A Christmas Message – The Men Of The Incarnation Series

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE – THE MEN OF THE INCARNATION

=====================================

An explanation – I highlighted a number of words and phrases in the biblical text in red, but because the layout here can’t use formatting, I have placed those in capitals. I hope you don’t mind. I know capitals are awkward.

=====================================

What do we think of when we think “Christmas”? Well that depends on one’s relationship with God. If you have no Christian leanings I think your mind is taken with food and drink, presents Santa Claus, family, holidays, and a good time. More than ever in these days, little of Christmas has any Christian meaning to people.

At the time of the First Advent, the Incarnation or the birth of Christ, we all know about Mary and the manger, the shepherds and the inn, but have we thought much about the men of the Incarnation, before and at that time? We go to the beginning. That is what this is about.

[1]. ZACHARIAS – THE FIRST CONTACT

{{Luke 1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain PRIEST named Zacharias of the division of Abijah, and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Luke 1:6 They were BOTH RIGHTEOUS in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. Luke 1:7 They had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.”}}

Zacharias, this Godly, righteous man, was performing his priestly duties when this event happened -

{{Luke 1:11-20 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense Luke 1:12 and Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear gripped him, Luke 1:13 but the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will give him the name John. Luke 1:14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. Luke 1:15 He will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine or liquor and he will be FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT while yet in his mother’s womb, Luke 1:16 and HE WILL TURN BACK MANY OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL TO THE LORD THEIR GOD. Luke 1:17 It is he who will go as A FORERUNNER before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE LORD.” Luke 1:18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this for certain for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years?” Luke 1:19 and the angel answered and said to him, “I AM GABRIEL, WHO STANDS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. Luke 1:20 Behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place because you did not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in their proper time.”}}

Zacharias had an angelic encounter for we are on holy ground unlike any other in the history of mankind. Not any angel, but Gabriel. This angel was the special messenger of God. Zacharias was dumb because of this encounter, as in no talking, but he had much to contemplate. Just what sort of son was he to have? – filled with the Holy Spirit; great ministry in Israel; a forerunner. Both Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous. Note the expression – {{Luke 1:6 “They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.”}} -? this was something. When we looked at Galatians and saw that the Law could not be kept and it condemned us. God’s testimony for these two is simply remarkable.

Zacharias was told his son would be “a forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah.” All the righteous Jews knew a forerunner would come before the Messiah. This was too much! His own son would be that forerunner for Messiah!

Zacharias finished his term and took his break back home with Elizabeth who became pregnant according to the word of the Lord.

GABRIEL SENT TO VISIT MARY

{{Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, Luke 1:27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the descendants of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary, Luke 1:28 and coming in, he said to her, “Hail, FAVOURED one! The Lord is with you,” Luke 1:29 but she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be. Luke 1:30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, FOR YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOUR WITH GOD,”}}