September 25

because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, — Luke 1:78 BSB

The “day-spring” refers to the dawn, the first light that breaks through the darkness, heralding the rising sun. Spiritually, the “day-spring” is the first glimmer of the Sun of Righteousness, a sign of his approach. It’s not the Sun itself, but the announcement of his coming—like the beams that break through the night, proclaiming the arrival of Jesus, “the King in his beauty.”

This expression was particularly fitting when spoken by Zacharias. At that time, the Lord of life and glory had not yet appeared; he was still in the womb of the Virgin Mary. But his forerunner, John the Baptist, had come, the herald of his coming, announcing that the Sun of Righteousness was about to rise. “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness to the Light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the Light, but came to bear witness to the Light” (John 1:6-8). At that time, the world was in darkness. “Darkness covered the earth, and thick darkness the people.” But as the Lord of life and glory was about to appear, having already taken the body prepared for him, “the day-spring from on high” had begun to dawn. God’s mercy, seen in the face of his dear Son, was about to visit the benighted world.

But there is also a deeper, personal meaning to these words. “The day-spring from on high” does not only refer to the approach of the Son of God in the flesh; it also signifies the appearance of the Son of God in the heart. Jesus’ physical appearance eighteen hundred years ago cannot benefit me unless he comes to dwell in my soul. The “day-spring from on high” that visited the darkened Jewish world will not profit us unless that same day-spring visits our darkened hearts. It represents the manifestation of God’s mercy through the Savior. And when this “day-spring from on high” visits the soul, it is the first glimmer, the dawning rays of the Sun of Righteousness in the heart.