CHRISTMAS CHARACTERS
(“Gabriel, God’s Messenger”)
Luke 1:5-24; 1:26-31, 36-37 (NASU)
19“The angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.’” (Luke 1:19)
26“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.”
(Luke 1:26-27)
CHARACTERS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRISTMAS
(1) It seems like every major holiday in America has its own unique set of characters. Easter has its bunnies and baby chicks – Halloween, its ghouls and goblins – and Thanksgiving, its turkeys and pilgrims. However, no American holiday has more characters than Christmas.
(2) The characters associated with Christmas can be divided into two very distinct groups – those that are the figment of someone’s imagination (like Santa Claus and the Grinch), and those who are real and historical (like Joseph and Mary) – those that are secular and cultural (like Rudolph and Frosty), and those who come from the bible (like the shepherds and magi) – those that distract people’s attention away from the Christ of “Christmas” (like flying reindeer and elves), and those who draw our attention to Him (like Simeon and Anna).
(3) It’s my contention, in this series of seasonal messages, that it is becoming harder and harder for us Christians to keep our minds focused on celebrating the birth of Christ – which is, after all, what the Christmas holiday is supposed to be about. The distractions are many – and so are the temptations to get caught up in all the excitement and anticipation generated by a fallen world. Hence, it requires a special measure of God’s grace to keep our hearts and minds (and that of our children and grandchildren) focused on giving Him thanks for the “indescribable gift” of His Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (c.f. II Corinthians 9:15).
(4) To try and help us stay focused this holiday season, I’m having us look at some of the characters associated with the biblical record of Jesus’ birth. Thus far we have looked at Joseph, the husband of Mary” (c.f. Matthew 1:16) – Jesus’ legal (although not his biological) father (c.f. Matthew 1:18) – whom Scripture calls “a righteous man” (c.f. Matthew 1:19). We’ve also looked at Mary, Joseph’s virgin wife – “by whom Jesus was born” (c.f. Matthew 1:16) – and whom Scripture says, “found favor with God” (c.f. Luke 1:30).
(5) Not all the characters associated with the biblical record of our Savior’s birth, however, are human or of this earth. I’m speaking now about the various angels who are mentioned in both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke – one of whom we actually know by name – i.e. Gabriel, God’s messenger – whom He sent to speak (first) to an elderly, childless man named Zacharias – and then, six months later, to a virgin named Mary. Here, then, is the biblical record of those two visits (albeit somewhat condensed, for the sake of time) – starting with Gabriel’s visit to Zacharias in Luke chapter one, beginning at verse five:
5“In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias … (who) had a wife … (named) Elizabeth. 6They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments … of the Lord. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. 8Now it happened … while he was performing his priestly service before God … 9… (that) he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11And an angel of the Lord appeared to him … 12Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13But the angel said … ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14… many will rejoice at his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord … (and) will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17It is he who will go as a forerunner before (the Messiah) in the spirit and power of Elijah … so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ 18Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.’ 19The angel answered … ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I HAVE BEEN SENT to speak to you and TO BRING YOU THIS GOOD NEWS. 20And behold, you shall be … unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words … 21And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and … wondering at his delay in the temple. 22But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple … 23When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home. 24(And) After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant …” (Luke 1:5-24)
The son who was eventually born to Zacharias and Elizabeth was (of course) John the Baptist – who was the promised forerunner of God’s Messiah spoken of in the Book of Malachi (c.f. Malachi 4:5-6).
The other passage of Scripture I want to read continues the story line found in Luke chapter one, starting at verse twenty-six:
26“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel WAS SENT FROM GOD to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph … (whose) name was Mary. 28And coming in, he said to her, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ 29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus … (36)And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.’” (Luke 1:26-31, 36-7)
(B) ABOUT ANGELS IN GENERAL
(1) We begin, then, with some general information about angels – starting with the fact that they are supernatural, created, personal beings, who are distinct from mankind.1
(a) Among other things, this means that people do NOT become angels when they die. Angels are angels, and people are people – just like horses are horses, and dogs are dogs. There may be some similarities – but they are still two very distinct and separate creatures! And the one NEVER ever becomes the other.
Men and women have physical bodies – while angels do not. Angels do have the ability to appear in a physical form,1 whenever it suits God’s purpose for them to do so (c.f. Genesis 18:1-2; 19:1; John 20:11-12; Acts 12:7-10) – but they are not naturally physical beings like you and I are. Hence, heaven is their ordinary dwelling place1 (c.f. Mark 13:32) – while earth is ours (c.f. II Peter 3:13).
(b) Scripture tells us that angels are intelligent, moral creatures1 (c.f. Jude 1:6) – however, they do not marry (c.f. Matthew 22:30), nor can they die (c.f. Luke 20:36). Worshipping God is their primary activity (c.f. Psalm 148:2; Isaiah 6:2-3) (which I will talk about more in a moment) – but they are also used by Him to minister to believers like ourselves1 (c.f. Hebrews 1:14). Hence, John Calvin said: “Angels are the dispensers and administrators of (God’s) divine (kindness) toward us. They regard our safety, undertake our defense, direct our ways, and exercise a constant (attentiveness, so) that no evil befall(s) us.”2 While Martin Luther said: “An angel is a spiritual creature without a body created by God for the service of Christendom and the church.”2
(2) There’s more that could be said – but since this is a message about angels, only because they appear in the biblical account of our Savior’s birth, we need to move on. And we do so, by pointing out that the Hebrew word translated “angel” in the Old Testament (“malak”),3 and the Greek word translated “angel” in the New Testament (“aggelos”) both literally mean “messenger”.3
(a) If there’s one word that describes what angels are, and what they do (at least so far as Scripture is concerned), it’s this word – for we constantly find them carrying messages from heaven to earth – from the throne of God to the world of men. Hence, in Matthew chapter one, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream WITH A MESSAGE FROM GOD, that said (in part): “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (c.f. Matthew 1:20; see also, Matthew 2:13, 19). Again, in Luke chapter two, the angel who appeared to the shepherds also BROUGHT A MESSAGE FROM HEAVEN, that said (in part): “today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (c.f. Luke 2:11). Likewise, in this morning’s Scripture lessons, in verse nineteen, the angel Gabriel BROUGHT A MESSAGE to Zacharias directly FROM “THE PRESENCE OF GOD” (c.f. Luke 1:19) – while verse twenty-six says “the angel Gabriel was SENT FROM GOD” WITH A MESSAGE for Mary (c.f. Luke 1:26).
(b) Another word that describes what angels are and what they do, is the word “minister” or “servant”. For example, Hebrews chapter one, verse seven, tells us that “(God) makes His angels winds, and His ministers (or, “servants” – NIV) a flame of fire’” (c.f. Hebrews 1:7; Psalm 104:4). In other words, angels are ministers or servants of God – who carry out His will and purpose,4 both in heaven and on earth. Sometimes that may involve delivering a message, like we find throughout the biblical record of Jesus’ birth (c.f. Matthew 1:20-21; 2:13, 19; Luke 2:10-12). Other times, however, it may involve something more ominous, like executing divine judgment upon wicked unrepentant men5 – as in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Book of Genesis, or King Herod in the Book of Acts (c.f. Genesis 19:12-13; Acts 12:23). Hence, Psalm One Hundred and Three says (starting at verse twenty): 20“Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, WHO PERFORM HIS WORD, OBEYING THE VOICE OF HIS WORD! 21Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, YOU WHO SERVE HIM, DOING HIS WILL” (c.f. Psalm 103:20-21).
(3) And that leads us back to something I mentioned in passing a moment ago – namely, that angels are wholly devoted to the praise and worship of Almighty God. Psalm One Hundred and Forty-Eight (verse two) says: “Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts!” (c.f. Psalm 148:2). In the Book of Isaiah, angels known as seraphim praise God, saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (c.f. Isaiah 6:2-3). While in the Book of Revelation, John says (in part) (in chapter five, starting at verse eleven): 11“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne … the number of (which) was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing’” (c.f. Revelation 5:11-12).
Angelic praise is also part of the biblical record of our Savior’s birth. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, chapter two, we’re told that following the announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds: 13“(there) suddenly … appeared … a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased’” (c.f. Luke 2:13-14).
(C) ABOUT GABRIEL IN PARTICULAR
(1) No one (except God) knows how many angels there are. Scripture indicates their number is “ginormous”6 (c.f. Daniel 7:10; Revelation 5:11) – but, it only gives us the names of two7 (three, if we count the fallen angel Lucifer) (c.f. Isaiah 14:12, NKJV). One is Michael (c.f. Jude 1:9) – and the other is Gabriel, who, in addition to this morning’s Scripture lessons (c.f. Luke 1:19, 26), is also mentioned twice in the Book of Daniel (c.f. Daniel 8:16; 9:21).
(2) We don’t know a lot about Gabriel. We do know his name means something like, “mighty one of God”.7 And we also know that when he isn’t off somewhere on assignment, that (according to our text) he “stands in the presence of God” (c.f. Luke 1:19) – which one study bible calls an “astounding job description”, because it implies surpassing holiness, faithfulness, and responsibility.8
(3) John MacArthur says: “Gabriel is God’s supreme messenger, who (brings) great, glorious, and crucial announcements from heaven.”9 In fact, in the only four places where Gabriel is mentioned in Scripture, we find him delivering a message of great importance – first, in Daniel chapter eight, where God instructs him to explain the vision of the ram and goat (c.f. Daniel 8:16) – second, in Daniel chapter nine, where he is sent to help the prophet understand the prophecy of seventy weeks (c.f. Daniel 9:21-22) – third, in Luke chapter one, where he announces the birth of John the Baptist, who is to be the promised forerunner of God’s Messiah (c.f. Luke 1:13-17) – and finally, also in Luke chapter one, where he announces the birth of the often-promised and long-awaited Savior of God’s elect covenant people (c.f. Luke 1:31-35; see also Matthew 1:21).
Every time Gabriel appears in Scripture, we find him bringing a message of great and wonderful importance, from “the presence of God” (c.f. Luke 1:19) to earth. Nor are they messages that are initially broadcast to as many people as possible. On the contrary, each message is initially given to one individual – Daniel, Zacharias, and Mary – and only later disseminated (presumably by them) to others.
ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM ANOTHER ANGEL
(1) A little over six months separates the two messages Gabriel brought in this morning’s Scripture lessons – first to Zacharias, and later to Mary (c.f. Luke 1:23-26). About nine months after that, another unnamed angel appears with yet another message. Look with me now at Luke chapter two. Joseph and Mary have made their way to Bethlehem to register for the Roman census – and while there, Mary has given birth to her firstborn son (c.f. Luke 2:1-7). We pick up the story, then, in verse eight:
8“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields … keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS of great joy which will be for all the people; (So, what’s the message this angel is bringing?) 11… today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” (c.f. Luke 2:8-12)
(2) I think there’s a big misconception about angels – in this regard, that they are often portrayed (in pictures and figurines) as rather benign, feminine looking creatures – when, in fact, their appearance usually scares people to death (figuratively speaking)!10 For example, when Gabriel first appeared to Zacharias in this morning’s Scripture lesson, verse twelve says he was “troubled when he saw the angel, and FEAR GRIPPED HIM” (c.f. Luke 1:12). Likewise, when Gabriel later appeared to Mary, the first thing he told her was: “do not be AFRAID” (c.f. Luke 1:30). And now, here in Luke chapter two, when an angel appears to shepherds during the night, verse nine says, “they were TERRIBLY FRIGHTENED” (c.f. Luke 2:9).
(3) So what is it about angels that ordinarily cause people to react with such fright when they encounter them. One possible explanation may be their holiness. William Hendricksen says, “Scripture everywhere stresses the holiness of angels”11 – a holiness that is not their own, but that is a reflection of the holiness of God, and therefore allows them to stand in His awesome presence, even as Gabriel does (c.f. Luke 1:19).
That holiness stands in stark contrast to our current sinful condition, even as redeemed people – so that, whenever any human being encounters real holiness, we immediately (and instinctively) recognize the difference, and are terribly frightened by it. Hence, even though he was a prophet of God, of whom Scripture never says anything negative, when Gabriel first appeared to Daniel he said: “I WAS TERRIFIED and fell (on my face)” (c.f. Daniel 8:17, NIV).
(4) Another possible explanation, for why the appearance of an angel (or angels) ordinarily strikes such fear in people’s hearts, has to do with God’s glory. The Book of Exodus says that after Moses talked with God, “the skin of his face shone” – with the result that the people “were afraid to come near him” (c.f. Exodus 34:28-35).
I would suggest that because they constantly stand in God’s presence11 (c.f. Luke 1:19), wherever angels go they either take with them a reflection of the glory of God – or, the glory of the Lord goes with them! Hence, when that one angel appeared to the shepherds the night Jesus was born, Luke chapter two (verse nine) says: “the glory of the Lord shone around them; and (as a result) they were terribly frightened” (c.f. Luke 2:9).
So, don’t let Hollywood’s portrayal of human-looking angels mislead you. In Scripture their appearance usually strikes fear in the hearts of men – on account of the reflective holiness and glory of God that ordinarily accompanies them wherever they go (unless God chooses to “tone it down” for some reason).
(5) Angels are God’s messengers – and the message that unnamed angel in Luke chapter two brought was this (starting in verse ten): 10“… behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (c.f. Luke 2:10-11).
Gabriel had previously announced that God’s Son would soon be born (c.f. Luke 1:31-35) – now this unnamed angel announces that He had been born! I can’t think of any angel who ever delivered a more glorious message! I can’t think of any angel who ever delivered a more important message – especially for sinful people like ourselves! I can’t think of any angel who ever delivered a more succinct summary of the Gospel – “the Savior has come, who is Christ the Lord” (c.f. Luke 2:11) – “I have Good News! The Savior is here, and His name is Jesus!”
(6) In light of such a glorious message, praise is in order. Hence, as soon as the message was delivered, we’re told (in Luke chapter two, starting at verse thirteen) that 13“suddenly there appeared with (that one) angel a multitude of the heavenly host (doing the other thing they do best, i.e.) praising God and saying, 14‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased’” (c.f. Luke 2:13-14).
I don’t know how many angels they are in “a multitude” – but I can’t imagine that there was a single angel (seen or unseen) who did not join in shouting or singing: “Glory to God in the highest!” I can’t conceive that there was a single angel (in heaven or on earth) who did not voice their praise to God for having sent His Son to be our Savior!
(E) GOD’S OTHER MESSENGERS
(1) As I reflect on the role Gabriel and the other angels played in the biblical record of our Savior’s birth, I’m struck by several things. First, I’m struck by how obedient they were (and still are). William Hendricksen says: “they stand in (God’s) awesome presence, instantly ready to carry out His orders.”11
We haven’t talked (this morning) about those angels whom the Book of Jude says “did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode” – and who are now being “kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day” (c.f. Jude 1:6). But, as far as the angels we have been talking about are concerned – so far as we know, they have never once disobeyed God. They have ALWAYS done His will, even from the first moment of their existence.
In this regard, then, (by God’s enabling grace) they have achieved something we have not – because, before we were saved we did not obey God at all – and even though we are now redeemed people, we still don’t always do the will of God perfectly. We believe there is coming a day when we will be enabled to do so – but, even then we will never be able to say, with Gabriel and the other angels, that we have ALWAYS obeyed God’s EVERY command.
Nevertheless, these angels stand as an example for us – that, as we grow and mature in the faith, by Christ’s enabling grace we might draw closer and closer to the goal of being “instantly ready to carry out whatever commands God may give us.”11
(2) The second thing I was struck by is how, as far as their involvement in the birth of our Savior is concerned, (how) every message any angel brought had something to do with the Gospel.
Hence, Gabriel’s message to Zacharias said (in part) that his son would (verse seventeen) “turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (c.f. Luke 1:17).
Likewise, Gabriel’s message to Mary said (in part) that she would give birth to a Son whom she was to name “Jesus” (c.f. Luke 1:31) – a name we learn elsewhere literally means “God’s saves” – and was to be given to Him because He was going to “save His people from their sins” (c.f. Matthew 1:21). Indeed, everything Gabriel told Mary indicated that her Son was going to be the Savior God had been promising His people, ever since the Fall in Genesis chapter three (c.f. Luke 1:32-35; Genesis 3:15).
And then, the message of the unnamed angel in Luke chapter two clearly proclaimed the Gospel when he said (starting in verse ten): 10“behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (c.f. Luke 2:10-11).
Every where we turn in Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth, angels are proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel – the forerunner is coming – the Messiah will soon be here – the Savior IS here!
As I indicated earlier, angels and men are not interchangeable beings – there are some similarities, but there are also many differences. One thing we do share in common, however, is the ability to proclaim the Gospel. But, I would suggest that the proclamation of the Gospel has been given primarily to us. Hence, we human beings (not angels) have been given commands like these: “Go … and make disciples of all the nations …” (c.f. Matthew 29:19) – and again: “… you shall be My witnesses …” (c.f. Acts 1:8) – and once more: “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also …” (c.f. I John 1:3).
May the Lord help us stay focused, so that the earthly characters (and other distractions) associated with the secular celebration of Christmas do not divert us from this all-important task!
(3) Finally, I’m struck by how the angels praised God for the birth of His Son. “Glory to God in the highest,” they shouted (c.f. Luke 2:14). May this Christmas, and every Christmas, find a similar outpouring of adoration12 coming from our lips and our hearts.
So, let the world celebrate “the holidays” – we will celebrate the birth of our Savior. Let the world praise the gods of gold and silver (c.f. Daniel 5:4) and good cheer – we will celebrate the indescribable gift of the One who has saved us from our sins (c.f. II Corinthians 9:15). Let the world sing songs about “Jingle Bells” and “White Christmases” – we will sing: “Glory to God in the highest” (c.f. Luke 2:14).
1The New Geneva Study Bible: Angels; p. 1467.
2Graham: Angels – God’s Secret Agents; p. x.
3BCS: Strong’s Concordance; Word #32 and #4397.
4Gardner: Who’s Who in the Bible; p. 44.
5IBID; p. 45.
6BCS: Strong’s Concordance; Word #3461 and #3463.
7Hendricksen: New Testament Commentary; Luke; p. 74.
8The English Standard Version Study Bible: Footnote on
Luke 1:19; p. 1944.
9MacArthur: God in a Manger; p. 29.
10Graham: Ibid; p. 119.
11Hendricksen: Ibid; p. 83.
12IBID; p. 155.