“Important & Trustworthy”

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

BIBLE READING: Luke 1-2

“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.” (Luke 1.19)

Luke 1 is dominated by the angel Gabriel who is sent to both Zechariah and Mary with a message from God. He tells Zechariah that he will have a son who will prepare the way for Jesus (Luke 1.13-17). He tells Mary, although she is a virgin, that she too will have a child and he will be the son of God (Luke 1.31-33).

Both messages troubled the hearers (Luke 1.12, 29). The sudden appearance of Gabriel, coupled with a message about coming events were both confusing and frightening. But there was no doubt this message was from God.

This appears to be a primary function of angels throughout scripture. They entered the world to execute divine judgment and communicate God’s will in definitive fashion (see Genesis 19.1-22; Numbers 22.22-35). Angels were not always overt in their mission (Hebrews 13.2), but in episodes when they revealed themselves, there was no doubt God was at work. Such was the case with Gabriel.

If an angel appeared to you in dramatic fashion, no doubt you would stop to consider what they were saying. As the author of Hebrews would write, “[their] message proved to be reliable” both for blessing and retribution (Hebrews 2.2). But how does he continue? Jesus is superior to the angels, in power and prominence (Hebrews 1.4-14) – “See that you do not refuse him who is speaking to you” (Hebrews 12.25).

As important and trustworthy as Gabriel proved to be, he was the preface to the incarnation of Jesus. In fact, Luke goes on to include other witnesses to this important event. The Holy Spirit enlightens Mary, Elizabeth, and Zechariah to the fulfillment of prophesied events (Luke 1.35, 41-45, 67-79). Another angel appears to some shepherds who share what they had been told about Jesus (Luke 2.8-20). The prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna both exalt in Jesus as the Christ (Luke 2.22-38).

All this is intended to center our attention on the person of Jesus. God communicated with beings both great and small, so the world was aware of what he was doing. As powerful and profound as Gabriel’s moment was in Luke 1, Jesus is the one we’re supposed to see. In fact, everything God ever communicated is intended to bring us to this point (2 Corinthians 1.20; Hebrews 1.1-4). So, whatever Jesus says or does is the final word from God. His words possess authority (Mark 1.22, 27). His judgments are definitive (John 5.22). His promises are sure (Hebrews 6.18-20). We must not refuse anything that he says.

“For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2.2-3)

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