<p>1:76 <i>Yes, and you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High- </i>We can imagine Zacharias now turning his eyes to his own newborn child. If he had received no more information than what is recorded, then he had done well to perceive that this child was the Elijah prophet, and therefore Mary's child was to be Messiah.</p><p><i>For you shall go before the presence of the Lord to make ready His ways</i>- John the Baptist was to &ldquo;prepare&rdquo; the way for the Lord&rsquo;s coming- evidently a process- in reflection of how God had been working a long time to &ldquo;prepare&rdquo; same Greek word the way for His Son&rsquo;s coming (Lk. 1:76; Lk. 2:31; Lk. 3:4). We likewise, in our preaching work in these last days, are working in tandem and in step with God. The idea of God 'preparing' implies that there is therefore a gap between the plan being made, and it being executed- hence &ldquo;The Lord has both planned and done what He spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon&rdquo; (Jer. 51:12; Jer. 4:28; Lam. 2:17; Is. 22:11; Is. 37:26; Zech. 1:6; Zech. 8:14). See on Mt. 20:23.</p>