A little pre-Christmas cameo.....

I have always been fascinated by angelic visitations recorded in the Bible. The thing that strikes me is that, more often than not, the first thing angels say is “Fear not!”

I am pretty sure that angels are a whole lot more impressive than smiling, fluffy soy latte-sipping winged lady-boys portrayed in art and popular culture. In fact I think they are probably closer to this………….

There is a scene in the movie Terminator (T1) where Sarah Connor first meets the terminator (Arnie’s character) who has returned from the future to be her son John’s guardian. Due largely to his size and appearance Arnie’s character has some difficulty explaining that he is here to help…..A case of ‘Fear not’ perhaps?

Anyhow…..one of my favourite ‘Fear not’ moments occurs as the scene is being set for Christmas. Nobody in Israel has heard boo from God for 400 years. (the inter-testamental period….or the gap between the OT and the NT) In the last two verses of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:5) God promises to send back Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and vice versa. Then silence……..

We pick up the story in Luke 1…..

It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

But the angel reassured him, "Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You're going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He'll achieve great stature with God. “He'll drink neither wine nor beer. He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother's womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he'll get the people ready for
God."

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 1:8-22 - The Message)

Zachariah was doing a job that he had trained for his whole life to do….a job that he would only ever get to do once. He was burning incense on the alter in front of the curtain that separated him from the presence of God – the Holy of Holies.

Gabriel’s response to Zachariah’s unbelief is interesting…..”I am Gabriel, I stand in the presence of God” (NIV)….he may as well have said “I have balls as big as Texas” because normal people fall flat on their faces in the presence of God. In fact, Zachariah knew that behind the curtain – the presence of God - was almost certain death for anyone except the high priest once a year. Even the high priest went in with a rope tied around his waist so his colleagues could drag his body back out if he died in the Holy of Holies….Again….’Fear Not’ credentials!

The final amusing part of the story is that Zachariah couldn’t speak for 9 months…..I wonder what sort of sign language you use to explain that you have just encountered an 8 foot tall messenger from God?

The last part of the story goes on to explain that Mrs Zachariah did indeed become pregnant…..Zachariah must have known some sign language…..or maybe she took pity on him.