Fourth Wednesday of Advent - Luke 1: 57-80

Luke 1:57-80 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The Birth and Naming of John

 ⁵⁷ Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. ⁵⁸ Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.    ⁵⁹ When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. ⁶⁰ But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John."
    ⁶¹ Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." ⁶² So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. ⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet and wrote:
    HIS NAME IS JOHN
    And they were all amazed. ⁶⁴ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue [set free], and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵ Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶ All who heard about [him] took [it] to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him.
   

Zechariah's Prophecy

 ⁶⁷ Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:     ⁶⁸ Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because He has visited
    and provided redemption for His people.
    ⁶⁹ He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of His servant David,
    ⁷⁰ just as He spoke by the mouth
    of His holy prophets in ancient times;
    ⁷¹ salvation from our enemies
    and from the clutches of those who hate us.
    ⁷² He has dealt mercifully with our fathers
    and remembered His holy covenant —
    ⁷³ the oath that He swore to our father Abraham.
    He has given us the privilege,
    ⁷⁴ since we have been rescued
    from our enemies' clutches,
    to serve Him without fear
    ⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness
    in His presence all our days.
    ⁷⁶ And child, you will be called
    a prophet of the Most High,
    for you will go before the Lord
    to prepare His ways,
    ⁷⁷ to give His people knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins.
    ⁷⁸ Because of our God's merciful compassion,
    the Dawn from on high will visit us
    ⁷⁹ to shine on those who live in darkness
    and the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the way of peace.
    ⁸⁰ The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.