God’s Visitation
Luke 1:67-80
August 18, 2024
For those of you have children, was your experience with your newborns like mine? I would stand over the bassinet and hear her cry and wonder, “what will your voice sound like?” I would look at her hands and wonder, “what will you like to do?” and her feet and ask, “where will you go?” and her eyes, “what will you like to read?” and her hair, “how will you like to wear it?” and her knees, “how will they get scraped?”
I was in no hurry to move past the early stages of childhood (or any other stage), but I was curious about what life would be like for our daughters and what they would be like. I suppose that’s pretty common?
I know it was a common sentiment about at least one other baby — John the Baptist: all who knew the story of John’s birth and lived around Zacharias and Elizabeth, Luke tells us, “kept…saying, ‘What then will this child turn out to be?’” (Lk. 1:66).
It seems that the question was asked partially because of Zacharias and what he said (sang) about baby John. In v. 64, Luke tells us that Zacharias’ mouth was opened and he began to speak in praise of God. And it is likely that what he said was recorded for us in the hymn that follows in vv. 68ff. Ironically, the hymn that provoked questions actually anticipated the answer to the questions being asked about John.
What did Zacharias say about John (and Jesus)?
Praise God, for He has come to us — with salvation.
While this song was sung in response to John’s birth, the song really isn’t about John. It’s about John’s God and John’s Savior, and the salvation that the Savior will give His people. This song provides two revelations of God’s salvation for Israel (and us), and hints at appropriate responses to that salvation for us. And it is a reminder to us that when we have salvation, we always have an opportunity to praise God and be joyful.
- What God Did in Israel’s salvation (vv. 67-75)
- What John Would Proclaim about Israel’s Salvation (vv. 76-79)
- How We Should Rejoice in God’s Salvation
Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 1:67-80.
The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.
Words of Grace 