Luke 1:64-75 - A Message of Redemption and Deliverance

Luke chapter one ends with Zacharias, the priest and husband of Elizabeth, both praising the Lord and prophesying about the coming Messiah and also his son John that had just been born, who later would be better known as “John the Baptist”. For the nine months of his wife’s pregnancy with John, he was both mute and deaf because of his unbelief at the announcement of the angel in the temple. But as soon as he writes on a tablet, “His name is John”, his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he speaks, praising God.   Luke tells us the people in that region were in fear and awe as they see and hear about what is happening. For centuries the people of Israel have been waiting for the Messiah to come that the prophets had been talking about! Now Zacharias has seen an angel and he and his wife in their old age have a son and John suddenly can speak again after his nine months of silence. The people ask concerning the new baby John, “What kind of child is this” (v. 66). And Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks first about the Messiah, and then his son John. His message gives us several beautiful pictures of what the coming of Jesus Christ to earth really means.   The picture of opening a prison door in verse 68. "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people”. The word redeem means "to set free by paying a price." It can refer to the releasing of a prisoner or the liberating of a slave. Jesus Christ came to earth to bring "deliverance to the captives" (Luke 4:18), salvation to people in bondage to sin and death. Certainly, we are unable to set ourselves free; only Christ could pay the price necessary for our redemption (Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-21).   The picture of winning a battle in verse 69. “And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David”. In Scripture, a horn symbolizes power and victory (1 Kings 22:11; Ps. 89:17, 24). The picture here is that of an army about to be taken captive, but then help arrives and the enemy is defeated. In the previous picture, the captives were set free; but in this picture, the enemy is defeated so that he cannot capture more prisoners. It means total victory for the people of God.   The word salvation in verses 69 and 71, carries the meaning of "health and soundness." No matter what the condition of the captives, their Redeemer brings spiritual soundness. When you trust Jesus Christ as Savior, you are delivered from Satan's power, moved into God's kingdom, redeemed, and forgiven (Col. 1:12-14).   Where did the Redeemer come from? He came from the house of David (Luke 1:69), who himself was a great conqueror. God had promised that the Savior would be a Jew (Gen. 12:1-3), from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10), from the family of David (2 Sam. 7:12-16), born in David's city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Both Mary (Luke 1:27) and Joseph (Matt. 1:20) belonged to David's line. The coming of the Redeemer was inherent in the covenants God made with His people (Luke 1:72), and it was promised by the prophets (Luke 1:70).   My friend, we have a great deliverance from the enemy of sin and death, from the enemy of self, and from the enemy, Satan. This is all because of God’s grace. “That He would grant us…” (v. 74). We don’t deserve this great redemption, or in any way merit it! Paul put it this way to Titus, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7).   Have you personally experienced this wonderful grace and salvation today?   God bless!