And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the LORD to prepare His ways; to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God… (Luke 1:76-78a).
This is part of a prophecy concerning John the Baptist by his father, Zacharias. John would indeed go before the LORD, the Most High, to prepare His way. What I especially enjoy about this passage is the very clear presentation of the gospel in the phrase: “salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God.”
It reminds me of Titus 3:4-7:
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
It is through the work of Jesus Christ alone that our sins can be forgiven by God. Salvation is entirely a result of the mercy and grace of the Godhead, not a result of our works. Please do not try to save yourself. We cannot justify ourselves before a holy God. Trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. This is the real message of Christmas that we who have received God’s forgiveness have the privilege to proclaim. Even Jesus’ name proclaims the reason for His birth:
And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins – (Matthew 1:21).