Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 2:1-7:
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:8-14:
And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
According to an internet search, advent means “arrival” and signifies the start of an event or the arrival of a person. In Christian communities around the world, Advent refers to a four-week season of remembering and celebrating the arrival of Jesus on Earth.
Gabriel announced His arrival to Mary, “Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31) Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua.
According to Strong’s Lexicon, “The name Yehoshua means “Yahweh is salvation” or “The LORD saves.” It is used primarily as a personal name in the Hebrew Bible, most notably for Joshua, the son of Nun, who succeeded Moses as the leader of the Israelites and led them into the Promised Land.”
Further, (from Strong’s Lexicon), The name itself reflects a deep theological truth central to the Israelite faith: that salvation and deliverance come from Yahweh. The name Yehoshua is also the Hebrew form of the name Jesus, highlighting the continuity of God’s salvation plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
The angel told the shepherds keeping watch that night, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)
“….good news of great joy….”
In this season that we celebrate Jesus’ coming to earth; let us ponder the heralding angel’s declaration that he brought “good news of great joy” to the shepherds that night, “that will be for all people.”
And consider … sit with … soak in these words:
“Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
And …..
“Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her king…
Joy to the world the savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy…
He rules the world with truth and grace…
Joyful, joyful we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
And hearts unfold like flowers before Thee
Opening to the sun above
And as we receive our King, may each of our heart’s response be as Mary’s:
“May it happen to me according to your word.”
Amen.
