Words of Reflection
“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will
prepare the way for the Lord.”—Luke 1:76 (NLT)
In this Advent devotional, as we allow the songs of the season to draw us into the wonder of Christ’s coming, it’s important to remember that even before a single carol was written there were wonderful songs of Christmas to be found in the gospel accounts themselves.
Two of those songs can be found in the first chapter of Luke’s gospel, Mary’s song (which we will look at closer to Christmas), and the song of Zechariah, John’s father. Remember—Zechariah has been silent since the angel’s incredible announcement that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a child at their advanced age. When the child is born, Luke tells us that Zechariah “was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied.” (Luke 1:67)
The words which the Holy Spirit gives him are known as “Zechariah’s Song,” and they speak of God’s covenant love, his promises to Abraham and David, and the salvation that the Messiah will bring to God’s people. The first stanza is a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness and redemption, and it reminds us that what’s unfolding in the Christmas story is nothing less that our deliverance. It uses language of a “rescue mission,” which is what salvation history really is: God’s great plan to rescue us from the dark powers that have ruled over us for so long.
Then in the second stanza Zechariah’s attention turns to his own newborn son and the role he will play in this story of rescue. He will be known as a prophet, for he will go before the Messiah to prepare the way for him. John will be a messenger of salvation and forgiveness, pointing people to the “tender mercy of God” which guides us from the shadow of sin and death into the light of grace and salvation. The one who has been sent to prepare also proclaims a message of preparation: in the words of the great carol, “Let every heart prepare him room!”
This description of John’s mission is a good one for us to consider during our Advent journey, because this season is also a time of preparation. In our hearts we are “preparing the way” for the Christmas story to unfold again and remind us of the amazing, unfathomable love of God. Like John, we are messengers of salvation, continuing to point people to God’s tender mercies as we celebrate once again the birth of his one and only Son.
These weeks of Advent are often filled with preparation as we shop, decorate, cook, gather, and plan for our activities at home and in our churches. But Zechariah’s Song is a good opportunity to stop our busy-ness and simply ask ourselves, “How am I preparing a way for the Lord to come anew in this celebration of Advent and Nativity?”
Let every heart prepare him room!
Scripture for Meditation:
“A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’”—Isaiah 40:3-5 (NIV)
Song: Prepare Him Room (lyrics here)
Questions for Contemplation:
What does it mean for you to “prepare him room?” What practices and disciplines are helpful, especially at this time of year, in that journey? Are there other preparatory aspects of the Christmas season that can get in the way of that journey? How can you make space for the most important work of preparation?
The song for today reminds us that “all creation groans in labor waiting for our humble savior.” Does that Scriptural image resonate with you, and if so, how? What groanings are you most aware of in your own life or in the larger world? How can that move you towards prayer as you approach Bethlehem?
Spend some time reading Zechariah’s song (Luke 1:67-79) slowly and prayerfully. Are there words or phrases that help you connect to the journey of Advent in a particular way? How can you make note of those words or phrases and find ways to reconnect with them as you move towards Christmas day?