Can you imagine the moment when Zacharias’ began to prophecy? He had been mute since expressing doubt of God’s promise to bless him and Elizabeth with a child (20). Now, with the child named, God loosed his tongue giving him the ability to praise God for His blessings! (cf. 64).
The prophecy itself came after hundreds of years of silence, as Zacharias was “filled with the Holy Spirit” (67). It contained praise to God, a reminder of God’s blessings upon Israel, and an identification of John’s coming work. “And you child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways” (76). These words indicated that in John the Baptist God had fulfilled His promise given to Israel in Malachi 4:5, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” This indeed came true, as John “grew and became strong in spirit” (80) and fulfilled his purpose as the herald of the coming Christ.
