Luke 1:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He will illuminate the world like a beacon, dispelling the shadows of ignorance, and summoning the Sun of righteousness. For He who walked in my path was before me, “with whom I was not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandal” (Mark 1:7).

Many of the descendants of Israel will turn to their Lord God. It is evident that St. John transformed the hearts of many. This is supported by both prophetic and gospel scriptures: The voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight' (Matthew 3:3; Isaiah 40:3). The baptism he administered, embraced by a multitude (see: Mark 1:5), signifies the abundant blessings of those who were baptized; by believing in John, they also had faith in Christ. The forerunner of Christ focused not on himself but proclaimed the Lord.

Those who followed Him turned to Christ, as He refers to Him as Lord and God.

Currently, within some of our community, the baptism of heretics is acknowledged, and it is deemed inappropriate to perform baptisms following those who oppose God. It is viewed as sacrilegious to administer baptism after the adversaries of the Lord, especially when we consider those who have received the baptism from John—who is regarded as the greatest of the prophets, filled with divine grace even while in his mother's womb, and empowered by the spirit and strength of Elijah. He was not an adversary but a herald and messenger of the Lord, not only prophesying His coming with words but also identifying Him with his very gaze, and baptizing Christ Himself, who is the source through which others are baptized.

The Archangel Gabriel accurately characterized the role of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Baptist. He stated that the holy Forerunner will lead many of the descendants of Israel back to the Lord their God. This implies that the holy Forerunner will help many of the Israelites who have lost sight of God to remember Him; he will reintroduce those who feel alienated from God and draw them closer to Him.

The angel conveys that John, the son of Zechariah, is called to ready the people of Israel for the arrival of the Messiah and to lead the children of Israel back to the Lord their God. During that period, the Jewish people, while faithful to the One True God and observant of the laws of Moses, had lost sight of the deeper moral implications of these laws. They mistakenly believed that strict adherence to their ritualistic elements was the sole pathway to salvation. They viewed themselves as the chosen people of God, entitled to dominion over all, and anticipated the Messiah to arrive in glorious earthly splendor, as a powerful conqueror who would bring all nations under Israel's authority and reign eternally.

The archangel Gabriel, a bearer of good news, delivered a joyful message to the righteous Zechariah, which would bring delight not just to him but also to his virtuous wife Elizabeth, all of Israel, and humanity as a whole. The moment had arrived for the earnest prayers of Zechariah and his companions to be answered. The Messiah was imminent, and the esteemed priest was to have the remarkable privilege of being His kin even in the flesh: a son would be born to him who would pave the way for the world's Savior. "He shall be a Nazarene; he shall not drink wine nor strong drink (see Luke 3:2), and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost yet from his mother's womb; and he shall turn many of the children of Israel unto the Lord their God.

"The children of Israel" refers to the offspring of Israel or Jacob; this term is often used in the sacred writings to denote the entire Jewish nation. Consequently, the phrase "many of the children of Israel" signifies a large number of Jewish individuals. To "turn them to the Lord" involves guiding them through preaching and overall divine engagement, encouraging a transformation through repentance that leads them away from their sinful existence and towards a life aligned with the commandments of the Lord. The forerunner indeed approached the people with a message of repentance, and many Jews came to him, turning their hearts towards the Lord.

Zechariah did not take long to offer incense at the altar, yet he lingered this time due to an extraordinary vision. To his astonishment, he beheld an angel standing at the right of the altar. This remarkable sight caused him to tremble, partly because it was so unexpected and possibly due to the Jewish belief that an angelic appearance often signaled impending death (Judges 6:22-23; 13:22). "Do not be afraid, Zechariah!" the Heavenly Messenger began, reassuring the bewildered elder that the news delivered would inspire joy rather than fear. Your prayers have been answered; your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must name him John. Your request for the advent of the Messiah's Kingdom has been acknowledged, and soon the long-awaited Savior will be born.