The coming of Elijah

The words of the angel to Zacharias indicate that John is the greater Elijah, to prepare the way of the Lord by preaching repentance. So also, Zacharias himself is in a way the greater writer of the word of God, for as when Malachi had written, the Old Testament went silent for some 450 years, and now Zacharias himself goes silent for  the period of John's time in the womb. And all point to Jesus the Messiah, who in the fullness of time came. Yet his coming was also twofold, and thanks be to God. For his first coming was in humility, to rescue us from our sins, that we may be prepared, by repentance and faith, to endure his second coming and be eternally saved. Sermon for Midweek of Advent I. The video is here.