Luke 1:57-80 – Jesus: The Forgiver of Sin

Imagine trying to take something away from someone who was stronger than you. You couldn’t do it. In order to take it you would have to first weaken them or take away their power first.

Our sin, those things we have done and continue to do, is stronger than us. We can’t defeat sin and its effects unless the one who is stronger than it, Jesus, first removes its power. This is what Jesus came to earth to do. This is what we will see in today’s passage: Jesus is the forgiver of sin because he has conquered it through his power.

Background

The last bit of prophecy that the Israelites heard was over 400 years ago by the prophet Malachi. Israel was no longer a political power. They had no true king. It seemed like all hope was lost. The promises of God to always have a man ruling on the throne who was a descendant of King David seemed like they were forever lost. But then Malachi said, “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”

Now, over 400 years later, suddenly, the prophetic voice has begun to speak, the Holy Spirit is beginning to move. When the angel told Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband, that his wife was going to have a baby, he doubted and was not allowed to speak until the baby was born. Elizabeth becomes pregnant with John the Baptist by the regenerative power of God. The Spirit of the Lord then comes upon Mary and impregnates her with Jesus. Mary finds out Elizabeth is pregnant and visits her. John leaps in the womb with excitement when he knows Jesus is in the room.

Another 3 months pass and the baby is about to be born. Zechariah has been silent for over 9 months.

Hope is back. Something is happening. Jesus’ birth is part of the final stages of God’s plan of salvation for his people. Salvation required redemption because the people were in bondage to that which was stronger than them, sin and Satan. But Jesus is mighty One who can deliver his people from their sins.

Exposition

Let me just briefly summarize verses 57-66 so I can focus our time on Zechariah’s prophesy.

The prophecy of Gabriel has come true, Zechariah and Elizabeth have a son, John, in their old age. This is a big deal, it is reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah. Word has gotten out. A crowd of neighbors and relatives come and visit them to see the baby and rejoice with them that Yahweh has been merciful to Elizabeth, removing the disgrace of barrenness that existed at that time.

On the eighth day, the priest and others came to circumcise the baby, and, reminiscent of Abraham receiving his name at circumcision, he had not been named yet, the people were going to call him Zechariah, assuming that he would be named after his father.

But Elizabeth, since Zechariah couldn't talk, had obviously, through writing, been told about the vision and what John's name would be. So she tells them that the baby will be named John, “Yahweh is gracious.”

The people disagreed with that name, because it wasn’t the family name, and so looked at Zechariah to get confirmation of what his name would be, disbelieving Elizabeth.

Zechariah probably made signs to them to get him something to write on. And he, after getting a writing instrument, writes a simple and final phrase, "His name is John." When the people saw his writing, they were astonished that he would be named John.

No sooner did this happen, then God gave Zechariah the ability to speak. It is no coincidence that he began to speak. First, it was in alignment with Gabriel's prophecy. Second, he now had words to proclaim that were truly a blessing, words about God's redemption through the Messiah who was coming and the last great prophet who would prepare the way for this Messiah. Zechariah showed his faith and trust in God over tradition and expectations of people. He believed the angel Gabriel and obeyed God by naming the baby John. And what was the first thing out of his mouth?

A prophesy, or song that parallel’s Mary’s faith-filled song. It is rich with the promises and prophesies of the Old Testament. God’s promises are breaking into time. Some scholars say that there could be 33 possible allusions and quotations from the OT.

It starts out with the same praise to God that David gave as his son Solomon was installed as king in his place (1 Kings 1:48). Now, David’s greater son Jesus, God’s Son, has come to earth and so Zechariah praises God using the same words. The King has come.

The whole song is filled with praise: Praising God for keeping his promises to David. Praising God for keeping his promise to Abraham. Praising God for giving him John. Praising God for the coming of the light of the world, keeping the promise made to Malachi.

I am asking you to do something with me and Zechariah today…worship. For all the promises of God are completely fulfilled in Jesus.

Praising God for keeping his promises to David (vv. 68-71)

Listen to the exact promise that Zechariah was referring to in 2 Samuel 7:11b-13: “Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

Visited and redeemed (v. 68b)

What does it mean when it says that God visited and redeemed his people? This is so rich in meaning and gives us such a rich opportunity to praise God, so we will focus our time today on verses 68-71.

But, before we get started I want you to notice that this song is using the prophetic past tense. It speaks of what is coming as if it already happened, it is as if the prophecy is as good as done.

His people (v. 68b)

The first thing that we need to understand is that God has a people, and these are the ones he came to rescue. Are you one of them? If you don’t know if you are or not, he gives you the opportunity today.

Next, we can see that he redeemed his people. What does this mean? It means that he bought them back. Basically, they were not his people before, they were prisoners in the house of the strong man, Satan, who is stronger than us.

Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees who accused him of having a demon that he had bound the strong man, Beelzebul, and plundered his house. Redemption always comes with a price, because it is a buying back. Something was ransomed, and a price must be paid to get it back. It is as if we were kidnapped and someone left a ransom note demanding payment. The major difference, though, is that we can’t blame anyone; we are to blame for our own imprisonment.

Jesus’ mission was to live a perfect life, be brutally killed and take upon himself our sins. Jesus’ life was the payment to buy his people back.

He paid this payment and in so doing, he redeemed for himself a people. If you aren’t one of these right now, you can be today. All you have to do is repent of your rebellion against God, recognize that you can never earn God’s favor, and trust in Jesus’ death for your sake. Believe that he accomplished his task and proved it by rising from the dead, and commit your life to serve him as if he is your master and directs all your life. If you do this, you will be one of these redeemed people. Are you ready to give up trying to make it on your own? Are you ready to hand your life over to God for him to control and govern?

A mighty Savior (v. 69a)

What is a horn of salvation and how is it raised up? This is a metaphor. It is possibly an allusion to Deut. 33:17, where an ox can defeat its enemies with its horns. Historically, it came to simply be understood as strength. So, “God raising up a horn of salvation” is referring to the Savior’s power to save. Essentially, it means a strong or mighty Savior.

A horn in an animal is a weapon for defense and vengeance…and beauty. The horn of salvation being raised up is a mighty display of power. And what is this power…the birth of Jesus. God in flesh…Immanuel. Who has come to plunder the strong man.

Salvation or deliverance (v. 71)

Next there is a praise given to God for the deliverance or salvation from our enemies. But, who are these enemies and when can we expect this deliverance, or has it already happened?

There are three primary enemies of God and ultimately of us: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The world has reacted in judgment against us for our rebellion against God. The earth quakes, the sky hails and thunders, the oceans rage, the sun scorches, the cold freezes, mosquitos bite, animals maim and kill, thorns tear, poison ivy creeps all over us, viruses sicken, cancer kills, and death chases after us day by day and minute by minute, all in judgment against us for our rebellion in our first parents, Adam and Eve, and in us. The world is not right…it is our enemy.

The flesh is also our enemy. It doesn’t want to submit to God. It wants to be number one. It wants all people to be subject to it. It wants to be the one true God to whom all praise, honor, and glory are given. This enemy doesn’t seek to destroy us but would destroy others to be supreme.

Finally, the devil is our enemy. He doesn’t want to submit to God either. He doesn’t have a hint of mercy. He is a thief, a liar, and a murder…from the beginning. This is the enemy outside who tries to destroy us.

We are told that Jesus has tossed his horn of strength and brought salvation to us. But this begs the question about when. When can we expect this deliverance? It certainly doesn’t look or feel like that now. The answer to this question is really the application of this text for us that I will get to momentarily. In the meantime, let’s briefly look at the rest of this song and the prophecy about John and Jesus.

Praise God for keeping his covenant with Abraham (vv. 72-75)

This promise goes further back then David. The mercy, or favor, of God was promised to Abraham. In fact, God made an oath to Abraham that he would bless him and his offspring and make them a blessing to the whole world. In fact, kings would even come from him.

God promised that same deliverance to Abraham and his children from their enemies. These enemies are the same…the world, flesh, and the devil. But this promise went deeper than just deliverance, it extended to the way that God’s people would live and serve God. They wouldn’t serve God in terror or fear, but rather with holiness and righteousness. In other words, the evil that was within them would be taken care of so that they could approach God without fear of judgment and be with him forever.

Praise God for John the Baptist (vv. 76-77)

Zechariah then says what John is going to do. John is going to be a prophet of the Most High. Who is the Most High? God. Jesus. He will be Jesus’ prophet. He will go before Jesus’ public ministry and tell everyone that it is time to repent for God’s kingdom has come. Jesus, the king is here. He will tell people what Jesus is coming to do…bring salvation from sin.

John will tell them about their sin and their need for forgiveness and proclaim that Jesus Christ is the one who can forgive them. He is the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. In other words, he is the lamb to be slaughtered in place of the people who really deserve justice and death.

Why?

Why would God do this? Because he is filled with tender mercy. He cares about the people he has made and wants them to spend eternity with him. He loves his creatures. He loves you. He wants you to be with him forever.

The problem is that he can’t be with you if you are trying to stand in your own righteousness and goodness. Your goodness is as filthy as dirty rags. Jesus came to wear those rags for you and give you his precious and holy clothes. Will you agree to this exchange? It is offered to you today.

Praise God for the sunrise (vv. 78-79)

Malachi told of this day. Remember what we read, “the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” Zechariah tells us that the sunrise will visit us. This sunrise will visit us from on high and will give light to those who are in the dark, in the shadow of death. The sunrise will show those who are about to be consumed in judgment that there is light. Light that will take us out of the darkness and into the light of God. Jesus is the light of the world. A light that gives life. A light that will guide us into the way of peace.

Peace

But what is this peace that is offered? The understanding at the time of Christ was that peace or shalom is a person’s total well-being that results from being in harmony with God. It really means spiritual prosperity, wholeness, and salvation. It is ultimately reconciliation with God and the comfort of being right with God.

We are freed from the enemies that hate us, we are enabled to serve him as children not as slaves, we are made holy and righteous and get to live in God’s tender mercy with his light always shining on us.

This is the peace that is offered to all those who embrace Jesus Christ and his salvation that is offered. So now, what more is there to do but bless and praise God for all that he has done, is doing, and will do?

And this we see in verse 80, with a little fast-forward in the narrative before the birth of Jesus. John becomes exactly what God said he would be, the great prophet of the Lord.

Application

Blessed/Praise be (to) God

God is blessed or praised, because he has visited us in the flesh…Jesus Christ, the strong man. He has come to redeem us, to save us from all three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Though he has not made the world completely right so we are no longer attacked by it, He has rolled back the curse of death and judgment demanded by God’s perfect justice. Though the world still seeks revenge, Jesus took the wrath and justice that we deserved on himself, and he asks us to fight our way through death like he did, and he promises that he will get us safely to the other side. Oh death, where is your sting, oh grave, where is your victory! Thanks be to God in Jesus Christ who has given us the victory. He is our horn of strength. 

Jesus has made a mighty blow against the flesh. For, we have been buried with Christ in his death and raised with him in his resurrection. He has put to death the flesh in our mortal bodies and given us the Holy Spirit. Though we have a remnant of this flesh in us and we battle against it every day, as we draw near to God, follow the Holy Spirit, and live in step with him, we put the flesh to death. Living more and more to Christ, righteousness, and dying more and more to the flesh, sin. Thanks be to God in Jesus Christ that he is helping us to put sin to death in our mortal bodies. We are led by the Holy Spirit, as children, and are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…but we must suffer with him so we might be glorified with him (Read Romans 8 to see the full extent and power of Christ and the hope to come).

Lastly, the devil is out to destroy us. His single purpose…ruin everything that God has made. We don’t battle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces in heavenly places. But we need not fear, for God is with us. The Spirit lives in us. Jesus has defeated Satan, and he has no absolute power over us. We are no longer slaves to sin and death, but are servants of the living God. Serving him in righteousness.

But, we can see that we are living in what theologians like to call, “The already, but not yet.” Jesus has brought us deliverance, but there is a final deliverance to come when the world, flesh, and devil will all be destroyed. The world will be remade perfect in fire. The flesh will no longer be filled with sin but made perfectly holy and righteous. The devil will be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented and punished forever. Jesus will come again riding on a white horse in the clouds, all will be set right (Rev. 19:1-16).

You see, Jesus has tossed his horn to show his power and might, and will toss it one more time at his return. He is the mighty God who will bring salvation from sin. Jesus has saved us from sin’s penalty. He is saving us from sin’s power. And he will ultimately save us from sins’ presence.

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel. In Jesus he has visited us to redeem us, his people.