SUNDAY December 16, 2018
Dayspring from on High
“Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:78-79
As Zacharias concluded his prophecy, he gave tremendous hope to the Jewish people. When the Dayspring, Jesus Christ appeared, He would bring light. The Jews sat in darkness; they were despondent, and felt hopeless because of the Roman occupation and oppression. They lacked peace with God in the face of persecution.
One of the beautiful titles of our Lord is “Dayspring,” which literally means, “sunrise.” Zacharias in his hymn of praise and prophecy echoes and announces the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy (Malachi 4:2), by the birth of Christ––“the Dayspring from on high has visited us.” It was very dark when Jesus, our Dayspring came from on high. But he came as a glorious sunrise “to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into peace. (Henry Gariepy)
Still in the world today, people sit in darkness––a spiritual darkness and ignorance concerning Christ. They need the Dayspring from on high! Jesus Christ––visited us like the dawn that ends the darkness. We all face the shadow of death. We live in the knowledge that each new day could be our last. Death is something we cannot control; it is an unwelcome visitor. But who can help us? Christ, as the Child of Mary, took upon Himself human flesh, and conquered death’s power when He died on the cross and rose again from the dead.
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He [Christ] Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were
all their lifetime subject to bondage
~Hebrews 2:14-15~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!