Angels….

 

Angels…announcing…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-g2dmrJFS0

Every day life was happening around both Mary and the shepherds in the Christmas story…

Mary, a young woman, probably working  on household  chores similar to what we women do now…food preparation, cleaning , laundry…maybe visiting with a neighbor…

Then the angel, Gabriel comes and greets her…”don’t be afraid”…quite a change from the ordinary….with extraordinary news…she is “favored” and given earth and life changing news….she responds in humbleness and obedience….

Joseph,  wrestling with the thoughts of a pregnant bride…probably praying for wisdom in a sticky situation…back and forth in his mind…lack of sleep as he looks at the options…along comes an angel to sooth his frustrations…”do not fear”…he responds in obedience….

The shepherds, watching their sheep, doing their evening duties, checking the sheep, making sure they are safe and settled…probably walking around slowly, talking to them soothingly…before joining other shepherds, talking of daily news, life or whatever shepherds talk about as they congregate, and settle themselves…

Then the angel comes bringing the Glory of the Lord, lighting up the sky…”fear not”…proclaiming good news…directions to find this baby…they go in expectation and obedience and finally sharing their story with others, rejoicing…

 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. 

And the virgin's name was Mary. 

And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 

And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” 

And the angel departed from her.

Luke.1.26-38

 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Matt.1.20-25

 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 

And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke.2.8-20

 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Ps.34.7

Angels are spoken of over 200 times in the Scriptures… from Genesis to Hebrews, they play a major roll in the Christmas story…announcing, soothing fears, proclaiming the Birth of a Savior…

Thank YOU….

Don’t give up because no English to start with…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5iaV989_5M 

https://www.tonestart.com/best-christmas-songs-about-angels/

https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/who-is-the-angel-gabriel-in-the-bible.html