Prepare the Way

[57] Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. [58] When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

[59] So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. [60] His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John." [61] But they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."

[62] So they made signs to his father--what he would have him called. [63] And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John." So they all marveled. [64] Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue [loosed], and he spoke, praising God. [65] Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. [66] And all those who heard [them] kept [them] in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?" And the hand of the Lord was with him.

[67] Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: [68] "Blessed [is] the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, [69] And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, [70] As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who [have been] since the world began, [71] That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, [72] To perform the mercy [promised] to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, [73] The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: [74] To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, [75] In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

[76] "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, [77] To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, [78] Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; [79] To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace." [80] So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel. - Luke 1:57-80 NKJV