My Jesus Journey – Luke 1:57-80, John the Baptist is born

God specializes in the impossible.

He makes the mute speak. He unfolds the future and redeems us from our chains and from ourselves. He turns the darkness to light.

And, for an old woman who had given up hope of having a child, God’s kindness rested on her tear-stained soul, and she bore a son. God blessed her to raise the man who would prepare the way for the Lord.

Zechariah must have found ways to communicate God’s promise to his wife Elizabeth, even though God had taken away his ability to speak because of his unbelief. When their son was born, Elizabeth insisted on naming their child John, even though all the relatives protested because that wasn’t a family name. She knew what the angel had said to Zechariah. Zechariah agreed, writing out “His name is John” so that everyone would know what his son would be called. At that moment, Zechariah could speak. After nine long months, Zechariah’s first words were praise to His God!

God transformed Zechariah’s silence into joyful worship.

Zechariah began to prophecy about God’s promises: promises that were fulfilled, promises yet to be, and promises meant to live out today. In the course of Zechariah’s praise, God shifted his focus from promises “to be” toward promises “to live”. He went from looking forward to the day they will be saved, to believing and living in the freedom of present redemption. What God promises, is.  The Messiah was here, and great joy and freedom should be grasped that day, not just “some day”.

Zechariah’s final declaration paints a beautiful picture of God’s salvation.

Because of God’s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.

God brings light into the blackness of our hearts and hopeless existence. His tender mercy rescues you and me from the pain and loneliness there in the darkness, and gently and patiently guides us to His peace, where we can find healing, and ultimately, peace.

God makes the mute speak. He gives us promises we can live out now. He brings light to our darkness.

Nothing is impossible with God.

Check out this powerful song:
Matthew West – Into the Light (Official Lyric Video)