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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 1 - HISTORICAL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRIST'S BIRTH (Luke 1:5 - 2:52)

4. The Birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-80)


LUKE 1:67-75
67 His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,for he has visited and worked redemption for 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 who have been from of old), 71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show mercy towards our fathers,to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father, 74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

The word “Holy Spirit” appears four times in Chapter 1 of Luke’s Gospel (15, 35, 41 and 67), which includes the preparatory period of Christ’s birth. The physician Luke realized clearly that the first role in Christ’s coming was that of God and not of men, for his Spirit revealed the divine designs, drove away doubts, guided the obedient, and filled the weak with his power. Did you realize how the love of God creates knowledge, faith, and fruits in those who willingly join in with the redemptive plan of God? Be open to the Spirit of Christ and you will experience miracles in the brokenness of your proud spirit, thus glorifying your Lord in your surroundings.

Zacharias kept silent for nine months pondering the words of the angel. Then Mary entered the house of Zacharias. His wife cried out in the joy of the Holy Spirit, and the Virgin testified to the old priest how the angel Gabriel appeared before her.

Then Zacharias realized that neither he, nor his wife, nor his child nor Mary were the center of the history of God and of all those heavenly movements, but Mary’s unborn child alone was the eternal promised one. At that moment, the priest who was well read in the scriptures knew that Christ was coming. This knowledge shocked his mind. Oblivious to his surroundings, he glorified God for the work of his Spirit that brought about incarnation.

Great was the rejoicing of the old priest who recovered the use of his speech. He had throughout his life reconciled his wicked people to the Holy One through his sacrifices. He realized that the faraway Glorified One was coming to them in Christ to visit those who were suffering, and that he truly came to them.

This divine coming to men does not signify judgment, destruction, and annihilation in his shining light, but kind grace, merciful salvation, and everlasting redemption. The doubting old priest experienced this grace in himself, for God had forgiven his unbelief and deep doubts, and filled him with his Holy Spirit. Therefore, he magnified the grace and drew his hearers nearer to the power of God’s love. Dear brother, are you tongue-tied, or released and praising the grace of God?

The expression “horn of salvation” refers to the small projection called “horn” on each of the four corners of the Jewish altar. To this men might flee for safety when in danger of avengers, and be safe. As the sacrifice was burnt, these men stood under it as it represented a substitute for them, that they might be spared. As such the experienced priest realized that Jesus was the horn of salvation for all sinners, and whoever took hold of him would not be destroyed by the wrath of God, who takes revenge on all sins, but would be justified looking at him who was slain as a substitute for us at Golgotha. Do you hold fast the horn of salvation?

All those spiritual gifts were not immediately poured on us. They have a long story and deep reason, which the prophets had already foretold. In the Holy Spirit, they saw the coming Christ as a unique person and Savior of the world. Their testimony is true. It is gradually coming true, fulfilled in us, and made perfect in the glorious coming of Christ.

The fathers of faith trusted the living God. They are now seeing the fruits of their faith, for our God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. They rejoiced in paradise on the day of Christ’s birth, magnified God with thanksgiving for the resurrection of the Crucified One, received him who ascended to heaven, and sat down on the throne.

They saw that Christ was he who guaranteed the covenant with God, for no man or nation could make a covenant with the Holy God, but the blood of the Son of God cleanses us and qualifies us to come near to God and live with him in a new covenant, which includes us forever.

God’s oath before Abraham, the faithful nomad, who in his obedience to God was prepared to sacrifice his firstborn child Isaac, found its fulfillment in Christ. In this willingness he was very close to the love of God who gave his only begotten Son on the cross for us. God had sworn to the broken and obedient Abraham that Christ would come of his seed and that in his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:16-17).

Zacharias understood this spiritual plan in the Old Testament, for he was familiar with Scripture. However, he was wrong in his Jewish opinion that the coming Christ would establish the kingdom of God by force and make Jerusalem the capital center of the world. The priest Zacharias yearned for two things: First, cleansing of the sinful people. Second, the nation’s triumph over the foreign enemy.

In spite of this latter earthly yearning, he did not yearn for riches and dignity, but for free public worship and guidance of his nation. He realized the plan of the unique coming of Christ as worship for the entire nation, so that all should come near to God in repentance, cleansing, sanctification, and supplication, in the holiness of his truth and divine righteousness. Christ came to us with those two characteristics, which are beyond our human understanding. He who sets his affections upon the Son of God is divinely justified, and he who abides in him is filled with the Holy Spirit endowed with complete and everlasting holiness.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we magnify you because of the incarnate Christ who came to bring hope and universal salvation to men. Please redeem us from all our earthly longings and make us grounded in your righteousness and holiness so that we may praise you throughout our life.

QUESTION 20: What are the origins and aims of our salvation?

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