Friday, December 8, 2017
Luke 1:19 And 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."
THE SHEPHERDS AND ZACHARIAS
When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, or to Zacharias, they were terribly frightened. In the case of the shepherds, however, it went from fear to faith. In the case of Zacharias, it went from dread to doubting. Zacharias not only lost his fear, but also had the audacity to answer: "How can I know this?" He couldn't just take the angel's word for it.
Answer? "I am Gabriel."
"Gabriel" can mean "God's mighty one," or "God is mighty." Either way, who would question the truthfulness of God's hero, or the ability of the mighty God?
"I stand in the presence of God."
Nothing false or unholy can stand in the presence of God. So how could we doubt the truthfulness of one who so stands?
Human beings have little trouble considering volcanos, earthquakes and other disasters to be "acts of God." But the message of Gabriel was good news, and Zacharias thought it was too good to be true. The shepherds were convinced. They spoke immediately about what had happened in Bethlehem, not waiting to "verify." The Word of God had convinced them.
And the answer was the same for Zacharias: A little more hearing, and a lot less talking was what he needed in the months to come, and this is what the LORD did for him. And in this blessed season, the LORD also gives us a chance for hearing, and for speaking: a chance to welcome to earth our noble Guest. He comes to share our misery. How can we ever thank Him?
