Zechariahs Song: Dawning of the Kingdom as Johns Role

The first thing John the Baptist's father Zechariah said once mouth was reopened was a Holy Spirit inspired prophesy about his son, calling him the prophet of the Most High. Praising God for promising mankind salvation through the line of David he recalls the promises of God for security (Jeremiah 23:3-8) through the establishment of God's rule (Isaiah 9:6-7). His paternal pride comes along the Spirit's inspiration as he dotes on his son's destiny to fulfill the words of Malachi 3:1 to prepare the way for the Lord, who will “give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 1:77) to fulfill the words of Jeremiah 31:34b. Just like the angel Gabriel predicted, John is to bring the lost people back to their Lord “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Malachi 4:6) “making 'them ready for the Christ” (Luke 1:15-17). When Jesus Christ arrives and begins His ministry He brings these prophesies to pass, so that those “living in darkness” indeed acknowledged Him because they were baptized by John (Luke 7:29-30). Thus, through John the Baptist, Christ appears as Zechariah prophesied and Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 9:1-2), “a rising sun from heaven will shine in the darkness and in the shadow of death” guiding us by His teachings and onto the path of peace through His ultimate work on the cross.

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