Two Messages From God

Luke 1:5-33

* THE ANGEL GABRIEL FORETELLS THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

* GABRIEL TELLS MARY OF THE COMING BIRTH OF JESUS

We can consider the entire Bible to be, in effect, a message from God.  Our heavenly Father has provided it for our instruction.  Consider, though, two special messages that were delivered over 2,000 years ago.  They were delivered by an angel named Gabriel, who  "stands near before God."  (Luke 1:19) What were the circumstances under which the angel provided those important messages? 

It is about the year 3  B.C.E. Where does Gabriel deliver the first message?  In the Judean hills, probably not far from Jerusalem, there lives a priest of Jehovah by the name of Zechariah. He and his wife, Elizabeth, are not longer young, and they have no children. It is Zechariah's turn to serve as priest at God's temple in Jerusalem. While Zechariah is at the temple, Gabriel suddenly appears near the incense altar.

Understandably, that frightens Zechariah. But the angel calms Zechariah's fears, saying:  "D0 not be afraid, Zechariah, because your supplication has been favorably  heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John." Gabriel adds that John "will be in the sight of Jehovah" and will "get ready for Jehovah a prepared people." -Luke 1:13-17. 

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