Have you ever thought about all the events that led up to the birth of Jesus Christ? I have written about these wonderful events we call Christmas six times in the past five years. I will list them in chronological order so you can go and read them at this wonderful time of year.
1.The Magoi, A King, and the King 12-23-2020
2.Mary Did You Know? 12-22-2021
3.The Time Line Of The Message 12-24-2022
4.Three Priest 12-10-2023
5.The Messengers 12-15-2024
6.Words Of Christmas 12-24-2024
This year I want to focus on each supernatural event that happened to Joseph, Mary, Zacharias, the Magoi, and the Shepherds of Bethlehem. Both Matthew and Luke wrote about these events. There are a lot of other Christian men of God that have written on this wonderful subject of Christmas.
I believe I will just explain each one as they happened chronologically as I see it. The very first event that happened was that the priest Zacharias was informed by the angel Gabriel that his wife would bear a son that would prepare the way for the Messiah of Israel.
Let’s turn to Luke 1:5-20 and pick up the story from Luke’s pen. As Zacharias was going about his day of service in the temple by burning of incense. Why was he burning incense? The smoke from it represents the prayers of Gods people. This was a very special event in the life of each priest that was selected by the drawing of lots. This was only once in each priest lifetime to have this honor.
This special day for Zacharias was one that was filled with great joy and reverence, that he was selected by God to do this special task. While he was going about his performance of presenting the prayers of Israel suddenly he saw someone else in this holy area, and no one was to be there but the priest!
Shaken and surprised, he was about to confront this intruder who dared to enter this sacred area of the temple and stood by the right hand side of the altar. But before he could react this intruder spoke to him and even called him by name and said, “ Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John….” (Verses 13-20)
This angel was Gabriel and he was sent by God to preform this very important task by informing Zacharias that he and Elizabeth were to have a son in their old age and this child was to be the forerunner, a messenger that would prepare the way for the Messiah of Israel.
Gabriel was standing on the right side of the altar of incense because this placement by God symbolizes honor, authority, and Gods favor. Zacharias was dumbfounded at the angels words of blessing. He and Elizabeth were about to be blessed with a child, a man child even.
Did he believe this supernatural messenger? Yes and No. Being a human that was aged and set in his beliefs and manners of life as he saw it. So he spoke back to Gabriel and asked him a very foolish question, “ whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well stricken in years.”
Gabriel didn’t miss a beat as he informed Zacharias that he would know because from this point in time till the child John was born, he would not be able to speak! Wow! Pretty severe sign for sure. Then Gabriel disappears just as he came. Gone, and Zacharias is left alone with his thoughts and actions.
He finished his performance of duties and then went out to tell the people why it had taken him so long. Opps, no words came out of his mouth! Then he believed this angels words. He was so excited his mouth opened and no words came out, just his excited condition and his frantic hand gestures, and all the people knew that he had a divine encounter inside the temple.
Zacharias then finished his duties as incense priest and after his tour was over he went home to tell Elizabeth. Long story short, they had a child after a period of time, somewhere between 9 months to a year. He was not able to speak a word until after John was born. On the eight day after John’s birth as they had him circumcised and dedicated to God. As the priest was beginning to say the child’s name was to be Zacharias, his father Zacharias made motions that the he wanted a tablet. And he wrote on the tablet, and said his name is John.
A very long time to be silent because of his act of disbelief over the angel’s announcement. His inability to speak was instantly lifted by naming the child John. Totally out of character for a person of this time period. This was the first supernatural event and leads us to the next one about Mary and this same angel. Both were angelic appearances, and two totally different outcomes where beliefs are concerned.
Now let’s look at this young girl called Mary, also in Luke, chapter 1, verse’s 26-38. I am only using part of this story and allow you to read it yourself for the whole story as it’s too many words for this blog. “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth….and the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”
She was very surprised to see someone in her home, but I don’t believe she was afraid. What confused her the most was that a man was giving her a greeting of salutation. This was considered unlawful among the Jewish community, yet here was definitely a man, a stranger, greeting her with wondrous words.
Gabriel sees that Mary is concerned with this breech of etiquette and he tells her not to be upset or concerned, as he then tells her she has found favor with the Most High God. Verses 31-38 give you the complete message given to him by God so you can read it later as you do your own study on this miraculous event.
Mary takes it all in as she listens to his words, and then she ask him a question; “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” In other words I am a virgin, and I have not had intimate relations with any man. Her words are different from Zacharias words of doubt, as hers were just a question as to how she could become pregnant as a virgin.
Gabriel then explained it to her and in verse 38, Mary replies to his explanation by saying, “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” He then turns and leaves her to her thoughts. I believe when she said, “be it unto me according to thy word” is when she became pregnant by her simple act of faith in believing Gods word.
That is all I will say for this first part of seven supernatural events that happened thousands of years ago. We call it Christmas, and next week we will pick up the story again as Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Keep your eyes on Jesus and always remember, you will make it, just don’t give up. See you next week as we study Gods word together.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 