The Last Words Before Jesus Came!

If you are using a Bible that has cross-references you will see how many times Zechariah refers back to the Psalms and the prophets. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he could see how what was happening in his life was part of God’s big story, going right back to the covenant he made with Abraham (Genesis 22:16-18), David, and the prophets (e.g. Jeremiah 23:5-6). He could see what was happening in the light of the whole history of Israel.

But he could also see how the details were being fulfilled, and he must have had the whole book of Malachi in mind—Malachi, who had written that God would send his messenger to prepare the way before him. (Malachi 3:1-4) If you know Handel’s Messiah, you will know how skilfully Handel’s librettist (the person who put together the “lyrics”) saw how these prophecies fit together, pointing to the birth of Christ.

Now imagine how Zechariah felt. Before Jesus came, God-fearing Israelites believed that one day God would come and put everything right. They called this “the day of the Lord.” As Malachi describes it, that day would be a day of terrible destruction for people who didn’t abandon their evil ways, and a day of great blessing for those who feared God. Zechariah now understood how his baby son would be Malachi’s “messenger,” who would bring salvation, forgiveness and peace. The day would be like the dawn of sunrise after a long night of darkness. The messenger had been born and was growing up, strong in the spirit, in the wilderness. Everything is now ready for the Messiah.

Respond in Prayer

Father, thank you for this whole story. Thank you for the years of preparation that took place so that the world was ready for Jesus. Thank you for all the people who recorded the stories of Abraham, David and the prophets. Thank you especially for Luke and his understanding of what you were doing—so that we can know the salvation, forgiveness and peace that Jesus brings. Amen.

Annabel Robinson