As the United States transitions from one regime to another one, it is customary for outgoing presidents to grant pardon to certain criminals. We can imagine what it must feel like to be in prison and be told that we will be set free by Christmas Day. This is an experience of “salvation” for those whose names were chosen. No doubt they will forever have a warm spot in their hearts for the president who granted them pardon.
There are few experiences in life that are more powerful than a prisoner being set free or a political hostage being released from captivity.
God as we know is in the salvation “business.” He delights in setting free those who are being held captive. As we stand on the doorstep into Christmas, we are reminded who Jesus is—“unto us is born a Savior.” His very name means “God saves.” He is the only one who has the authority to release “prisoners” from the bondage of the Evil One and the chains of sin.
Today we listen to Zechariah prophesying about Jesus and John the Baptist (Luke 1:67-79).
“Zechariah…filled with the Holy Spirit prophesied, saying: ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.”
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Zechariah bestowed meaning on what was happening. The long-promised Savior was already in the world and the time of fulfillment had finally come. A new kind of salvation was being granted by God, a salvation that went much deeper than being freed from a federal prison.
He continues:
“This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham; to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.”
No one can be holy through their own efforts. No one has the power to worship God through human effort. Only God has the power, not only to set us free, but to plant in us the Holy Spirit who empowers us to enter into the highest form of human activity—true worship of God. Only the Holy Spirit within us can make us holy in the sight of God. Salvation then goes beyond being set free from the grip of the Enemy. Beyond that salvation changes us at the deepest level of our interior selves.
Zechariah then prophesies concerning his son:
“You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins…to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death…”
“Knowledge” is not an idea of what salvation means. It is a deep interior experience in which moves from darkness into light. It is an experience more powerful than that of a prisoner being pardoned or a political hostage being released.
Lest we get sidetracked by the cultural festivities of Christmas, as wonderful as they are, let us remember the earth-shaking gift of salvation that God has given us in his Son.
We ask the Holy Spirit to show us how we are imprisoned right now. What “knowledge of salvation” does God want to give us today? What is keeping us from experiencing true worship and growing deeper in our relationship with God? How does our Savior want to give us “knowledge of salvation” at this particular moment in time. This is the true gift that everyone needs but few seem to seek.
