Luke 1:67-80 KJV
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

The cry of redemption draws near was heard through the land of Judea. We wait coming now but the Messiah mother had conceived as the forerunner of the Messiah had been born. John preach the kingdom of God was at hand when God revealed to John who the Messiah was.

This passage in Luke is Priest Zacharias, John the Baptist Papa, prophesing the importance of his son right after he was no longer enable to speak for full nine months and probably a tad longer prior to Jesus' conception. John coming was to be the forerunner that would preach the redemption of Israel was about to be fulfilled with the Messiah coming. Did Zacharias know who Jesus, Mary's offspring would be the Messiah. It is unclear how much he knew and understood. We know Elizabeth his wife knew so we would assume he knew. But he only taught redemption of Israel was coming and who his son was.

John purpose was to give knowledge of salvation by remission of sin. The knowledge to believe in Jesus was not yet understood, only to believe the word of God. What then are we as Christians in error, the answer is no. Is a Jew in today's world in error sort of because what Zacharias is preaching modern prophesy of his day by Old Testament teaching and not with the fulfillment of Gospel of Jesus having come or even conceived.

Zacharias knew the forerunner had been born who would prepare the people for his coming. John would begin preaching Kingdom of Heaven was at hand and remission for sin when he was old enough. Prophet Ezra and Prophet Nehemiah day the law was read to convict the hearts of the people. People would repent agree to obey the laws of God.

In John day there were people in Israel not familiar with the ways of God so he came preaching the ways of God and the Kingdom of God was at hand so repent. No doubt Israelites/Jews who knew the laws of God understood it and John was preaching also to the gentiles that would understanding of sin in general. He would teach the tender mercies of God.(v78). Jews that do not recognize today either the forerunner coming or Christ the Messiah. The solution is to continue compassion to the Jewish people because God is mercy and compassionate to gentiles before Christ's time that believed and to the Jews that did hear and did believed and did receive truth. twelve disciples were just some of them that did believe.

God mercy is for all that will come to saving grace of Jesus who our redemption and redemption to come at the end of this age of grace through Christ Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father may your redemption of saving grace through your Son draws us to your tender mercies. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: After the cross: Ephesians 2:4-5 KJV
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Romans 11:29-36 KJV
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Take time and study the whole chapter in Romans 11. In reality chapters 9-11 but even I know some dont have alot time so bookmark it and read when you have time.