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Day 16

Luke 1:26-38 "ANOTHER MISSION OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL"

Day 16 – Luke 1

Text: Luke 1:26-38

ANOTHER MISSION OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL

Six months later, “the angel Gabriel was sent by God” on another errand! This time he was sent to a small city called Nazareth. This city was in the district of Galilee.

This assignment was of even greater significance than the previous one, where he was sent to announce the birth of a son to Zacharias! This time, the angel Gabriel was sent to announce the birth of none other than the oft-prophesied Messiah (this word means, “The Anointed One”).

There were many who were skeptical that God would ever keep this prophecy. Many years had passed by, and there had been no sign of the coming of the Messiah! However, there were some who were faithful and who believed that one day, God would fulfil His promise. He would never break any of His promises. He was the Lord their God. He had always been faithful. If He promised a Messiah, then He would come one day. Did not the Psalmist David say,

“Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds
Your righteousness is like the great mountains
Your judgments are a great deep”
Psalm 36:5-6

ONCE AGAIN WE BEAR IN MIND THE WORD, “FULFILMENT” (Luke 1:1)

There were many prophetic statements made concerning the birth of the Messiah. Let us take a look at how conscious Luke was when he researched the birth narrative of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s take a look at some of the prophecies concerning the birth of the Messiah. We begin with noting just two of these prophecies:-

1. There was a prophecy that he would be born of a virgin.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel”
Isaiah 7:14

Luke noted that the angel Gabriel was sent to a virgin betrothed to a man… the virgin’s name was Mary (Luke 1:27)

2. The Messiah would come from the house of David


“Hear now, O House of David…” Isaiah 7:13
“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, (the father of David)
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots…” Isaiah 11:1

Luke quietly noted that Mary was betrothed to a man called Joseph who was of the house of David (Luke 1:27).

As we look into the birth narrative of the Lord Jesus, let us remember that the significance of His birth is not to be confined to the celebration we know as Christmas. Let us give much thought to the significance of every detail involving the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, our precious Saviour! Let us take time to marvel and stand in awe at every prophecy fulfilled at the birth of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

“REJOICE, HIGHLY FAVOURED ONE, THE LORD IS WITH YOU” Luke 1:28

The greeting that Gabriel gave to Mary was full of joy! But of course! The angel Gabriel’s mission was a happy one. He was going to announce the birth of the long-awaited for Messiah!

What significance did this message have for Mary, the one chosen to give birth to Baby Jesus? The angel Gabriel highlighted four things:-

1. Mary must indeed be filled with the greatest of joy, to be chosen to bear Baby Jesus

2. She was indeed “highly favoured”. This honour was bestowed upon her entirely by the grace of God.

3. The Lord was indeed with her, and blessing her life, and thus she was chosen to be the mother of Baby Jesus.

4. She would be counted “blessed among women” because she was to become the mother of the Messiah.

REJOICING IN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

It was because of his knowledge and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that Luke the Physician began to write the life-narrative of the Messiah. His heart must have thrilled again and again as he read the ancient prophecies concerning the Messiah.

He must do his part in searching for the truth. He must leave no detail unexamined. He must be very sure about what he writes. If indeed, the prophecies were true and fulfilled, then the birth-narrative that he was going to write would be of tremendous significance to all who would read his writing.

As we read and ponder over the birth-narrative of the Lord Jesus, let us pause and thank God once again, that we know Him personally as our Saviour!