Luke 1:64-80 The Songs of Christmas:
Benedictus
ATTENTION: I sing to our children regularly. It
intrigues me that certain songs
have a greater calming effect on
them than others. For example,
“You Are My Sunshine” helps to
quiet their crying and restore calm
unlike any other song. I guess
some songs are just that way.
NEED: When we look into the eyes of a new baby,
we see our hope and our future.
TEXTUAL IDEA: Zacharias rejoiced in God’s
work to bring salvation into the
world.
SERMON IDEA: We can rejoice with Zacharias
because of God’s work to bring
salvation into the world.
TRANSITION: This passage shows us three
portraits of God’s work in bringing
salvation into the world.
DIVISION ONE: God has purchased those who are
bankrupt (vv.68-70)
- “He paid a debt he did not owe...”
- visited “look out;” redeemed “bailed out”
- horn of salvation “hold your head up”
- We had no way of paying the debt
- Boaz and Ruth
- PAID IN FULL
DIVISION TWO: God has liberated those who are
held captive (vv.71-75)
- enemy defeated
- unable to take us again
- enemies seen as Rome in context, but may
also be seen as satan
- ropes cut away; shackles loosed
- “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!”
DIVISION THREE: God has brought light to those
who are in darkness (vv.76-79)
- John 1 “The Light shines in darkness”
- dayspring: the morning sunrise
- not just a glow in the sky, but the pure
sunlight piercing the darkness
- Rev. 22:16 “the bright and morning star”
- Is. 9:2 “The people who walked...”
CONCLUSION: Zacharias means “God has
remembered.” He remembers you
too. How will you praise him for your
remembrance?
