TEXT: Luke 1:57-80

SUBJECT: Studies in the Nativity #4: The Benedictus

The story takes place in "the hill country of Judea", south of Jerusalem. The main characters are Elisabeth, her husband, and their newborn baby.

Months before, an Angel had come to Zacharias bearing good news: He and his aged wife would have a son. And the son would "make ready a people for the Lord". He would introduce God's people to their Savior. This is very good news; in fact, it's too good for the old man to believe! He doubts the angel and is struck dumb for his unbelief.

He remains speechless until his doubts are dispelled. The devout couple have the promised son. They're overjoyed by his birth, of course, and their friends are too, saying, "The Lord has shown great mercy to [them]".

When the baby is eight days old, he's taken to the synagogue to be circumcised and formally named. Everyone assumes he'll be named after his father, but Elisabeth won't have it: "He shall be called John!" The people are embarrassed, for nobody in the family has that name.

What does Zacharias say about it? He doesn't say anything, of course, because he can't speak. But he can write. A tablet is brought and with firm hand he writes, in bold letters, HIS NAME IS JOHN.

This act of obedience frees his tongue. And he puts it to good use, bursting into a song of worship and adoration.

The source of his song is the Holy Spirit; its nature is prophetic. The old man is "filled with the Holy Spirit--Luke informs us--"and prophesies".

What does he have to say? Two things. First, he praises God; then he blesses his son.

"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,

for He has visited and redeemed His

people,

And has raised up a horn of salvation

for us,

In the House of His servant, David,

as He spoke by the mouth of His holy

prophets,

Who have been since the world began."

To "bless" is to "speak well of"--it's the word from which we get "eulogy". The LORD deserves our praise; He gets His due from Zacharias.

Why? Because "He has visited and redeemed His people". "To visit"--in the Old Testament--is to "care for" or "to show mercy". And that's true, of course. But here, it means that--and a whole lot more! In Jesus Christ, God literally "visited" His people. He dropped in on us!

Why did He do this? To "redeem" us. This is a good motive, but can He pull it off? Yes He can, for in Christ, He "raises a horn of salvation for us". What's a horn? Something you blow? Yes, but not here. The "horn" is what a bull or goat uses to fight; it's a symbol of power. In our Lord, God demonstrates His power to save.

This power had long been promised--"since the world began" the prophets had been making it over and over. But now, the promise is fulfilled. God's not just talking salvation any more--He's doing something about it.

Why is He doing that?

Because He said He would. Christ is

"The mercy promised to our fathers,

the remembrance of His holy covenant,

which He swore to Abraham".

"God cannot lie". We know this and believe it. Yet our faith is so weak, He does more than "say" He'll do something. He promises; takes and oath; and swears to it.

What is the result of His coming?

Freedom!

"That we, being delivered from our enemies,

might serve Him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before

Him all the days of our life".

This--I think--alludes to the judges of Israel. What they did for the nation, Christ does for the soul. The people are conquered by a foreign power; cruelly oppressed; unable to break free...until the LORD raises up a judge to repel the enemy and judge His people in peace and prosperity.

That is precisely what our Lord does for our souls. Oppressed by Satan, sin, and guilt, Christ comes and frees us from our enemies and rules over us in love.

With these rich words, Zacharias praises "The Lord God of Israel".

But now, he's got something to say to John. Zacharias--you recall--is an old man. Maybe he won't be around to see the child grow up; maybe he won't be there to bless him when John grows up. And so, he blesses him now. John must

"Be called the prophet of the Highest".

A "prophet" is a spokesman. John will receive a message from God and communicate it to His people.

What will the message be?

"Salvation by the remission of their sins".

This rang a bell in the devout Jew's heart. For God's people had often been "saved". From Egypt, for example, from the Midianites, from the Philistines, from Assyria, from Babylon, and other enemies. The salvation were real and wonderful blessings!

But they weren't final. Full and final salvation awaited the reign of Messiah. He would "Make a new covenant...not like the covenant He made with their fathers when He brought them out of Egypt..." Not like that one! In the New Covenant, He would "Forgive their iniquity and remember their sins no more".

That's what Zacharias had in mind! Not a new Moses; not a new Gideon; not a new David. But God Himself will come and wipe away the guilt and shame of His people.

Why will God do this? Not because we deserve it--we don't! Messiah comes as a result of

"The tender mercies of God".

To whom does Christ come?

"His people". People who have long waited for Christ; people who have prayed for Him; people who taught their children to look for Him. These people will not be disappointed! Their hope is fully justified.

But, he doesn't leave it there. He identifies a second group to whom Christ comes: "Those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death".

"Darkness" stands for ignorance, superstition, and vice. "Sitting in darkness" means they've given up all hope. In his Inferno, Dante says

"Abandon hope, all ye

who enter here".

That's what these people have done. They've given up and surrendered to black despair. They've given up on God, but...

He hasn't given up on them! "The Dayspring from on high has visited [them]" too. "Dayspring" means "the rising sun". In Christ, it has risen on them too. There's light in Him for everyone!

This Light will "Guide our feet into the way of peace". Peace with God, peace with ourselves, peace with others, all given in Christ. He is--John says--"the light that lightens every man who enters the world".

The chapter ends with an epilogue. Speaking of John, "the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel".

God gives a quick glimpse of His glory. Its full display will come later.

Another great story. Its meaning is summed up in one word: "Mercy". Or, in one sentence: "All of God's mercy is offered in Jesus Christ".

I needn't labor the proof. The name "John" means "THE LORD is merciful". No other name is possible for this child, for he has come as a result of God's mercy and to announce it to His people in Christ.

Our Lord is called "the promised mercy". It was not benevolence God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; it was Christ!

His saving work is the product of "The tender mercies of our God".

"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"--Luke never gets tired of saying it. And we're not tired of hearing it! For the believer's life is a nothing but one big, fat mercy of God!

Knowing Christ is a mercy; serving Him is a mercy; suffering for Him is a mercy; dying in Him is a mercy; going to heaven is a mercy.

We are

Debtors to mercy alone.

This means we're no better than anyone else. The Lord forgive us for thinking we are. If you're saved and your husband isn't, it's not because you're better than he is--but because of God's mercy. If you know more than another believer, it's not because you've studied more or prayed harder--but because of God's mercy. The Pharisee thought he was better than others; the publican knew better--"God, be merciful to me the sinner!" The man who didn't need mercy, didn't get any. The one who did need it, got all he needed.

If God is so merciful, it means there is salvation for everyone who wants it. There is no limitation in the love of God, in the blood of His Son, or the power of His Spirit to shut anyone out of heaven. No! The limitation is in you! In your unbelief. Take the mercy of God in faith. And you'll have it.

If God is merciful, we must be too. You know, there is only story in the Bible that really scares me. It's the one about the "Two Debtors". One owed a million dollars, pleaded for mercy--and got it. But then he remembered someone owed him money too--maybe five dollars. He demanded it, and when his friend couldn't pay, he jailed him till the last cent was paid. When the first creditor heard about that, he glued his loan back together and called the heartless man on it--sold him and his family into slavery till his debt was paid too.

That's bad enough, but then comes the punchline:

"So My heavenly Father also will do to you

if each of you, from his heart,

does not forgive his brother his trespasses".

If you want mercy from God, you give it others! You can't have it otherwise. For the supreme mercy of God in Christ is given--not to be hoarded--but to be freely shared with others.

Bless God for His promised Mercy! May we know it better and give it out more freely. For Christ's sake. Amen.