Heroes of Christmas: The Angels
In this series, the Heroes of Christmas, we’re looking a little closer at some of the people who are sometimes overlooked or misunderstood, showing why they matter for our proper understanding of the Christmas story.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Christmas story is the way it progresses. It moves through seemingly unrelated contexts and features characters whose storylines aren’t directly aligned. Even stranger, much of the story of Christmas is moved along by angels.
As the anticipated event of Christ’s birth approaches, God speaks in wondrous and unexpected ways, primarily through angels. These heavenly beings become pivotal characters in the movement of this divine drama. The primary task of angels throughout the Scripture is to announce God’s message and plan to humans (after all, their very name means “messengers” or “sent ones.”)
Beyond just conveying God’s message, though, I have always loved how the angels themselves impact the story, the characters, and readers alike. In the Christmas story, the angels do so by visiting 4 characters, announcing what God is about to do. Each interaction also reveals a key truth about who God is. As we think about teaching this story, here’s how focusing on the angels in these four scenes can help us bring fresh light to the message of Christmas.
The Angel and Zechariah: Holiness and Mercy
We see a glimpse of God's holiness in every interaction with angels, as the response of those to whom they appear is usually one of concern. The familiar refrain, “Do not be afraid!” highlights both the intensity of God’s glory and the magnitude of his mercy and grace in delivering his Word to sinners. This is true even when the person encountering the angel is a priest carrying out his duties within the Holy of Holies.
In the scene with the angel Gabriel and Zechariah the priest, we are reminded of God’s holiness and mercy. The appearance of an angel in the Holy of Holies usually spelled danger because someone hadn’t followed God’s instructions correctly and was about to be struck down due to God’s intolerance of sin in His holy presence. In this scene, however, it is a moment of God’s kindness. The angel tells Zechariah that his prayers for a child and for the salvation for God’s people have been heard, and that his son would usher in the worker of redemption, reminding us that the holy and transcendent God is also near enough to hear our prayers and kind enough to answer them. This joy that is brought by God confirming His faithfulness to His people is only enhanced by the mercy shown to this elderly couple, who had raised their petition before him for so long.
This holiness and mercy is finally seen in the interaction, as Zechariah doubts whether God would bring it about, and is struck mute for the duration of the pregnancy. Though the prophecy concerning this son would still be fulfilled and result in great joy and gladness, Zechariah would have to endure the loss of speech as a consequence of his unbelief.
The Angel and Mary: Wisdom and Power
The angel’s visitation with Mary displays the wonder of God’s purposes, how He uses the “foolish” and “weak” of the world to shame the wise and strong (see 1 Cor. 1:25-29). Mary declares, “he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate” (Luke 1:48, 52). Her selection as the Christ-bearer is not random; it is a purposeful demonstration of God’s wisdom, which looks far different than what we’d normally expect.
The visitation of the angel to Mary also serves to reinforce God’s power. After all, bringing a baby from a virgin womb leaves little explanation outside of a miracle from God. Beyond this, the offspring of Mary will carry that same kind of power. The angel says to her, “[Jesus] will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to 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 1:32-33).
Mary asks how this prophecy could possibly take place due to her virginity, and the angel responds, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). God performed the miracle this way so that there would be no question that this child was unique, grounding His deity and humanity simultaneously. The angel brought the message about this plan of such wisdom and power that only God could bring it about.
The Angel and Joseph: Faithfulness
Joseph’s angelic encounter has always been one of my favorite aspects of the Christmas story, mostly for how I know it must have encouraged Mary. I cannot begin to imagine just how isolated Mary must have felt, especially in those initial days following her own visitation. While many undoubtedly responded to her situation with contempt, there were at least two others who believed her and would stick with her, having received divine revelations of their own: Elizabeth and her soon-to-be husband, Joseph.
Joseph is visited by an angel as well, and what was the announcement he received? That God is faithful to His promises, for He had sent the long-awaited Savior. What an incredible truth that this son “will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21)! And just as the angel’s message to Mary had brought insight that connected prophetic dots, so too did the angelic message to Joseph. Joseph’s message included a prophecy by Isaiah that confirmed what Mary had said: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23, quoting Isaiah 7:14 & 8:8). God’s faithfulness inspires Joseph’s obedience.
The Angels and the Shepherds: Love
This scene offers a beautiful picture of God’s gracious invitation. The first ones invited to come and see the Christ child weren’t kings or royalty, but lowly, unremarkable shepherds. Not only were they the first to be invited, but they were also the first to be sent to “bring the good news of great joy that will be for all people” (Luke 2:10)!
This scene communicates that this newborn child sleeping in a stable is also the Lord of lords and King of kings, an occasion that generated worship that filled the skies, as the angel armies of heaven appear to announce this joyous news! We cannot even begin to imagine what that was like, but we can be continually overwhelmed by the glorious truth that sinners can have peace with God through all that this little one would accomplish. The love of God is the good news we can cling to.
Don’t overlook these heavenly messengers this Christmas season. Lean in to listen as they reveal the wonder of God’s unfolding plan. Pay attention to what they teach us about the character and work of God. Allow the good news and glad tidings they proclaim to inform your perspective and aim your heart’s affections toward Christ in the anticipation of the advent season.