God's Messenger

Luke 1:26-27

When one begins a study of these verses the subject matter is so great it is easy to read past verse 26 to get to the wonderful story of the Virgin Mary, but before doing so let’s look at the angel Gabriel.  Gabriel had at one time this in common with you and I; he like all the angels had free will.   It was all-good until a mighty angel named Lucifer, whose name means, "Light Bearer" chose to rebel against God’s authority.  Another thing the angels have in common with you and I is they also are created beings, but in the day of rebellion, a war broke out in heaven and they were cast out of heaven with Lucifer, who is known by these names; the great dragon, that ancient serpent, the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.  (Note: this battle can be found in Revelation 12.)  You may also look at the letter of Jude verse six, “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.” 

On that day of battle, I believe it took place before man was created, the angels, all of them lost their free will, and the ones cast out with Satan and the ones that were loyal to God were under the authority of the one they had chosen.  And for me that information makes verse 26 of great interest; “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.”  If you study the Scripture Gabriel is God’s messenger for big events, and the birth of the Messiah is the biggest of events! 

His message is to the Virgin Mary, who is betrothed to a man named Joseph who is of the house of David, and that should bring up some questions for many of us.  What is betrothed from a Biblical view; “The term "betrothal" in Jewish law must not be understood in its modern sense; that is, the agreement of a man and a woman to marry, by which the parties are not, however, definitely bound, but which may be broken or dissolved without formal divorce.  When the agreement had been entered into, it was definite and binding upon both groom and bride, who were considered as man and wife in all legal and religious aspects, except that of actual cohabitation.” (Jewish Encyclopedia)  Both the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Luke give the genealogy of Jesus Christ going back to King David and the reason this is of great importance is God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13 God’s promise of establishing the son of David’s throne and his kingdom forever.

Now look to the promise God is speaking to this very young virgin through His messenger Gabriel: “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. He 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.” (Luke 1:30-33) 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice