Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 18
6
IMMERSE
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MESSIAH
1:67–2:5
reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?”
For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.
Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this
prophecy:
“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited and redeemed his people.
He has sent us a mighty Savior
from the royal line of his servant David,
just as he promised
through his holy prophets long ago.
Now we will be saved from our enemies
and from all who hate us.
He has been merciful to our ancestors
by remembering his sacred covenant—
the covenant he swore with an oath
to our ancestor Abraham.
We have been rescued from our enemies
so we can serve God without fear,
in holiness and righteousness
for as long as we live.
“And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”
John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness
until he began his public ministry to Israel.
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should
be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral
towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of
King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He
traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him
Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
