Announcements

We played a guessing game at our Jingle Mingle Thursday night: each of us had a label stuck to our back, with an element of the Christmas account written on it. One by one we asked yes/no questions of the rest of the group, trying to figure out what part we played. After five questions and an intuitive leap, I guessed that the name on the label stuck on my back by the party hostess was the angel Gabriel.

Of the two gospels that record the details of the events surrounding Jesus' birth, only Luke records the angel's name: Gabriel.

The first time we encounter him in the Christmas story, he appears to a priest named Zechariah as he is ministering in the temple. In spite of quaking in his sandals at the sight of a supernatural being, and in spite of the wonderful message the angel brings, Zechariah questions how the promised blessings will come to pass (Luke 1:5-18).

Gabriel lets him know in no uncertain terms who he is, who he serves, and by Whose authority he brings this message:

The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news..." Luke 1:19

In other words, if you don't believe what you hear, take it up with my Boss. Zechariah spent the next nine months mute because of his unbelief.

The second time Gabriel is mentioned is the appearance with which we are most familiar:

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. Luke 1:26-27

Once again, Gabriel is sent by God to announce some astonishing news: a virgin was going to give birth, and the child was the long-awaited Messiah.

Mary's response is much different than Zechariah's:

And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1:38

As a priest, Zechariah had access to the scriptures as they existed in that day. He had more than a passing familiarity with the incredible history of God's interaction with His people. Yet he questioned exactly how God's promise to him would come to be.

Mary, on the other hand, was a very young (perhaps thirteen or fourteen year old) girl from a small town. Yet her understanding of the omnipotence of God far outshone that of Zechariah.

Father, all too often I try to fit You inside the parameters of my own narrow understanding. What foolishness; what god would be a god if he could be fully understood by his creation? During this Christmas season, make me more aware of Your incredible power. Teach me to respond as Mary did - "Let it be to me according to your word". In Jesus' name, Amen