Luke 1:57-79

57The time arrived for Elizabeth to have her baby. She had a son.

58Her family and the people who lived near her heard about her baby. They knew that the Lord had been very kind to her. They saw that she was happy. So they were happy too.

59When the child was eight days old, people met together to circumcise him. They wanted to call the child Zechariah. This was the same name that his father had.

60Elizabeth said, ‘No. His name will be John.’

61They replied, ‘But you do not have anyone in your family called John. That cannot be right.’

62So they used their hands to make signs to the baby's father. They wanted to ask him what his son's name should be.

63Zechariah asked for something to write on. He wrote, ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was very surprised at what he wrote.

64Immediately, Zechariah could speak again. He could speak easily. He began to thank God aloud.

65The people who lived near Zechariah and Elizabeth were very surprised. They saw how great God was. Many people who lived in the hills of Judea also talked about all these things.

66Everyone who heard about these things thought about them. They asked each other, ‘When this child becomes a man, what will he be?’ They could see that God really was with him.

67The Holy Spirit filled John's father, Zechariah, so that he spoke God's message:

68‘The Lord God of Israel is a great God. He has come to save his people. He has come to make them free.

69He has sent a very strong person who will save us. This person comes from the family of his servant, King David.

70Long ago, God promised that he would do this. He gave his own prophets this message to speak.

71God will save us from our enemies. He will save us from everyone that hates us.

72He has promised to be kind to our ancestors. He will do the things that he promised in his holy covenant.

73Yes, he will remember the strong promises that he spoke to Abraham.

74God said, “I will keep you safe from your enemies. Then you can serve me and not be afraid.

75You can live in a way that is good and right. You can do this all your lives.” ’

76Zechariah then spoke to John: ‘You, my child, will be called a prophet of the powerful God who is over all. You will go in front of the Lord to prepare a way for him.

77You will tell God's people how God can save them. They have done wrong things but God will forgive them.

78Our God will forgive us because he is very kind. He will send someone from the highest place. When this person comes, it will be like the sunrise for us.

79He will bring light to people who are living without God. It is like those people are living in the dark. They are afraid to die. But he will shine on them. He will show us how to live so that we will not be afraid.’