Getting to Know Jesus by Name #92: Sunrise

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

As Zacharias was giving his song of praise at the birth of John, God used him to speak about not only what he would do, but also what the One to follow him would do.  John would prepare the way for the Lord, the Sunrise Who was coming to visit from on high. When we think about the sunrise, it is "the time when the sun appears above the horizon in the morning; dawn or daybreak; the colors that are in the sky when the sun slowly appears above the horizon."* That does describe the way Christ came at His first advent: quietly  and slowly growing from a baby to a man, gradually gaining followers - not with great fanfare or forcing people to follow Him.  Yet, he did shine gloriously in this dark world, beautifully showing us the goodness and glory of God, introducing a brand new day and way of life.  Even those of us who do not like "morning" love to see a beautiful sunrise.  It gives hope for that day and all days ahead. 

*(Diann Cotton: 100 Days with Jesus).