The Angels' Message and the Responses

As I was thinking about the message of Christmas, my mind went to those visits that the Angel made to the key people in this drama. What exactly did the angel tell them and what was their response? Rather than give you pages of my thoughts, let me share some questions and point out some meditation ideas for you during this Christmas season. It had been 400 years since the Jewish people had received a word from the Lord. There were those faithful individuals who were obedient and who were looking for the redemption of Israel in the coming of Messiah. The day was probably like many others when the following incident occurred in the life of Zacharias.

The Angel visits Zacharias

Luke 1:5-20

5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. 8So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14“And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17“He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20“But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

In this story, notice the character of Zacharias and his wife. They were righteous before God. Notice also that the angel tells him that he is announcing an answer to his prayer -- possibly two prayers. The prayer regarding his barren wife and the prayer concerning the coming Messiah. Notice that the son will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. This seemed to us to be a unique situation in either the Old or New Testaments. Also notice that he will be great "mega" in the sight of the Lord. It's one thing to be great in the sight of men, but to be great in the sight of the Lord? Zacharias was told that his son would go forth in the power and spirit of Elijah. This was the last prophecy of the old testament -- found in Malachi 4. Elijah would go before to prepare the people for the great day of the Lord.

What was Zacharias' response? He doubted didn't he? The Bible portrays people the way they are -- not fixed up for public consumption.

Compare this visit with that of Mary in the next passage.

The Angel visits Mary

Luke 1:26-38

6Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33“And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36“Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37“For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

The angel greets her with the word "rejoice". You find joy a theme in most of these messages. Mary has found favor with God. Favor is based on the root word "grace". Mary was not a perfect person. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But God had favor toward Mary. The interesting thing is that this same expression is used of us. In Eph 1:6, Paul tells us that we have been made accepted in the beloved. This word accepted is the same word of favor and grace. Just as God had favor toward Mary, he has favor toward us. Mary asks how these things can be. Is this a question of doubt? Apparently not because in her later discussion with Elizabeth, Elizabeth points out that Mary has believed the message. It seemed encouraging to me that the Angel uses Elizabeth to show Mary that with God nothing will be impossible. It is a miracle for both women in different ways.

Later the angel visits Joseph.

Matt 1:18 - 21

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Joseph is also a just man and wants to do the right thing both for Mary and for the law of God, which it seems Mary has violated. But the Angel puts his heart at rest and Joseph believes the angel's message. He is to call his name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. Let's never forget the saving power of God. The son of man is come to seek and to save the lost. He does not fail in his mission. He will save all that the father has given him, absolutely and without exception. He is not an impotent savior but an all-powerful one. He will save his people from their sins.

The Angel visits the shepherds

Luke 2:8-14

8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

In announcing the message to the shepherds, the angel of the Lord again announces that this is a message of great joy to all people. A savior has been born.

As we contemplate these events 2000 years later it is no less astounding that the God who is beyond space and time would enter both at the place and time of his choosing. God who is spirit and eternal would take upon himself human flesh and join God and man together in one unique person. Is he your savior? Has he rescued you from your sins?