12/12/10- Luke 1:76-80 Zechariah's Prophecy about John Advent 3

76 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, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
(Rooster at Daybreak Usanddeep.com)

Thoughts: John the Baptist was to be the rooster who crowed that the rising sun was coming (vs. 78).  John was to wake us up to the reality of the new day in which the kingdom comes.  It is a day that takes away the darkness, that lights our way so we may not stumble.  There are many walking in darkness today- who have left the ways of the light and are travelling down troubling pathways.  May God use us to call people to wake up to Him. 

John Calvin Abridged: Zechariah affirms that John will be the usher or herald of Christ.  Zechariah shares the essence of the Gospel which is the knowledge of salvation is forgiveness of sins.  We are by nature children of wrath (Eph. 2:3), and the only way to escape this condemnation and ruin is by God. Our righteousness is not found in any other place but in the forgiveness of sins.