THURSDAY December 19, 2024

The Prophet of the Highest

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins....”
Luke 1:76-77

In answer to prayer, God had given Zacharias a son in his old age. For a time, he was mute because of his unbelief. After writing on a tablet to establish to his neighbors and relatives that his son’s name was to be John, his mouth was opened, and he could now speak. Everything happened just as the angel Gabriel had said.

Zacharias the priest was filled with the Holy Spirit and continued his lengthy prophecy, which included his son’s future ministry. John was chosen to be the messenger––the prophet of the Highest––who would herald the coming Messiah. John was called to prepare God’s people for the coming of the Lord.

John would become a fiery preacher in the wilderness of Judea. He would call people to repent so that they could be forgiven of their sins. As John preached repentance, people would be deeply convicted. Zacharias’ son would become known as John the Baptist, because he would baptize people in the Jordan River. As they turned to the Lord, the people’s hearts would be made ready for their coming Messiah.

John the Baptist would proclaim to men asking who he was: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” as the prophet Isaiah said’ ” (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3). In his ministry, John would always point people to Christ––not himself.

This was the child given to a faithful priest and his wife; this was a child who had a tremendous call on his life––John the Baptizer. Jesus would say of His relative: John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. Are you excited about the Gospel message? May it not be for a while, but from now into eternity.

The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory—because at the Father’s will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross.
~J.I. Packer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!