the Reason

This Christmas season I've been reflecting on the beautiful words Zechariah used to describe the reason for Jesus as recorded in the song he prophesied over his miracle baby John:

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, 

because he has come and has redeemed his people... 

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us...

to rescue us from the hand of our enemies and 

to enable us to serve him without fear 

in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; 

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 

to give his people the knowledge of salvation 

through the forgiveness of their sins, 

because of the tender mercy of our God, 

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 

to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death 

to guide our feet into the path of peace.

-excerpts from Luke 1:68-79-

God, in His tender mercy sent Jesus, who provided redemption to broken humanity: 

a way to serve God without fear, and the only path of true peace.