And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:67-79
One of the most beautiful and moving words in all the Christmas story is that in Luke 1:79 which speaks of our Lord's coming 'To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace'.
Old Zacharias had been waiting, watching, hoping and praying, and was now impelled by the Spirit to utter these words which express the heart-cry of a world adrift from God, tempest-tossed and not comforted. There is the sound of many voices in these words - the sob of the widow, the agony of the sufferer on the sick bed, the restlessness of the unsatisfied heart, the burden of the guilty soul, the loneliness of the old and the unwanted, the desolation of the orphan - many differing circumstances, but the need the same in each - the way of peace.
But in this war-threatened, restless world of ours, many hearts are asking whether there can be any sort of reality in the message of Christmas. What meaning can there be in the song of the angels about peace on earth in the light of all we see and hear of strife and disorder?
Ah, the Christ-Child was born a King, and it is because the world has refused His Kingship that it is so torn with hatred and fear. This is why the minds of Christians turn thoughtfully at this time to the Second Coming of Christ, for it is only then, when He comes as the King He is, that all that has been spoken of Him in the Scriptures will come to pass. Peace on earth is not yet a fact but a prophecy and will be fulfilled when He comes to reign.
In the meantime, although nations refuse Him, it is still possible for us to experience His blessing. Hearts may yield to His Kingship where nations have failed, and prove what they have missed, that He is indeed the Prince of Peace and can give men peace in the midst of all the turmoil and uncertainty of our time.
Herein lies the real wonder of this happy season - Christmas can happen to us, and does, when Christ is born in our hearts. The true meaning of Christmas and its incomparable blessedness, lies not merely in that He came long ago to the manger in Bethlehem, but that He should be born and dwell in our poor hearts. It is this heavenly joy that we would wish for all whom we love this Christmas-time.
For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:6-7