Luke 1:57-80
RTNT 2021. I note below that in 2019 I really saw the distinction in Zacharias’ prayer between his prophecies for Jesus (Luke 1:68-75) and John (Luke 1:76-79). But today in his prophecy concerning Jesus verses 74 and 75 stuck out: …that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. Zacharias probably had in mind the same Messiah that most Jews expected, a powerful ruler who would overthrow Roman rule and re-establish Jewish sovereignty as it was in the days of David and Solomon. Little did they know that the Messiah’s deliverance would be much more complete than just a simple political deliverance, but that it would free each and every one of us from the bondage of sin – a much greater power over them (and us) than any Roman or other political rule. Jesus’ deliverance was/is so complete and we have only to accept it; the work is done – let us rejoice and be glad in it!
See also: January 6 / Luke 1:57-66 and January 7 / Luke 1:67-80 from 2019.
Luke 1:80 notes that John was in the wilderness until he went public, same for Jesus. That critical wilderness time of listening to God and praying.