What were the people of Israel looking for when Zacharias was speaking?
When Zacharias was speaking, the people of Israel were looking for the King—the promised Messiah. Scripture identifies this King as the Anointed One, or in Greek the Christ, so Jesus Christ means Jesus the Messiah. They already had the nation, land, temple, and priesthood, but still awaited this coming Messianic King.
Les explains that Zacharias was still resting on the covenant God made with Israel. By his day, Israel was a nation, in the promised land, with a temple and priesthood, yet they were looking for the King. That King is the Anointed One, the Messiah, called Christ in Greek, and He comes out of the Old Testament promises. Les also emphasizes that Christ's miracles, preaching, and teaching were to prove to the Jew of His day that He was that promised Messiah.