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“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”
Luke 1:19 (ESV)

Reading the Christmas story from the book of Luke this week, I was again struck by the story of Zechariah and Elisabeth. If you haven’t read it recently, click the link to the passage from Luke. This exciting story has an angel, a baby, and answered prayers.

Let’s look at Elisabeth: being in her “old age”, she conceived a son. I can relate to that just a little bit – I also conceived a son at an “old age”, although I wasn’t barren to start with. My youngest was born days after my forty-fourth birthday.

And then there is Zechariah, the priest. He saw the angel Gabriel standing there by the altar of incense and fear fell upon him. The angel immediately told him to not be afraid! His priestly job was taken very seriously. And it was very serious to have a visit by the angel of the Lord in the temple. It was a very. big. deal.

The angel said, right away, that Zechariah’s prayer was heard.

The angel explained to Zechariah that Elisabeth would carry a baby! He would be like Elijah, preparing the way for the Lord.

That was an answer to prayer, all right!

The angel assured him this was “good news”. This baby, later called John the Baptist, was so much more than just having a baby in their old age. Their infertility, and the shame that accompanied that, eventually turned around to pointing straight to God and bringing Him glory. Pain has a way of doing that sometimes. Our losses and our griefs can bring glory to God when we allow Him to shine through our tears.

The passage says that they would have joy and gladness, and that many would rejoice at John’s birth because he would be great before the Lord. It was so much more than rejoicing over just having a baby.

It was about the salvation of the entire world.

This little baby would prepare the world to welcome Emmanuel, God with us. It was about “joy to the world, the Lord has come”. Salvation was coming, for you and me.

This year, as you read through the different passages of the Christmas story, look at the big picture. It isn’t just the baby, the shepherds, the wise men, or even the angels. It was leading up to the resurrection and victory over death. As a widow, victory over death means a whole lot more to me than before. Death stinks. But Christ came to earth as a baby, born of a virgin, grew up to die on a cross and was raised again to conquer that grave.

And conquer, He did.

The “good news” is Jesus Christ loves you. This “good news” is the forgiveness from sin and freedom from the guilt it carries. The “good news” is God, Emmanuel, is with us. When our emotions tell us we are all alone and no one cares any more, cling to Emmanuel. Grab the hand of our Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). And thank God for His gift of salvation.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Good News of Your gift of salvation for each of us. This time of year we can get caught up in the decorating and gift-giving, so help us to remember what Your birth really means – our salvation. Help us to be like Zechariah and Elisabeth, walking blamelessly before You and following Your statutes and commandments. Thank You for this time of year and our focus on Your indescribable gift to us. Amen