Burst

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.” Luke 1:76-78

            This passage is from Zechariah’s song found in the first chapter of Luke.  If you know the story, an angel had come to Zechariah to announce that he, in his (and his wife’s) old age, was to become a father.  After Zechariah questioned what he was hearing, he was rendered speechless; only after he confirms (via a writing tablet) that his son is to be named John as per the angel’s instructions, does he regain his voice.  And he does so in this burst of a song.

            In his song, Zechariah describes the role of his son…it is to, first: “go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,” secondly, “to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,” and then finally remind people “of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.”

            What a burst of poetry from Zechariah.  This turns out to be the job description of his son, whom we have come to know as John the Baptist.  But as we head into Christmas 2012, I can’t help but think this is the job description of every believer and truster in Christ.  And in the troubled times we find ourselves in, this job description is both so needed, and so filled with good news.

            Are not you and I called to “go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him?”  As we get ready to celebrate the first advent of Christ, is there yet another Advent of his coming that we are to prepare the way for?  If you’re like me, as I trip through the evening news, I am ready.  The events in Connecticut just make me even more so ready.  It is no coincidence that among the very last words of the Bible you find, “Come, Lord Jesus.” (visit Revelation 22:20,21).  The apostle John was so ready then; and we should be so ready now.

            Are we not also are to be ready “to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins?”  Almost every news item I see tends to deal with issues caused by sin. There is no way around that fact. I write this not as someone who is perfect, put as someone who can describe himself as “chief of sinners,” just like the apostle Paul described himself (visit 1 Timothy 1:15).  This is just a fact about me and a reflection on the true condition of humanity.  The good news is that there is a wideness in God’s mercy, as the classic old hymn proclaims.  And it is the truth.  Believers and trusters in Christ are not perfect, but they do not stand condemned as we would deserve.  We are, undeservedly and magnificently, forgiven. 

            Why do we have this? Because of the of “tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.”  What a wonderful phrase.  Too often I tend to fall into the habit of thinking of God as a harsh judge.  Here we are reminded that God is filled with “tender mercy.”  The reality is I am far harsher on myself than God has ever been, and ever will be. May the tender mercy of our Lord be the reality in our lives.

            That, my friends, is worth bursting out in song about.  Will you sing with me?