Christmas’ Supporting Cast

Gabriel: God’s Words for You

Luke 1:26-38

 

Opening Words: Martin Luther once wrote, “The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.” Those words from the great reformer were written over five hundred years ago but they are still true today. How many of us really appreciate the incarnation of God, the real meaning of Christmas?

 

We began our Advent/Christmas sermon series, Christmas’ Supporting Cast, last week. We are looking at the supporting characters of the Nativity. Last week we began with the prophets. In the weeks to come we will look at the people of Bethlehem and the shepherds. On Christmas Eve we will look at the leading character of Christmas, Jesus. The Sunday after Christmas we will be visited by the innkeeper’s wife. Today, we look at the role the angel Gabriel played in the Nativity. We find ourselves in the first chapter of Luke, verses twenty-six through thirty-eight. May God give you ears to hear. Let me call this message God’s Words for You.

 

Luke 1:26-38 26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God." 38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

 

John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. As the story goes, one night hostile natives surrounded the mission station. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would save them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers were gone. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton knew no men were present--but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station. Paton knew who those tall men were not human, they were angels. Let me ask you this question, “Do you believe in angels?”

 

Throughout the Bible there are many stories of angels. Until this week, I had forgotten the word angel means “messenger.“ What are angels? Angels are spiritual beings, who are above mankind, yet far below God. By God’s appointment they help and defend men on earth. The Bible is filled with stories of angels. (Someday that will make a great sermon series!) Even a Biblical illiterate knows angels play a important role in the Christmas story. As a matter of fact, it is difficult to tell any part of the nativity without mentioning angels. Luke mentions four accounts of angels leading up to and including the birth of Christ. Each one of those accounts in the first and second chapters of Luke.

It is the angel Gabriel that is mentioned in the primary scripture fore today. Gabriel means “God is my hero.”

According to verse twenty-six, God sends Gabriel to the obscure town of Nazareth to deliver an important message to an innocent young woman by the name of Mary. The message she receives doesn’t just change her future plans but it changes the world. Today, what I want to do is look at this message. They are powerful words that have spoken to generations. Gabriel was speaking to Mary but there is a lesson there for us. If you apply them to your life they can be life changing. So if you are ready for God’s special delivery to you say, “Amen!”

 

Comforting Words

The first word God wants you to hear are comforting words. Verse 28 says, “The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." That verse is significant because that verse sets up Gabriel’s announcement. Before Gabriel tells Mary about her place in God’s divine plan, he tells her two things. First, he tells her that God is with her. Second, he tells her that she has a special place in God’s heart. Those are words of comfort. Does anyone here ever get tired of hearing, “I love you?“ Does anyone here ever get tired by hearing that God loves you?

 

Once during Queen Victoria's reign, she heard that the wife of a common laborer had lost her baby. Having experienced deep sorrow herself, she felt moved to express her sympathy. So she called on the bereaved woman one day and spent some time with her. After she left, the neighbors asked what the queen had said. "Nothing," replied the grieving mother. "She simply put her hands on mine, and we silently wept together." Job 2:13 says, “No one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.”

 

We live in times when we emphasize words. We want to say the right thing at the right time. How many times have found the right words too late? In my time in the ministry I have learned that words are not that important. What is important is your presence. The fact that you took time out of your busy schedule to be with someone is extremely important. Does anyone here not appreciate a visit in the hospital? Does anyone here try to discourage people from coming to your wedding? Does anyone here get mad when someone comes to your baby’s baptism? Does anyone here not like seeing a friend when the job is lost? When Gabriel says to Mary, “The Lord is with you.” He is revealing one of those timeless truths. Presence is more important then words.

 

This is what God wants you to hear today. It is the same word that Gabriel told to Mary. The Lord is with you. There has never been a moment in your life when you were orphaned from God. We want God to speak to us like he did to Moses and the burning bush. However, what is more important then His words is His presence. If you are thankful that God is with you say, “Amen!”

 

World Changing Words

The second word God wants you to hear are world changing words. Verses thirty-two and thirty-three say, “He (Jesus) will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Those are world changing world. God knew the greatest problem facing the world was sin. It is not just true of Mary’s generation, it is true in every generation. Gabriel is telling Mary that God is about to solve our sin problem. He is about to send a perfect sacrifice to eliminate sin. Those are world changing words. Many believe our world is broken. Would anyone here like to change our world?

 

The other day I “Googled” the question, “What is the greatest problem facing our world today?” into my search engine. I discovered a website called fluther.com, which ask the same exact question. Many people responded. This is what they said. Maybe you can agree with some of these responses?

1. Starvation

2. Corruption

3. Stupid People

4. Lack of trust in science and the scientific process

5. Greed

6. Climate Change

7. Absence of compassion

8. Mediocre people

9. Moral bankruptcy

10. Religious fundamentalism

 

Someone answered the question, “all of the above.” How would you answer the question, what is the greatest problem facing the world today? Perhaps, your answer would be the same as number eleven, lawyers! The greatest problem facing our world today, according to God, is sin. Christmas is a wonderful time of year for many reasons. I like the parties and presents. However, the reason I marvel at Christmas annually is that it reminds us that God came into the world to be the perfect sacrifice for your sins and mine. The words that Gabriel spoke to Mary were world changing words. From that moment on the world would be different, the world would be better. If you believe Jesus changed our world for the better say, “Amen!”

 

Life Changing Words

The first hot air balloon was launched in a small village near Paris on June 4, 1783. It sailed 6,000 feet in the air and traveled several miles. History tells us when it landed in a field it was promptly attacked by pitchfork-waving peasants and torn to pieces as an instrument of evil! Those peasant farmers illustrate for us a universal truth. Some people just don’t like change.

 

The third word that God wants to hear are life changing words. Verses thirty and thirty-one say, “The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” Notice one thing with me about those two verses. The word “you” is used three times. God is not assigning the task to anyone else. God is assigning the task of being Jesus’ mother to Mary. All the plans and dreams she had for her future have been extinguished. His life is going to change. God is taking over her life and using her for a divine purpose. If anyone says the faith is easy, then they are wrong! Mary illustrates for us the simple fact that living out the faith will change your life. Are you willing to make some changes to serve God? No one likes change but a baby. Most people don’t like change. I hope you are willing to make some changes to serve God. If you would have attacked that hot air balloon with a pitchfork because you just refuse to accept change say, “Amen!” Let me end with these words.

 

His name was Paul. He was a parishioner of mine years ago. He was as logical as anyone I had ever known. That is why his story took me by surprise. He told it to me one night after a church meeting in the parking lot. It went like this:

His was raised during the heart of the depression. His family was poor when it came to money but rich when it came to love. The primary source of that love was his mother. No one questioned her love for Paul or his twin brother. The problem was one day she grew sick. The family had little money so her illness went undiagnosed. When the doctor was finally called it was too late. There was nothing that could be done. He remembered clearly the night she died. He and his brother were sent to bed. Their rooms were across the hall from each other. Paul said he laid in bed listening to the adults talking and crying. When he looked at the foot of his bed he saw some thing that shocked him. He saw an angel sitting at the foot of his bed! She smiled and said,“ Don’t worry, Paul, everything is going to be just fine.” He jumped out of bed to tell his brother but his brother was already in the hall. Before Paul could speak his brother said, “Paul, angel told me everything is going to be just fine.” Have you ever had an encounter with an angel?

 

That is the Good News as we come to 2009, “Don’t worry everything is going to be just fine!” Just remember the words of the Gabriel spoke to Mary all those years ago. The God of the universe loves you! He is with you and He is still responding to human need. The only question is are you going to make yourself available to him? I hope you answer is, YES!” And all of God‘s people said, “Amen!”