Christmas story

Here is a Christmas story I wrote some years back ...

As Christmas approaches, we celebrate the coming of Christ into the world. As Christians, we have also had Christ “born” in our hearts when we received a relationship with Him. Even today, we may have many “receptions” of Christ as he comes to us. How will you react when Jesus comes to you, regardless of the method, to have a closer relationship with you?

In Luke Chapter 1, we see how two people reacted when Jesus came to them.

The Angel Gabriel was sent to a priest named Zechariah, and to a peasant girl named Mary, and he announced the coming of Jesus to both of them.

Zechariah was a priest, and according to the text a righteous man. He was a faithful follower of God, and as a Priest had a certain rank. If anyone would be expected to have faith, it would be Zechariah.

He was chosen to burn incense before the alter of God, which was done yearly. This was a very high honor as the priest was standing in front of the alter in the presence of God. The priest would actually enter the Holy of Holies, which was done only at this time each year.

This was how it had been done since the time of Moses as the priest made atonement for the sins of the nation of Israel.

According to Jewish legend, when priests went to the altar for this duty, a rope was tied around their leg just in case they were struck dead by the Sprit. If any sin was found in them, this could likely happen.

The text tells us he was a righteous man and had been praying fervently for years, asking God to give him and his wife a son.

Now, in his old age, he sees an angel, Gabriel, who is bringing him news that he will indeed have a son. That son is to be John the Baptist.

But even so, Zechariah doubts. He asks the angel how he can know for sure. In essence, he was asking for a sign that the angel’s words were true. The Jewish leaders all had this problem … a basic lack of faith in God. When Jesus ministered on the earth, the Jewish leadership constantly hounded Him for a sign.

Gabriel was no common angel. He is the one that stands before God, implying a special relationship. He had been sent to both of them with a specific message.

It is interesting to note that Zechariah was standing before God at the moment. By offering the incense, he was doing on an earthly level what Gabriel was doing on a heavenly level.

Even so, he asked for a sign as though he really did not believe.

Zechariah would still receive the promise even though he had not believed, but he would not be able to speak until the child was born.

Later in the chapter, we see a much different scenario as Gabriel appears to Mary, to tell her that she will bear the Christ child.

Mary was probably a basic peasant girl without much education. Many people probably would not have considered her a spiritual giant. And as you might expect, she was terrified at seeing an angel.

Here response is much different than Zechariah’s response though. After just a little questioning, she believes the angel.

“I am the Lord’s Servant. May it be as you have said,” she told him.

Her faith was simple but effective.

While Zechariah had all the education and connections, he failed in the crunch, to have simple faith.

If we compare the two people, we can see that perhaps religious position does not necessarily translate to being truly close to God.