Shouted for us

Campbell Dye December 16, 2021 0 0

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Luke 1: 67-68 (NRSVA)

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:

68 ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
    for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.

So, today we leave Mary’s song of praise, The Magnificat, behind and move on to the second great declaration of God’s awesomeness which we find in the first chapter of Luke – the Benedictus. These are the words of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.

The occasion is the naming of the child – everyone assumes that he will be named after his father but Elizabeth, the child’s mother, has other ideas. It’s an extraordinary passage. Zechariah appears to have a history of being unable to speak yet, as he agrees with his wife that his son is to be called John, he is suddenly moved to – and able to – speak. What comes out of his mouth is an astonishing affirmation of the context into which John has been born, setting a historical, cultural and theological framework for the life the boy is going to lead.

In today’s verses, Zechariah immediately sets off by giving God the praise of which he is worthy. He then declares that God has come to his people and redeemed them. As we will see, Zechariah’s song plays around with time a bit. He talks of things to come as if they have happened and he merges the eternal with the contemporary.

He is envisioning Jesus in these verses. John is born a little before Jesus but they are near contemporaries. Jesus has not yet been born, yet God’s plan is eternal and fixed. Jesus will come to God’s people and he will redeem them. Zechariah understands the certainty of those ancient promises and also sees their fulfilment to be imminent.

This is a great passage to revisit during advent. Maybe this year will be a bit less frantic in the party stakes than most but, for many of us, December remains a hectic time. For many of us it will be a difficult time as we remember loved ones we have lost or face up to loneliness or difficulty. But whether we are struggling with real issues or simply struggling to deal with that extra mince pie, Zechariah’s declaration is real and was shouted for us – God has come. God has redeemed us.

PRAYER:

Father, as we move towards Christmas, thank you that you have visited us and that you have saved us. Help us to know your Son, Jesus, for who he is. Help us to live our lives for you and to worship you forever. AMEN