Advent Dec 6 - Lk 1:26-31
Gabriel
Lu 1:26 ¶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, Lu 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name [was] Mary. Lu 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, [thou that art] highly favoured, the Lord [is] with thee: blessed [art] thou among women. Lu 1:29 And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. Lu 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. Lu 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
The word month 'chodesh' חדש also means 'new thing'. It gets that from the gate חד meaning 'first'. As each day in Genesis is an individual picture of Christ, so the sixth month refers back to the sixth picture, day or 'new thing'.
It also fits in the 'Come quickly' pattern of prophecy: hurry ח()ש the commandment ד.
Here is the riddle: On the sixth day, God made man in his image. Christ is the express image of God. And now the same angel who prophesied the coming of the messiah, is announcing his presence. Gabriel גבריאך means 'pursue ג the revelation to man ב of the mountain רי (the place to meet God) of God אל.
Mary found favor with God. Just what is 'favor' יטב? It is 'God's י marriage (teaching) ט revealed to man ב. Jesus was the culmination of the revelation of the Father to the World. Her name Miryam מרים means 'rebellion מרי to the finished work of God'.
The message sent to the world is not that God chose perfect woman to have a perfect child, but while we were yet sinners God loved us, and worked out all things for our good. A sinner bore Christ, and sinners today still carry him within.
