It Began with a Promise [Day 4]

The Christmas story begins long before the arrival of shepherds and the wise men. It begins with a promise. A promise to Jesus’ parents and to all of humanity, the promise of Christ. In the first chapter of Luke Jesus’ mother Mary witnesses the appearance of the angel Gabriel who says “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 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.” (Luke 1:30-33 ESV) What a promise! A promise from an angel to a Palestinian teenage girl, would forever change the world and alter history.

The word angelos or angel in Greek is translated to mean messenger. However, the word evangelist which comes from the Greek word evangelos means bearer of good news. Note the root word angel in the word evangelos. In many ways Gabriel’s task was to “bear the good news” of the Gospel, in the form of a promise, a promise that Mary would conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to a child that would Himself deliver an even greater more hopeful promise to the world.

The promise of salvation through His own death and resurrection. As we think about the Christmas story this advent season, let’s remember the importance of promises and of God’s promises to his followers. After all, the Christmas story began with a promise !