There was a priest named Zacharias who loved God very much. He and his wife Elisabeth were already old, and they had no children. But one day something very special happened: an angel appeared to Zacharias and told him that he would have a son. The son was to be called John and lead many people to God.
Soon after, a baby boy was actually born. Everyone rejoiced, but Zacharias could not speak because he had not believed the angel at first. But when he wrote the name “John” on a tablet and praised God, a miracle happened: suddenly Zacharias could speak again!
At that moment, Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to sing. It was a beautiful song of joy and hope. In his song, Zacharias praised God for saving His people. God had promised a Savior, and now that Savior would soon come.
Zacharias spoke of the great King David and of God’s promise that someone from his family would lead the people. This Savior would set the people free so that they could love and serve God without fear and joy.
Little John, who had just been born, was to be an important part of this plan. Zacharias spoke about his son in his song. He said John would be a prophet of God. A prophet is someone who tells people what God wants to tell them. John would go before Jesus and help people prepare for His coming.
Zacharias sang about Jesus coming to show people how to live in peace with God. He would bring light to those who lived in darkness and show them the way to peace.
All who heard Zacharias were amazed at his words. They felt that God was doing something miraculous and that these children John and Jesus would play an important role.
Message of history
God always keeps His promises, and He brings light and hope to the world through Jesus. We can trust that God’s plan is good.
Bible passage
The song of Zechariah, also known as the Benedictus, is found in Luke 1:67-79:
*”And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, prophesied and said:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!
For he visited his people and prepared redemption for them;
and has raised for us a horn of salvation
in the house of his servant David,
as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets,
who have been from time immemorial,
Deliverance from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
to the oath he swore to our father Abraham,
to give us that, redeemed from the hand of our enemies,
to serve him fearlessly,
in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives.
And you, little children, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
in forgiveness of their sins,
through the heartfelt mercy of our God,
through whom we have been visited by the rising from on high,
to shine for those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
to set our feet on the way of peace!” *
