What part did John the Baptist play in God's unfolding plan of salvation?

He was more than a master of ceremonies introducing the star speaker.

Today on Truth For Life we find out what Zechariah prophesied about his son and why that prophecy is significant for all of us today.

Alistair Bed continues our study in Luke's Gospel.

Luke chapter 1, and we read the words of Zechariah, and you my child will be called a prophet of the most high, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death.

We began to look at this section in Zechariah's song, and we said that there were essentially two verses in the song that he's singing, the first verse which goes from 68 to 75.

And then the second verse which goes from 76 to 80.

And in the first verse, Zechariah is magnifying God for his grace in the plan and purpose of redemption.

And then in the second segment, he turns to describe the part which his son, John the Baptist, was to have in the unfolding purpose of God.

And it is noteworthy as we mentioned this morning that the father's focus, namely Zechariah's focus, is not upon himself nor is it even upon his child in terms of his personality or his possibilities.

But his focus is on the mighty works of God and the part which clearly God has given this son of his to play in the unfolding of redemption.

We'll you notice first of all the designation there in the first half of verse 76.

Look at how he is described and you, my child, will be called a prophet of the most high.

Now this is a striking thing when you put yourself back into the context.

This is a priest of Israel admittedly. He's an elderly man, at least he's in the second half of his life.

His wife is similar in age. They had never anticipated that they would become the recipients of the gift of a child and now they have and it's the eighth day and the custom of the law has been fulfilled.

And presumably Zechariah taking for a week while his child out from the custody of his wife or from the custody of others who have been delighted to see him and wanted to hold him as this elderly man or increased in age gentlemen.

Takes hold of his boy and he looks down into his face as many fathers had done before and many have done since.

What a staggering thing he says.

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the most high.

Now let me remind you again that he could only see this and he could only say this on account of what Luke tells us in verse 67 namely that he was filled with the Holy Spirit and he was speaking here a word of prophecy.

And it was given him to understand that here in his arms he was holding the one who was fulfilling the words of the prophet with which the Old Testament closes in Malachi chapter 3 where God speaking through Malachi says,

...