The Way of Peace

76 " 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,

77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,

78 Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace."

Luke 1:76-79, NKJV

And you, child, will . . . guide our feet into the way of peace. This remarkable passage gives us the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth; Elizabeth, a cousin of Mary the mother of Jesus, became pregnant in her old age. When Zacharias, the High Priest, was in the temple serving incense, the angel, Gabriel, appeared to him and spoke these words in Luke 1:13-15:

"Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit , even from his mother's womb."

Because Zacharias did not believe Gabriel, he was mute until the birth of his son, John. When the day came for the circumcision of the baby, God loosed Zacharias' tongue and he spoke the words of the prophecy shown above in verses 76-79. (For the entire prophecy, read Luke 1:67-79.)

God used John the Baptist as a forerunner for Christ, announcing the coming of the Savior, Christ Jesus. Christ, the Dayspring on High, visited this earth for the sole purpose of providing complete salvation for His people from their sins. Christ is the only way to true peace, joy, and happiness. If you look for it any other place, you will not find it. Christ came, to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Pray, today, that God would truly bring you to the Way of Peace through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His life as a ransom for His people. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!