies … and to enable us to

serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days

Luke 1:69-75

He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his

own purpose and grace

2 Tim 1:9

Zechariah’s song of prophecy

Message of John - Forgiveness

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

Luke 1:76-77

Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

Zechariah’s song of prophecy

Message of John - Illumination

because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace

Luke 1:78-79

‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have

the light of life’

John 8:12

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in

the sight of the Lord

Luke 1:14