This Christmas season, as many Christmas seasons in the past, I’ve been reading through the scriptural accounts surrounding the birth of Jesus. My heart has been challenged this year with a portion from Zechariah’s prophecy in Luke chapter one. This prophecy, being declared after the birth and dedication of his son, John (the baptist), identifies the purpose and message of Johns’ ministry in setting the stage for the coming of the Christ.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76-79

The portion that I’ve been drawn to is: “to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins” (vs 77)

A few things to notice here: First of all, the word “salvation.” Salvation encompasses all that God has and will provide for us thru Christ. Deliverance, welfare, prosperity, preservation, safety, health. The abundant life! Next, the word “knowledge” means to experience and be educated firsthand. Experiential knowledge that come through relationship verses the accumulation of information by mental or conceptual means. Now, consider the phrase, “in the forgiveness of their sins…” Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Zechariah declares, that “forgiveness of sin” is the corridor through which we may know (experience) the salvation of God (the fullness of all He has for us).

II Peter 1:3 tells us, “everything we need for life and godliness (salvation) is found in the knowledge (experience) of Jesus Christ our Lord…”

How great that God would offer us an eternal relationship with His Son, including everything we need for life and godliness! But according to scripture, without forgiveness, there is no way to access Jesus and the eternal experience of Gods’ salvation.

I think we can all agree that the world around us, both inside and outside the church, is filled with excessive anger and dissention. Accusations abound. Offence is off the charts. Finger pointing and the blame game seem to be favorite pastimes. And I’m fearful that many of us “believers” are getting sucked into the madness - I know I have at times! I encourage us all to re-think the power and significance of forgiveness. Not as a one and done event when we first accept Christ, or only when we fall to sin. But as an ongoing quality that keeps us living close to Christ and authorizes God’s message through us to the world.

II Corinthians 5: 19 says, “…in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

How was God reconciling the world to Himself in Christ? By pronouncing and instituting forgiveness. What should be our message to those around us? The same. According to the bible, we are called to forgive no matter what. On the basis of how we have been forgiven - thru Christ.

“… if anyone has a complaint against another, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Colossians 3: 13

When we forgive, we are forgiving others on the basis of how Christ has forgiven us.
When we forgive, we point to the Good Shepherd who is inviting us all to follow Him into abundant life!
When we forgive, we are extending His offer of reconciliation and relationship by means of undeserved forgiveness.
When we forgive, we operate in the truest sense as His ambassadors in the earth.

Let us also understand God’s heart and motives expressed in Zechariahs’ prophecy :

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76-79

May we be people who live and lead others to and through the corridor of forgiveness into the salvation of God. May our hearts be warmed by the tender mercy of our God. May His light reveal any darkness that may be clouding our lives. And may He guide us in the way of peace.