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 ... because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 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 1:67-68, 78-79)
It is a great joy to have a newborn baby. It is an even greater joy to know that your dear child will grow up to serve the Lord as the prophet who will get things ready for Jesus. This is Zechariah's joy as he looks at John.
But he has an even greater joy than that, and it's one we share with him. Zechariah knows Jesus is coming, born only six months after John—so close in time that their adult ministries will overlap. And Jesus is no mere prophet—He is "the Lord God of Israel" Himself, who has "visited and redeemed His people." God is not just reaching down from heaven to fix things in our world; He has come Himself.
And what is that coming like? It is like the sun coming down from the sky to shine in our dark and broken world. It is like joy after grief, like morning after nightmare. Jesus is coming, and He will destroy all the power of sin, death, and the devil. We who trust in Him will never walk in darkness again.
WE PRAY: Jesus, let me see Your light when everything seems dark around me. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Why are people afraid of the dark?
* Can you remember a time in your life when you were so happy to see the morning come? Tell the story if you choose.
* Jesus calls Himself the Light of the world. Why is that a good name for Him?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 84, 90 Revelation 9
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