“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” ~ Luke 1:26-27
Important people have always inspired important responses.
When the President of the United States comes to town, he doesn’t have to hail his own Uber at the airport.
When the CEO of a business comes to the office, everyone is on their best behavior, and the office snacks are usually upgraded.
The same is true of royalty throughout history. Kings were characterized by the value of the royal treasury. Robes were made of royal colors like purple. Attendants and servants surrounded monarchs, providing for their needs and caring for them, from the moment they were born.
The book of Luke records two visits from the angel Gabriel. Now - to be clear, this was a very important visitor. Both Zacharias and Mary respond in fear when he arrives. Angels aren’t the little chubby Precious Moments figurines we might picture!
When Gabriel visited Zacharias to inform him of the birth of his son, John, it happened in very auspicious circumstances. Zacharias is in the temple. He is offering the incense — an event he will only do once in his lifetime — and a moment that summarizes his long Levitical lineage. The Holy Place is filled with golden objects. Zacharias is in his best attire. Those who wait for him outside are all prepared for worship. It was a seriously important day, and the pomp and circumstance showed that.
However, Gabriel’s visit to Mary was very simple. She was a young woman - maybe 15. She was recently engaged, but probably living with her parents awaiting the finalization of her marriage. She lived in a little town near Galilee, with a tiny population, and one little synagogue. We know nothing of her lineage. Her husband was from the tribe of Judah, but that was nothing special. No pomp. No circumstance. No glory.
Of the two errands, we would expect the announcement of the king to be the first, wouldn’t we?
But that’s not how God works. The glory of Jesus wouldn’t be in worldly pomp. It wouldn’t be with fanfare and golden objects. His glory wouldn’t be tied to Levitical lineage. He wouldn’t be in the finest clothes, and the nation would find nothing worthy of worship in Him.
Why the simplicity? Why the poverty? Why the humility?
Because Jesus doesn’t need any of those things to shine with resplendent glory. All the pomp and circumstance man can muster would only tarnish the glory and beauty of Jesus.
And so, God sent Gabriel on two errands, but not at all how we would have designed it. The simple, humble peasant girl receives news of the King of Kings…and all the glory is His.
The same is true of us, isn’t it? Christmas isn’t glorious because of traditions, or lights, or glitz, or presents. Those things are all ok, but they aren’t glorious. They’re the trappings of the world.
No, Christmas is glorious because Jesus is glorious, and, against all odds, God has come for the humble, the broken, the needy—for us.
