Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38
It is perhaps one of the most respected and celebrated events in all the Bible, The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary the Virgin. This singular event signaled the complete and wondrous turning point of events to change the human soul. There has been scores of paintings made to illustrate the event, there is a church in Israel dedicated and named for the event, there have been songs written, movies made, and many other such elements to commemorate the event.
The Annunciation was made particularly unique because of the Message, the messenger, and the implications the decree would fulfill. The Annunciation Message to Mary was in some sense a prophecy, as she did not give birth at that instant, but moreover it was a Royal Decree that was going to happen. The Annunciation was not a suggestion, the angel informed Mary she was chosen, the Christ would be conceived in her without sexual relations, she would deliver, and He the Christ would in turn deliver the whole world from their sins. All these plans were decrees from God who made it happen. This was His will towards us, it was not for debate or challenge.
The Annunciation was unique because of who delivered the Message. The Angel Gabriel. This was no small thing. God sent His finest and most powerful messenger to proclaim the enacting of the Messianic event. Gabriel had the direct Word from the mouth of God. Gabriel stands at the throne of God and dispatches His decrees. I personally believe that it was Gabriel who appeared to the Shepherds in the field, and though I cannot prove it, he may just well be the angel that sounds the trumpet, proclaims the woe of the world, and announces the judgements to fall in the world in the book of Revelation. If you were to receive a visit from Gabriel, it would not be taken lightly. This singularly is evidence of the important nature of Christ's birth into the world.
The Annunciation was the most important because of its implications for the world. The Messiah, the Deliverer, Savior, was to come into the world and end the darkness of condemnation. Gabriel told Mary specifically the name of the Child was to be Emmanuel, "God With Us." Now the last three words of the previous sentence you've probably heard over and over again to describe the name of Christ. However, when you stop to consider the all out change and difference in the experience of mankind, to have the Creator physically live amongst the creation, is astronomical in thought, realization, etc. This is something that no other pagan god ever could fulfill or even promise. The Divine not just stepping into the world, but taking on human form to live as we do is just flat out incredible! Rightly so, we often are awed by the sufferings of Christ at Calvary, but do we stop to consider the awesome sacrifice it took for God to lay aside all of His glory and put on a defiled body for our sakes!?? The birth of Christ forever changed the course of our soul's destiny, what an awesome message that God would think upon us, and make a way that we should live with Him by His loving choice. The Annunciation ripped open the gloom of this world and set the stage for the realization of mankind that Heaven can be reached and peace with God can be obtained by trusting in Christ. No more was the message of Hope and the coming Messiah a seemingly far off event. Now it was about to happen!
Now after two thousand years of church history, does the Annunciation have any place in the believer's heart other than an appreciation for what happened? I believe it does as it teaches us three things:
First, The Annunciation teaches us that God is intimately interested and involved in the affairs of men. The mind cannot grasp the wealth and knowledge of God, let alone comprehend that all of this wondrous blessings are targeted towards undeserving mankind. Just to think that the Sovereign God who created all that we know and experience not only thinks of us but gets involved on a physical plain to bless us. God so separates Himself from man made religions in the fact that false gods are always seen lording over the people. Yet while God certainly does rule and reign, He does not stay in His elaborate temple. God walks, breathes, talks, and hears from a man's perspective of our plights and problems. Jesus healed the sick, forgave sinners, freed the spiritually bound, opened eyes, washed feet, and taught in person. He does the same today in the form of the Holy Spirit that resides personally in the believer.
Second, The Annunciation teaches us that God can use any form of communication He desires. God has no limits. God spoke to Adam with His own voice. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. God spoke to John by a vision, and God used an angel to not only speak to Mary but others through the Scriptures. So the question here is, does God still use an angelic messenger to proclaim His message? On the whole I would say not. I say this only because the job of the Holy Spirit within the believer is to direct and guide. However, I would not deny that someone in the world today has encountered a real angel either in human form, or in their divine state. There have been numerous reports of angelic "sightings" by many. Though we don't hunt for them like some do for UFOs, God has every right to allow one of His created beings to appear directly to either communicate or in many cases to protect.
Thirdly, The Annunciation lets us know that God favors us by letting His purposes be accomplished in our frailty. The first words to the messenger Gabriel out of Mary's lips were, "how can this [divine conception] happen since I have had no sexual relations with a man?" She admitted her inability to conceive other than the natural way and she admitted the inability of her mind to understand the whole matter. Neither would we in the same situation. But God kindly favored Mary despite herself. He was willing to place in her the most precious apple of His eye, His own Son. He entrusted Mary and Joseph to look after Jesus in His growing up years. This was no small task! God knew though His Son was perfect, that His earthly caretakers were not. God knows you and I are frail and prone to sin, yet He gives us opportunities every day to witness, be a blessing, meet a need, pray for others, give our finances, support the work of the ministry, achieving His plans and timetable through flawed beings.
When Mary found out all the things the Angel Gabriel said, she exclaimed, "my soul does magnify the Lord!" This was an expression of joy partly for the honor of the task, but also she knew God was going to use her fragility in His Strength. She knew it magnified His might not hers. The same exclamation ought to be true of us.
From that time till now, only two other announcements has been knowingly made with such great power and Divine physical presence to men and women and that was Paul's conversion on the Damascus road and John's Revelation. But there is another Annunciation, in fact, the greatest ever given. The Annunciation that Jesus died for your sins, and by simply trusting in Him, repenting (turning) from your sin and receiving Him into your heart as Lord and Savior, you personally can have eternal life in Heaven right now. This Annunciation doesn't come with the rush of angel's wings, or thunder and lightning from the sky, but that still small voice pleading with you to come to Christ before the gates are shut and grace will have ended.
Christian, the Annunciation keeps us in mind that one greater than Gabriel, God the Holy Spirit, resides in us. Listen for His divine decrees in your life. Be so thankful He is willing to talk with us and be patient with us. Thank Him today for the wonderful ways He comforts and talks to us when no one else listens or understands. One who stays in constant contact with you and me all through life. Give Him glory and thank Him for being willing to tell us where we were headed and now change that heading to walk with Him forever!
Heavenly Father, thank You for being willing to proclaim to us not only the Gospel but to encourage us and announce to us Your Truths and ways. Help us to be good listeners and appreciate all the more Who You are and what You have done for us who never deserved anything better than Hell itself. Help us to tell others about You, to announce to them how they can have You in their hearts and lives too. Thank you Lord, In thy name, Amen.
The Annunciation was made particularly unique because of the Message, the messenger, and the implications the decree would fulfill. The Annunciation Message to Mary was in some sense a prophecy, as she did not give birth at that instant, but moreover it was a Royal Decree that was going to happen. The Annunciation was not a suggestion, the angel informed Mary she was chosen, the Christ would be conceived in her without sexual relations, she would deliver, and He the Christ would in turn deliver the whole world from their sins. All these plans were decrees from God who made it happen. This was His will towards us, it was not for debate or challenge.
The Annunciation was unique because of who delivered the Message. The Angel Gabriel. This was no small thing. God sent His finest and most powerful messenger to proclaim the enacting of the Messianic event. Gabriel had the direct Word from the mouth of God. Gabriel stands at the throne of God and dispatches His decrees. I personally believe that it was Gabriel who appeared to the Shepherds in the field, and though I cannot prove it, he may just well be the angel that sounds the trumpet, proclaims the woe of the world, and announces the judgements to fall in the world in the book of Revelation. If you were to receive a visit from Gabriel, it would not be taken lightly. This singularly is evidence of the important nature of Christ's birth into the world.
The Annunciation was the most important because of its implications for the world. The Messiah, the Deliverer, Savior, was to come into the world and end the darkness of condemnation. Gabriel told Mary specifically the name of the Child was to be Emmanuel, "God With Us." Now the last three words of the previous sentence you've probably heard over and over again to describe the name of Christ. However, when you stop to consider the all out change and difference in the experience of mankind, to have the Creator physically live amongst the creation, is astronomical in thought, realization, etc. This is something that no other pagan god ever could fulfill or even promise. The Divine not just stepping into the world, but taking on human form to live as we do is just flat out incredible! Rightly so, we often are awed by the sufferings of Christ at Calvary, but do we stop to consider the awesome sacrifice it took for God to lay aside all of His glory and put on a defiled body for our sakes!?? The birth of Christ forever changed the course of our soul's destiny, what an awesome message that God would think upon us, and make a way that we should live with Him by His loving choice. The Annunciation ripped open the gloom of this world and set the stage for the realization of mankind that Heaven can be reached and peace with God can be obtained by trusting in Christ. No more was the message of Hope and the coming Messiah a seemingly far off event. Now it was about to happen!
Now after two thousand years of church history, does the Annunciation have any place in the believer's heart other than an appreciation for what happened? I believe it does as it teaches us three things:
First, The Annunciation teaches us that God is intimately interested and involved in the affairs of men. The mind cannot grasp the wealth and knowledge of God, let alone comprehend that all of this wondrous blessings are targeted towards undeserving mankind. Just to think that the Sovereign God who created all that we know and experience not only thinks of us but gets involved on a physical plain to bless us. God so separates Himself from man made religions in the fact that false gods are always seen lording over the people. Yet while God certainly does rule and reign, He does not stay in His elaborate temple. God walks, breathes, talks, and hears from a man's perspective of our plights and problems. Jesus healed the sick, forgave sinners, freed the spiritually bound, opened eyes, washed feet, and taught in person. He does the same today in the form of the Holy Spirit that resides personally in the believer.
Second, The Annunciation teaches us that God can use any form of communication He desires. God has no limits. God spoke to Adam with His own voice. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. God spoke to John by a vision, and God used an angel to not only speak to Mary but others through the Scriptures. So the question here is, does God still use an angelic messenger to proclaim His message? On the whole I would say not. I say this only because the job of the Holy Spirit within the believer is to direct and guide. However, I would not deny that someone in the world today has encountered a real angel either in human form, or in their divine state. There have been numerous reports of angelic "sightings" by many. Though we don't hunt for them like some do for UFOs, God has every right to allow one of His created beings to appear directly to either communicate or in many cases to protect.
Thirdly, The Annunciation lets us know that God favors us by letting His purposes be accomplished in our frailty. The first words to the messenger Gabriel out of Mary's lips were, "how can this [divine conception] happen since I have had no sexual relations with a man?" She admitted her inability to conceive other than the natural way and she admitted the inability of her mind to understand the whole matter. Neither would we in the same situation. But God kindly favored Mary despite herself. He was willing to place in her the most precious apple of His eye, His own Son. He entrusted Mary and Joseph to look after Jesus in His growing up years. This was no small task! God knew though His Son was perfect, that His earthly caretakers were not. God knows you and I are frail and prone to sin, yet He gives us opportunities every day to witness, be a blessing, meet a need, pray for others, give our finances, support the work of the ministry, achieving His plans and timetable through flawed beings.
When Mary found out all the things the Angel Gabriel said, she exclaimed, "my soul does magnify the Lord!" This was an expression of joy partly for the honor of the task, but also she knew God was going to use her fragility in His Strength. She knew it magnified His might not hers. The same exclamation ought to be true of us.
From that time till now, only two other announcements has been knowingly made with such great power and Divine physical presence to men and women and that was Paul's conversion on the Damascus road and John's Revelation. But there is another Annunciation, in fact, the greatest ever given. The Annunciation that Jesus died for your sins, and by simply trusting in Him, repenting (turning) from your sin and receiving Him into your heart as Lord and Savior, you personally can have eternal life in Heaven right now. This Annunciation doesn't come with the rush of angel's wings, or thunder and lightning from the sky, but that still small voice pleading with you to come to Christ before the gates are shut and grace will have ended.
Christian, the Annunciation keeps us in mind that one greater than Gabriel, God the Holy Spirit, resides in us. Listen for His divine decrees in your life. Be so thankful He is willing to talk with us and be patient with us. Thank Him today for the wonderful ways He comforts and talks to us when no one else listens or understands. One who stays in constant contact with you and me all through life. Give Him glory and thank Him for being willing to tell us where we were headed and now change that heading to walk with Him forever!
Heavenly Father, thank You for being willing to proclaim to us not only the Gospel but to encourage us and announce to us Your Truths and ways. Help us to be good listeners and appreciate all the more Who You are and what You have done for us who never deserved anything better than Hell itself. Help us to tell others about You, to announce to them how they can have You in their hearts and lives too. Thank you Lord, In thy name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment