Luke 1:57-66

At the usual time, John the *Baptist was born. Elizabeth’s family and neighbours knew that the *Lord had arranged this birth. It was a time of great joy for them all.

God told Abraham to *circumcise every male in his family. And this was the rule for all his *descendants. They had to *circumcise every baby boy when he was 8 days old (Genesis 17:9-14). So, Zechariah and Elizabeth took John and they *circumcised him on the 8th day.

It was normal to give to the boy a name from his family. So the family wanted to call the boy Zechariah. The boy’s father, Zechariah, could not speak but Elizabeth stopped them. She insisted that they called the boy John. The *angel told Zechariah to give this name to the boy (1:13).

The family would not allow Elizabeth to call the baby John. They told her that nobody in the family had that name. Then they asked Zechariah. He could not speak or hear. So, he wrote, ‘His name is John.’ In this, he obeyed the *angel and God cured him. He could now both speak and hear. His immediate reaction was to praise God.

All the people knew that God was at work. They saw that an old couple had a baby. They saw that God cured Zechariah when he called his son John. This caused them to know the fear of God. And they understood that God had a very special plan for John’s life.

Zechariah’s song – Luke 1:67-80

v67 The *Holy Spirit filled John’s father Zechariah and Zechariah *prophesied.

v68 ‘Praise the *Lord God of *Israel! He has come and he has made his people free. v69 He has sent a powerful *Saviour to us. Our *Saviour comes from the family of God’s servant David. v70 By his holy *prophets long ago, God said that he would do this. v71 He promised to save us from our enemies and from the power of all who hate us. v72 He has been kind to our *ancestors and he has remembered his holy promise. v73 God made that promise to our *ancestor Abraham. v74 He promised to rescue us from our enemies’ power so that we could serve him without fear. v75 We can now be holy and we can live in a right manner with God all our lives.

v76 You, my child, will be a *prophet of the *Most High. You will go ahead of the *Lord to prepare his ways. v77 You will make known to his people that the *Lord can save them. He can forgive their *sins.

v78 By God’s love and kindness, a sun from heaven will rise upon us. v79 The sun will shine on those people who live in darkness and in death’s shadow. It will guide them into a life of calm and quiet ways. He will lead us to a peaceful way of life.’

v80 The child grew up and he became bold in spirit. He lived in the deserts until the day when he appeared to the people in *Israel.

Verse 67 The *Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah and he *prophesied. We call this *prophecy Zechariah’s song. Many Christians know Zechariah’s song as the Benedictus. Benedictus is the first word in the song in the *Latin language.

The song is in two parts. In the first part, Zechariah praises God because God has sent the *Saviour (verses 67-75). The *Saviour is Christ. In the second part, Zechariah speaks about the work of John the *Baptist (verses 76-79).

Verses 68-70 God ‘has come’ means that God has visited his people.

*Prophecy sometimes speaks of the future as if it had already happened. The *Lord has, in the past made *Israel’s people free. Here it means that God will rescue his people by means of the *Christ. Many people thought that this was a political rescue. They expected the *Christ to rescue them from the *Romans. (*Israel was under the rule of the *Romans.) But the work of the *Christ was to make people free from *sin and death. This work of the *Christ was not only for the people from *Israel, but also for people from every nation.

Jesus now makes his people free. This means that he has paid the price to make them free. Jesus, the powerful *Saviour, paid the price for our *sins when he died for us. Jesus has taken the punishment because of our *sins. We need to *repent and to believe this. Then God will forgive us.

We are free when God forgives our *sin. We are free because the *Lord gives to us a new life. Death cannot end this new life. This new life will never die. This is what we call ‘eternal life’.

Verses 71-75 The *Old Testament in many places tells us that God would send a *Saviour to his people. This *Saviour would be a *descendant of King David. Both Mary and Joseph were *descendants of the family of David. So, by his human mother, Jesus belonged to that family. Jesus is the *Saviour that God promised to send.

The promise to Abraham was that God would defeat the enemies of his *descendants. Then Abraham’s *descendants could live in the country that God had promised to them. Also, because of Abraham, God would *bless all nations. God would save his people from their enemies.

The *descendants of Abraham include all who believe in the *Lord Jesus (Galatians 3:6-9). The enemies from which Jesus came to rescue us are *Satan, *sin and death.

The purpose of *salvation is that we should serve God. Because of Jesus, we need have no fear. He has removed the punishment because of our *sins. We can be holy and we can live with God.

Verses 76-79 The second part of Zechariah’s song is about his son John. Zechariah said that John would be a *prophet of the *Most High God. It seems that there had been no national *prophet among the *Jews for about 400 years.

John would tell the people to *repent of their *sins. He would tell them that the *Christ could forgive them.

God’s love and kindness are such that he sent the *Lord Jesus from heaven. The ‘sun’ that shines upon his people means the *Lord (see Isaiah 60:1-2). And the ‘darkness’ means *sin. While the people were in the darkness of *sin, God’s light shone upon them. In other words, he took away their *sin and he gave to them a new life. He made them free from *sin and death.

Verse 80 The child John grew up to be a man of strong character. He lived a private life in the desert. When the time came, he appeared to the people in the desert of Judea (Matthew 3:1). He was then about 30 years old. Luke will tell us about John’s work in chapter 3.

gospel ~ the good news that God saves people from sin because of Jesus Christ.
Gospel ~ The first 4 books of the New Testament are called Gospels.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on earth.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.'New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on earth.
disciple ~ a person who follows a leader, especially the 12 men that Jesus chose to be with him.
AD ~ years after Jesus Christ.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.
Saviour ~ a title of Jesus. He is called the Saviour because he saves us from our sins.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.
Baptist ~ the title that we use for John, whom God sent to prepare people for the Christ’s arrival.
Christ ~ the Christ is the name for the person whom God would send to be the Saviour of his people. Jesus is the Christ and he was called Christ.
Saviour ~ a title of Jesus. He is called the Saviour because he saves us from our sins.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.
preach ~ to speak God’s message in public, and to teach his word.
baptise ~ to use water in a special ceremony to show that God has forgiven (washed away) a person’s sin.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.
kingdom ~ the place or territory where a king rules. In the New Testament, we often read about God’s kingdom. This nearly always means the people over whom God rules, and not a territory on earth.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on earth.
Pharisees ~ A group of Jews who tried to keep all God’s rules. They thought that by this they could please God.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.
miracle ~ a powerful deed that does not happen by natural means. Often, miracles seem impossible to explain. Miracles show God’s power.
Samaritan ~ Samaria was a region to the north of Judea. Samaritans are people from Samaria.
demons ~ evil angels that serve the devil.
angel ~ a servant of God from heaven. God made angels to serve him and to take his messages. So, angels are God’s servants from heaven. But there are evil angels who opposed God. These evil angels now serve the devil.
repentance ~ the act of someone who repents.
repent ~ to change one’s mind and heart. People who repent must turn their minds and hearts away from sin. They ask God to help them so that they can now serve him.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.
Sabbath ~ the Jewish day for rest and worship. It is our Saturday.
Jewish ~ people or things that are from the Jews.
worship ~ the act when someone shows honour to God (or to a false god). When a person worships, that person praises God. That person thanks God. And that person respects God.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.
prophet ~ a person who speaks for God. A prophet can sometimes say what will happen in the future.
faith ~ trust in someone or something; belief and trust in God and in Jesus Christ his Son.
leper ~ a person with a serious skin disease called leprosy.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God. The Jews had a temple in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God. But at other temples, people worshipped false gods.
worship ~ the act when someone shows honour to God (or to a false god). When a person worships, that person praises God. That person thanks God. And that person respects God.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.
Lord ~ a title for God, or Jesus, to show that he is over all people and things. In the Old Testament, LORD was a special name for God. The word ‘Lord’ can also mean a master or a ruler.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible; the holy things that the writers wrote before Jesus’ birth.
gospel ~ the good news that God saves people from sin because of Jesus Christ.
Gospel ~ The first 4 books of the New Testament are called Gospels.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on earth.
apostle ~ someone whom God sends; especially one of the 12 men whom Jesus chose to be his helpers.
Greek ~ the original language of the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on earth.
Roman ~ Rome was the capital city of the rulers at the time of the New Testament. Anything that belonged to Rome was called Roman.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on earth.
angel ~ a servant of God from heaven. God made angels to serve him and to take his messages. So, angels are God’s servants from heaven. But there are evil angels who opposed God. These evil angels now serve the devil.
altar ~ a special table where priests burned sacrifices or incense for God.
sacrifice ~ something that people gave to God. It was usually an animal or a bird that the priests burned on an altar. Sometimes people gave sacrifices in order to thank God. And sometimes people gave sacrifices so that God could forgive sin. When Jesus died, he was the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
incense ~ something that gives a sweet smell when it burns. The priests burned it when they praised God in the temple.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God. The Jews had a temple in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God. But at other temples, people worshipped false gods.
worship ~ the act when someone shows honour to God (or to a false god). When a person worships, that person praises God. That person thanks God. And that person respects God.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.
incense ~ something that gives a sweet smell when it burns. The priests burned it when they praised God in the temple.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God. The Jews had a temple in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God. But at other temples, people worshipped false gods.
worship ~ the act when someone shows honour to God (or to a false god). When a person worships, that person praises God. That person thanks God. And that person respects God.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.

'Holy Spirit ~ God’s Spirit whom Jesus sent to help his people. The Holy Spirit is another name for God, also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ and the Comforter. The Holy Spirit is a person but not human. He carries out God’s work on earth. He is God, equal with God the Father and with God the Son.
Israel ~ the country of the Jews.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.
prophet ~ a person who speaks for God. A prophet can sometimes say what will happen in the future.
vision ~ like a dream. During a vision, a person seems to see something that has a special message or meaning for him. The person may or may not be asleep when he sees the vision.
pregnant ~ the state of a woman who is expecting a baby.
BC ~ years before Jesus Christ.
exile ~ When people have to live in a foreign country, they are in exile. Such a person is called an exile.
sacrifice ~ something that people gave to God. It was usually an animal or a bird that the priests burned on an altar. Sometimes people gave sacrifices in order to thank God. And sometimes people gave sacrifices so that God could forgive sin. When Jesus died, he was the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
altar ~ a special table where priests burned sacrifices or incense for God.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.
incense ~ something that gives a sweet smell when it burns. The priests burned it when they praised God in the temple.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God. The Jews had a temple in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God. But at other temples, people worshipped false gods.
worship ~ the act when someone shows honour to God (or to a false god). When a person worships, that person praises God. That person thanks God. And that person respects God.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.
Hebrew ~ the language of the Jews and of the Old Testament.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible; the holy things that the writers wrote before Jesus’ birth.
repent ~ to change one’s mind and heart. People who repent must turn their minds and hearts away from sin. They ask God to help them so that they can now serve him.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.
Christ ~ the Christ is the name for the person whom God would send to be the Saviour of his people. Jesus is the Christ and he was called Christ.
Saviour ~ a title of Jesus. He is called the Saviour because he saves us from our sins.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.

'Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible; the holy things that the writers wrote before Jesus’ birth.
throne ~ the special chair for the king or for an important person.
bless ~ to be especially kind to someone.'Most High ~ a name for God.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Lord ~ a title for God, or Jesus, to show that he is over all people and things. In the Old Testament, LORD was a special name for God. The word ‘Lord’ can also mean a master or a ruler.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible; the holy things that the writers wrote before Jesus’ birth.
prophecy ~ a message from God that a person speaks by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit ~ God’s Spirit whom Jesus sent to help his people. The Holy Spirit is another name for God, also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ and the Comforter. The Holy Spirit is a person but not human. He carries out God’s work on earth. He is God, equal with God the Father and with God the Son.
Scripture ~ the books of the Bible.
tribe ~ a large family of people who have a common ancestor. The nation called Israel grew from the 12 sons of Jacob. Their 12 families became the 12 tribes of Israel.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Israel ~ the country of the Jews.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.
Jewish ~ people or things that are from the Jews.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.
soul ~ the part of a person that we cannot see. It is in us during our life. And it continues to live after we die. It is our inner life (not the body).
Latin ~ an old language that Christians used in worship.
worship ~ the act when someone shows honour to God (or to a false god). When a person worships, that person praises God. That person thanks God. And that person respects God.
circumcise ~ to cut off the loose skin from the end of the sex part of a boy.
prophesy ~ to speak a prophecy.
prophecy ~ a message from God that a person speaks by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit ~ God’s Spirit whom Jesus sent to help his people. The Holy Spirit is another name for God, also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ and the Comforter. The Holy Spirit is a person but not human. He carries out God’s work on earth. He is God, equal with God the Father and with God the Son.
prophecy ~ a message from God that a person speaks by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit ~ God’s Spirit whom Jesus sent to help his people. The Holy Spirit is another name for God, also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ and the Comforter. The Holy Spirit is a person but not human. He carries out God’s work on earth. He is God, equal with God the Father and with God the Son.
Satan ~ a name for the devil. There are several other names for him in the New Testament. In the Hebrew language, Satan means ‘the accuser’; that is, the enemy.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on earth.
Hebrew ~ the language of the Jews and of the Old Testament.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their *descendants.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible; the holy things that the writers wrote before Jesus’ birth.
salvation ~ the result when God saves us from sin and punishment; the new life that God gives to those people who believe in the Lord Jesus.
sin ~ the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God.
Lord ~ a title for God, or Jesus, to show that he is over all people and things. In the Old Testament, LORD was a special name for God. The word ‘Lord’ can also mean a master or a ruler.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible; the holy things that the writers wrote before Jesus’ birth.