A Prophesying Priest

Zechariah was a model of God's grace. At first, when informed by the angel, Gabriel, that God was giving them a son in their old age, the priest responded just as his forefathers did in Malachi--with doubt and unbelief. In their case, the Lord pronounced judgment on them -Malachi 4-2-6-. But in Zechariah's case, He showed mercy. Indeed, Zechariah prophesied a glorious message from God identifying the people of God in the gospel age and the purpose of his new-born son in bringing in the Christ of God and -the sun of righteousness, the light giving knowledge of salvation -the gospel- to a sin-darkened world.