And the angel came to her and said,
“Greetings, favoured woman! The Lord is with you.”
Luke 1:28
Isn’t the lead up to Christmas a time of longing? With 25 days the clock ticks by, in anticipation for what awaits on Christmas Day. Maybe, you’re longing for rest; to see family, or maybe, you're longing for all this Christmas faff to be over.
Here in Luke 1, the people had a longing very difference from what we experience at Christmas.
They were longing for the coming of Immanuel.
In Luke 1, we zoom into a man named Zechariah, who was a priest, seen as righteous in God’s sight. His division was on duty to serve God, and he was selected by lot (“by chance”) to enter the sanctuary of the Lord for the burning of incense, an image of prayers arising to the Lord.
The hour of incense was a time of expectation for the Lord to hear his people’s prayers. We are told that the whole assembly of the people were praying outside. Whilst Zechariah was in the Lord's sanctuary an angel came to him and told him he will have a son. A son that would prepare people to be ready for the Lord.
And in fact, this was an answer to Zechariah’s personal prayers, as himself and Elizabeth could not conceive. Yet when God answered his prayer, he questioned what God had said because it seemed impossible.
This made me think. What do we pray for but completely doubt? Is there a prayer we’ve prayed that would be too good to be true… Impossible…?
In contrast, when Angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her she was to have a Son who will be called Son of the Most High. She had what sounded like a similar reaction, by saying “How can this be since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” (Luke 1: 34). However the difference is that although she couldn’t understand, she believed. Although it seemed impossible, God can do the impossible. “For nothing will be impossible with God.” ( Luke 1:37). And because she believed she was blessed. Unlike Zachariah who lost his voice.
God did the impossible through these miraculous births, through those who were humble and contrite in Spirit - acknowledging their sin and knowing their complete and utter despair without a saviour. Many of the people of Israel, may have given up hope and had their eyes and hearts focussed elsewhere, but for these three they had their eyes set on the promises of God.
A Saviour.
A Saviour that would dwell with his people and solve what made it impossible to dwell with God, sin. This would have been a MASSIVE thing. This would have been the first they had heard from God in 400 years. This was BIG news.
We get the inside scoop of how they respond to God’s plan. Mary responds with a song praising God and so does Zechariah after John’s birth. These were faith filled expressions of inexpressible joy and gratitude, that the Lord has shown them his mercy, faithfully keeping his promise and showing favour on his humble servants! They understood what God was doing and they praised God for it!
How amazing that we can now dwell with Immanuel in Spirit and truth! How much more, can we, this Christmas praise the Lord for his wonderful works and his mighty right hand.
And yet we have not reached complete unity with God, that is anticipated in the Bible.
We Christians have experienced two thousand years of silence from God, with no new revelations, but alive in the Spirit, holding onto what he has promised us. 🥰
“Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:3-5
One day we will perfectly be in his presence.
So please take some time to yourself, to reflect on this truth.
Are you longing to be with Immanuel, or is your heart and thoughts elsewhere? Are you longing for that final day where you will be with him forever, like the wedding day of a bride and groom?
Are you praying for that day and if you pray it do you really believe it will happen? Do you believe his words? (Be like Mary ❤️)
Lastly be encouraged:
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37
God did the impossible through a virgin conceiving Emmanuel. And he’s done the impossible with you if you believe in Jesus. Through His birth, life, death and his resurrection, you are now allowed to do what is impossible, to be in the presence of God.
Take some time to praise God for his mighty salvation and set your hearts in prayer for his return where we will meet our Saviour. ❤️
Rejoice!
Written by Eleanor Lewis
A thought to remember: Emmanuel blesses his people with his impossible presence.
A bit more to read: Luke 1
A question to ask: How might you enjoy the blessing of God’s presence today?
A song to sing: He Who Is Mighty