This Advent we’ve looked at the songs of Luke 1.  Mary’s Magnificat and Zechariah’s Benedictus.  Both speak of fear.  Justin Taylor & John Newton shed light:

Sunday I plan to preach on Zechariah’s Song, the Benedictus, from Luke chapter one.

The old Dutch scholar, William Hendriksen, listened to the music of Zechariah’s song and remarked that his exuberant song has objective and subjective tones to it:

“Objectively it amounts to reconciliation with God through David’s horn, the Rising Sun, the Messiah. Subjectively it is the quiet and comforting assurance of forgiveness and adoption. It is the smile of God reflected in the reconciled sinner’s heart, the shelter from the storm, the hiding-place in the shadow of His wings, the stream that issues from the fountain of grace. To that peace the Rising Sun directs our feet.”

Sunday I plan to preach on Zechariah’s Song, the Benedictus, from Luke chapter one.

“Socrates taught for 40 years, but his life and teaching have made no songs. Plato taught for 50 years, but he did nothing to cause the human soul to blossom with life. Yet, Jesus came and lived for only 33 years on this earth and taught only three years. His teachings, as well as His Person, His Promises, and His Power have inspired the souls of Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo de Vinci to paint glorious scenes; the hearts of Dante and Milton and Donne to erupt in poetic verse; and the Songs—O the greatest music and Songs of the Ages came from those whose lives were touched by Christ: Haydn, Handel, Bach, and Mendelssohn. All of these men composed to the praise of Jesus Christ.

Indeed, it is said that Jesus Christ changed Mendelssohn’s music from a minor key to a major key.This is the picture of what happened to Zechariah. The music of the Lord invaded his soul. It is the music of wonder and joy and freedom when the Word of the God comes in power to announce that salvation is at hand.”    –Mike Milton

Isaiah 53:1-5

Theme: A Servant Who Suffers

Jesus is more than just a super-hero. He doesn’t just save us from bad guys – he saves us from the power of our sin. To do that Jesus had to become a human being (what we celebrate at Christmas), but he also had to go to the cross and die, and overcome death through his resurrection (what we celebrate at Easter).  Don’t forget about Easter during Christmas! Thank God for all that he has done for us in Jesus – Christmas and Easter.