A Season of WaitingSýnishorn

Power, Promise, and Peace

Let’s set the scene. Zechariah, a priest, has had an angel of the Lord appear to him announcing that his prayers had been heard and that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son named John who would prepare the way for the Lord. Initially sceptical due to their old age, John is struck mute by the angel as a sign of the truth of the message. They find themselves at the centre of a divine plan, their home becoming a place of miraculous fulfilment of God’s promises through the extraordinary role their child will play in God’s redemptive plan. The atmosphere is one of awe and wonder as they anticipate the birth of their son.

There’s a pivotal moment as Zechariah breaks his silence with a powerful declaration reflecting deep faith and gratitude for the fulfilment of God’s promises. Like a kind of musical overture, Zechariah’s prophecy sets up what is to come, while reflecting refrains from long before.

What he says is full of power: ‘He has raised up a horn of salvation for us’ (v69). In biblical texts, ‘horns’ are symbolic of power and victory. And what he says is full of promise: ‘as he said through his holy prophets of long ago’ (v70). By reflecting on the prophecies of old he also points to promises of the future and to God’s master plan. And what he says is full of peace: ‘… to guide our feet into the path of peace’ (v79), God’s desire and plan for all who choose to believe and follow Him.

Power, promise, and peace. Three themes that we should always keep at the centre of the true Christmas message.

Written by Robbie Parkin