Devotional for the Second Sunday of Advent, December 6, 2020
Zechariah’s Song is also our Song!

By Alex Awad

Embedded in Luke’s narrative of the events that lead to the birth of our Lord (Luke 1:67-78) are some inspiring songs that were sung by men and women who anticipated the incarnation of the Messiah. One such song is Zechariah’s psalm. He sang it immediately after the birth of his son, John, who was later called John the Baptizer. Although this was a song of praise and thanksgiving for the birth of the child, the song also provides insight into the religious and political conditions of Zechariah’s time.  In addition, the song expresses the profound yearnings for salvation, freedom, peace, and justice felt by the Jews of that era.

In verse 70, Zechariah sings about “salvation from our enemies” and in verse 77, he sings about “the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins”.  As we meditate on this song, we quickly notice that Zechariah envisions a holistic salvation: A salvation that meets the needs of the body and the spirit.  Zechariah and his people were suffering from a brutal Roman occupation that followed many years of Greek oppression. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he expressed the longing to see an end to the vicious occupation. Zechariah also understood the spiritual dimensions of salvation, a salvation that includes the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of the human heart and mind. The incarnate savior wants to graciously touch every aspect of our existence.

As we celebrate the incarnation this Advent Season, we also ache for a holistic salvation; we yearn for salvation from the pandemic that is occupying every state in the US and every country on our planet bringing sickness, misery, and death to millions. We also pray to be saved from the racism that occupies and splits apart so many hearts, races, and nations. We crave to see an end of greed that occupies many minds and is widening the gap between the few who are rich and the poor masses. In addition, we are anxious about the future of our planet, our countries, our churches, and our families. 

As a Palestinian, I have been an eyewitness to the agonizing Israeli military occupation of Palestine and seen the immense effects of the unjust blockade of the Gaza Strip. I consider Zechariah’s psalm as my song and the song of every Palestinian. We cry today to the Lord saying:

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
 because God has come to God's people and redeemed them.”
“salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—"
“to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve without fear     
in holiness and righteousness before God all our days.”

May Zechariah’s psalm of holistic salvation be your song this Advent season.

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Alex Awad was born in Jerusalem to Palestinian parents. His formative years were influenced by his Christian mother and by the challenges of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. He studied biblical education and theology in Europe and in the US. For over 25 years, he and his wife Brenda were missionaries to Palestine with the United Methodist Church. During the same time Rev. Awad was pastor of the Jerusalem International Church and served at Bethlehem Bible College. Alex and his wife Brenda have three children and 2 grandchildren. They now live in Eugene, Oregon.

Webinar: Christmas in Bethlehem

In the place where Jesus was born, how do the Christians who live there today celebrate his birth? How do they honor Jesus’ coming? What do Christian families do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? What are their customs and traditions? And, in this extraordinary year of 2020, how will their celebrations be affected by the coronavirus pandemic?

Learn about Christmas today in the "little town of Bethlehem," from a Palestinian Christian family in occupied Bethlehem. They will be speaking to us from Wi'am, The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center. Located next to a large Israeli checkpoint and watchtower, the Wi'am Center advances a culture of peace and acceptance while promoting nonviolent resolution to conflict. Wi'am is also a United Methodist Church Advance Special, Advance #14910A. You can support their work by making a donation through the UMC General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM): https://umcmission.org/advance-project/14910a/