Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Zechariah continues his blessing and prophecy about his miracle baby, John. He will prepare the way for the “dayspring from on high” to visit us. The sunrise from heaven will break into human history on earth = the Son of God will come in human flesh to our world of darkness and death.
For us, the promise is that this light from heaven will come into our earth, and he will give light to us who live in darkness surrounded by death. And this light will guide us into the way of peace. “The Word has become flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus, the Light, has come, and continues to come every day, to shine on our path and to be the Way. He brings us from darkness to light, from death to life, from conflict and strife to peace.
Jesus gives us two truths to confess and believe: 1) confess and believe that we sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and 2) confess and believe that Jesus is my Savior and Lord who brings me into the way of peace. First, we admit that we really are in darkness and under death, and my own sin is the cause of my predicament; and furthermore, I cannot grope my way out. There must be a better way, a better life. This admission is repentance, worked by the Spirit through the Word. Second, we accept Jesus as the only Way, the only Light, the only Life. He is the One who brings me into the better way, the better life. This is faith, worked in us by the Spirit through the Word.
This is God’s daily promise, and our daily task. At least once a day Sunshine comes to guide our feet into the way of peace.