The Way of Peace (Luke 1:67-79)

We are fortunate to have a house on a hill with a big picture window that overlooks a valley full of the twinkling lights from our neighbor's homes. My great dane and I watch the sunrise together from this picture window almost every morning. We see its rays hit the other side of valley before it begins to warm our house. Its rays are gold, while the rest of the valley is covered in cool tones of blue and green. When my great dane sees this, she knows that in a few minutes the sun will hit our front door and it will be time to go sit on the rug and warm herself in the sunlight. She will "talk" to me in scooby-doo like sounds until I open the kitchen gate to let her go to her place on the rug to soak up the sun.

Zechariah describes the approaching Messiah as the sunrise breaking upon them. In short order, the Messiah is going to shine into the darkness and guide them to the way of peace. Zechariah describes the characteristics of this peace: a redeemed relationship with God, rescue from enemies - from the hand of those who hate, serving God without fear, living holy and righteous lives in God's community. This peace is more than serenity - more than the absence of chaos. It is a complete wholeness of both the individual and society.

Luke 1:67-79 ⁶⁷ Then John's father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: ⁶⁸ "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. ⁶⁹ He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰ as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹ that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. ⁷² Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, ⁷³ the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us ⁷⁴ that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. ⁷⁶ And you, child (Zachariah's newborn son, John), will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. ⁷⁸ By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, ⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Both Zechariah and my great dane are anticipating the first rays... they are both anxious to get out of the darkness and into the warmth. Zechariah says these rays of sun will guide us into the way of peace - complete wholeness. Embrace this light that is Jesus! Together let us soak up the light seeking the complete wholeness that he offers!