It Starts Small

The Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, has kept His covenant.

He has come and redeemed His people.

As David and Isaiah and Zechariah rested upon the promises of God, we too rest upon His promises. God keeps His promises or covenant in Christ. Christ is the Son of God. His name is Jesus, and He has saved His people from their sins.

It was Zechariah’s time, as a priest of the temple, to burn incense to the Lord. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, “standing on the right side of the altar of incense.” The angel told him to fear not, for his wife Elizabeth would bear him a son. His name would be called John (1:13). The angel promised that Zechariah would have joy and gladness, “and many shall rejoice at his birth” (1:14). And God’s people still rejoice today. The promise continues.  John would be filled with the Holy Spirit, “even from his mother’s womb” (1:15). And, then the promise of redemption: “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God” (1:16).

Zachariah questioned the angel of the Lord about the promise of a child. He received a sign he could not question: “Behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed” (Luke 1:20).

Elizabeth soon conceived, and when her time came, she brought forth a son (1:57). Zechariah and Elizabeth obeyed the command of the Lord, naming the boy John. He wrote his name upon the tablet. His mouth was opened. Zechariah’s first words were to praise God (1:64). And all the people questioned in their hearts, “What manner of child shall this be?” (1:66).

Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he began to prophesy. He was to declare the truth by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. He needed to address the unspoken question on the hearts of God’s people. This included his own heart and Elizabeth’s. “What manner of child shall this be?”

Zechariah’s praise began with “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel.” It is only the Lord who is worthy to be praised and receive honor because of birth of John. Why? The Lord God of the Covenant has visited His people. He has redeemed His people. He has also raised up a “horn of salvation.” The horn of salvation refers to glory and power of the grace of God to save. The Lord has done this according to His promise which He Himself spoke through His prophets (1:70). This visitation and work of redemption come, as promised, through the house of His servant David.

When we read this set of scripture, what were the promises revealed?

What would be the result of these promises?

The first promise is that the Lord’s people would be saved from their enemies. They would also be saved from the hands that hated them. This promise is also for His people today, for we are taught to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever” (Matthew 6:10–13). Within the kingdom of our Lord, the King of kings will save, protect, and claim the victory over all evil.

What else is promised? That his people will be able to perform mercy and remember his “holy covenant.’” What is this covenant? It is the oath which He swore to uphold to “father Abraham.” What does this covenant contain? Our Lord would grant us the ability to serve him without fear. We were delivered out of the hands of the enemy. He gives us the desire to serve him. Our service would be in “holiness and righteousness.” We are to obediently serve our Lord before His presence all the days of our lives.

Our Lord delivers us out of darkness into His marvelous light, into His kingdom. In this new relationship, the covenant is fulfilled. The promise that the Lord will be our God and we will be His people is realized. In this relationship we serve the King of kings, our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.

Zechariah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, turned to his new born son, John. What was his position in the Kingdom?

First, John was to be the “prophet of the Highest.” He would go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways. John, God’s prophet, was to perform his service before the presence of the person of God the Father. He was a chosen servant who would declare that given command of all of God’s prophets, “Thus saith the Lord!” In so doing, John was to prepare the way of the Lord, of God the Son.

His message was clear. He was to give “knowledge of salvation unto” God’s people. They will receive this knowledge through the “remission of their sins.” There is only one way to know the salvation of the Lord. We achieve this through the forgiveness of our sins. This is the glorious message of salvation. God’s people have been released from sin and guilt. They are freed from the deserved punishment through the shed blood of Christ. He released us from sin and guilt. He took upon Himself what we deserved. This includes the eternal wrath of God the Father. This wonderful message of salvation is given through the tender mercy of God. God has visited His people. He is to give light to those who sit in darkness and those in the shadow of death.

Today we live in the now. How is the Lord leading you to prepare the way for Jesus’ second coming? Are you actively speaking His gospel message to others?

© Kimberlee Smith 2026 http://www.itstartssmall.com All rights reserved.