(The audio version of this blog is found at FAB’s Podcast, at this link here.)

Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”

Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people. (Luke 1:18-22)

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This angel messenger who appeared to Zachariah was a known quantity. He wasn’t just any angel, but the one who had appeared to Daniel and explained the meaning of the visions he had seen (Daniel 8:15-26, 9:21-27). He is also the one identified as the messenger who would appear to Mary, and this happened six months after Elizabeth became pregnant (Luke 1:26-38). Gabriel means “God is my strength.” Gabriel was no stranger to big announcements, and supernatural insights.

I won’t take time to describe the following with any detail, but I can testify that I have had angelic visitations. These weren’t bright, shining, winged creatures resembling the artist’s rendering from the Middle Ages. My angel encounters were with people who looked like Peruvian bread salesmen arriving at the lowest point in my life in the Peruvian jungle. Or, they looked like young ladies appearing out of nowhere when I was in a car wreck with information I needed to know regarding the person who rammed me, and then looking around, they were gone. Or my exhausted wife’s encounter with one helping her unload groceries in a Kroger parking lot, and looking around to thank the one who lent a hand, but who was suddenly gone, seemingly in thin air.

The point here is not to describe those encounters, and recount stories from countless individuals who have experienced similar events. Instead I am commenting on how it never crossed my mind that the angel being who helped me, or who delivered a word of encouragement, might have been Gabriel. And I am satisfied that it wasn’t Gabriel, because it seems that when Gabriel showed up in Scripture, he consistently identified himself by name, even doing so as we count time, with centuries in between appearances. It seems that Gabriel went on missions with a special focus of the highest order.

In regards to these missions, Gabriel did not work on his own authority, but called himself “the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news.” It wasn’t Gabriel who was on a self-appointed journey and in charge of the distribution of information at his own choosing, but he was sent by God with specific instructions.

We don’t have the benefit of any record of discussion between God and Gabriel. Such as, we don’t know if Gabriel said, “Ok, I’ve got the instructions about Old Elizabeth becoming pregnant, but what if Old Zachariah doesn’t believe what I’m telling him…I mean it is a little far-fetched.” None of that.

Likewise, we have no record of Gabriel saying, “Zachariah, you don’t believe me? Well, let me take this news back into the presence of God and see what God’s next step is. I’ll get back to you.” No. It appears that Gabriel had the authority to pronounce what was next (and an astute reader might say that God had already told Gabriel this would happen, and so here is what you will say next. I can accept that.)

In fact, Gabriel took specific action: “But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth.” Remember, Gabriel was representing God. This wasn’t Gabriel taking action against Zachariah. The text does not say, “After Zachariah voiced his doubt, Gabriel decided to…” No. Gabriel was acting on behalf of God. God had a plan for showing Zachariah that what Gabriel had said would indeed come to pass, and Gabriel was informing Zach of that news.

I find an interesting measure of cohesiveness in this Advent story by the appearance of the angel Gabriel. I find it very special that the same angel who delivered the message to Elizabeth did so for Mary. I can’t help but think that after Elizabeth came out from her self-imposed, five-month pregnancy seclusion, the two of them compared notes:

Elizabeth: “Mary, the angel Gabriel visited Zachariah and told him that…”

Mary: “What!? The angel Gabriel also visited me! Wait till you hear what he said to me…I mean, I could hardly believe it…”

Elizabeth: “That was Zachariah’s problem; he couldn’t believe it either! Reality got hold of him and he voiced some logical doubts, not realizing he was dealing with someone who wasn’t working on logic! Anyway, do you have clothes picked out for the baby?”

Gabriel, the one whose named declared that God is My Strength, made quite a splash. And Gabriel is a consistent connecting point in the Greatest Story Ever Told.

“Father, thank you for intervening in the lives of your people with a special messenger sent from your throne. Thank you for sending this messenger with your specific instructions. He was one who had heard your voice, and was one whose repeated presence in this story reminds us of how you wove together such a remarkable Advent of your Son Jesus. You thought of everything!”

God’s Time