Friday, December 19, 2014
Luke 1:76-79 "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 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."
JOHN'S MINISTRY CONTINUES
Zechariah -- in his song of praise, the Benedictus -- goes on to make a prophecy about the important work that his son, John the Baptist, would do. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Zechariah that John would prepare the way for Jesus. This he would do by giving people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, worked by the tender mercies of God who sent His Son to earth from heaven to deliver them from their sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. When John grew up, he carried out his ministry as the forerunner of God's Son faithfully and diligently, as we read in Luke chapter three and other Scriptures.
The ministry of John is still being carried on today. Not directly, of course, but through those whom God has called to proclaim His life-giving Word:
-- through pastors whom He calls to preach repentance and remission of sins to the members of His flock in the congregations they serve,
-- through missionaries He calls to share the words of eternal life with those living in darkness and the shadow of death in far away lands,
-- through Christian Day School teachers, Sunday School teachers, and other Christian educators whose task it is to share the life-giving Word of the Lord with the children and youth of the church.
-- Then, too, God has called each Christian to be ready always to give an answer whenever someone asks us about our hope in Christ, a hope
solidly based on the Bible teaching of the forgiveness of sins won by Christ for all through His redemptive work.
Dear God, help us spread the Good News of Your Son, born at Bethlehem, the rising sun who came from heaven to shine on us living in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the path of peace.
Oh, may He soon to every nation Find entrance where He is unknown,
With life and light and full salvation, That heathendom may be o'erthrown
And healing to the hearts may come In heathen land and Christian home!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 65:6)
