In Touch With The Good News
By Betty Miller Buttram
Ink Spot Contributor
This is a biblical story about two prophets, an angel, an older couple, a younger couple, and two babies, one named John the Baptist, and the other named Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament, Prophet Isaiah gave clear prophecies to the people about the coming of a Messenger from God. “For unto us a Child is born; unto us a song is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: ‘Wonderful’, ‘Counselor’,‘The Mighty God’,‘The Everlasting Father’,‘The Prince of Peace.’” (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah was giving the people the Good News.
In the last book of the Old Testament, Prophet Malachi said to the people, “Listen to what the Lord Almighty is saying: I will send my messenger before me to prepare the way. And then the one you are looking for will come suddenly to his Temple, the messenger of God’s promises, to bring you great joy.” (Malachi 3:1). Malachi was giving the people the Good News. God sent John the Baptist as a messenger to tell the people about the second messenger’s coming, Jesus Christ.
Did the people listen to both prophets; maybe or maybe not. They were in a moral and spiritual decline. They had neglected their worship and God’s Word.
Biblical scholars say that after the passing of Malachi, God did not speak with the people of Israel for four hundred years; but He loved them, and after all those years had passed, God sent them an Angel and his name was Gabriel.
Gabriel’s first assignment was to go to Zacharias, a Jewish priest who was incredibly old. Elizabeth was his wife, and she also was older and barren. Both husband and wife obeyed all of God’s laws in spirit as well as in the Word. Zacharias was working alone in the Temple doing his duty for that week and burning incense before the Lord when Gabriel appeared to him at the altar. He was startled and terrified. Gabriel said to him: “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias! For I have come to tell you that God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son! And you are to name him John. You will both have great joy and gladness at his birth, and many will rejoice with you. For he will be one of the Lord’s great men. He must never touch wine or hard liquor and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will persuade many a Jew to turn to the Lord his God. He will be a man of rugged spirit and power like Elijah, the prophet of old; and he will precede the coming of the Messiah, preparing the people for his arrival. He will soften adult hearts to become like little childrens and will change disobedient minds to the wisdom of faith.” (Luke 1: 11-17) This was Gabriel’s Good News.
Zacharias expressed doubt to Gabriel saying that this would be impossible because he and Elizabeth were too old to have children. That response was not what Gabriel was expecting and so he said to Zacharias: “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to you with this good news! And now, because you haven’t believed me, you are to be stricken silent, unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time.” (Luke 1:19-20). Elizabeth conceived and went into seclusion for five months, but she was very thankful to God for his blessing.
Gabriel’s second assignment was to go to a teenage girl named Mary to give her the Good News tht she would become the mother of Jesus. Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. She was confused and disturbed, but not doubtful like Zacharias, about what Gabriel was saying to her. She was a virgin. Gabriel comforted Mary by telling her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of God would be with her. He told her that she was to give the baby
the name of Jesus. Mary was a servant of God and believed what Gabriel told her and was willing to do what God wanted her to do. Gabriel reassured Joseph that this was God’s doing and to take Mary as his wife.
We know the rest of this Good News story; the Angels rejoiced at the birth of Jesus; the shepherds and their flocks of sheep went to the stable where he laid in a manger, and the Magi brought gifts to the newborn baby.
Christians keep the Good News of the coming of Jesus by using the four Sundays before Christmas, called Advent, to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas. This year Advent began on Sunday, November 28th and will end on Friday, December 24th. During this period of Advent, candles are lit at the Church Altar representing Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and Faithfulness.
There is always Good News when the Lord God Almighty is taking care of his children. Let us thank him for blessing us each day; just waking us up; keeping us safe; keeping us mentally and physically well; having food on the table and a roof over our heads; making sure that we, who are able, will take care of the homeless and others in need of a meal, clothing, and a place to stay. If we take care of each other in the ways Scripture teaches us, our Good News will spread to others as we show them that we are servants of Jesus Christ our Heavenly Father.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!