Blog 2023-01-04
The annunciation [∞] Template:Cth: Christmas
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
▸ ± Lu 1:26-38 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name [was] Mary. 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. 29 And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Just as Gabriel's first announcement to Zacarias corresponded to the first vision he gave Daniel, so his second announcement corresponds to this one. Daniel names Gabriel as the same one from the previous vision. Gabriel tells Mary there was a first announcement to Elizabeth.
If we miss the connection to Daniel, we may presume that when Jesus 'returns again' he will conquer his enemies with violence. But Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
▸ ± Da 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart,𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Jesus conquers his enemies by making them his friends.
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 - 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
Compare Mary and Tamar. They both wanted an assurance.
▸ ± Lu 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
▸ ± Ge 38:16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she [was] his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
▸ ± Lu 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
- Tamar received the rod and Mary told the power of God would over shadow her.
- Tamar received the signet ring and Mary was told he would be called the son of the Most High.
- Tamar received bracelets (to keep an empty vessel clean) and Mary was told it was a Holy thing within her.
Rein over the house of Jacob - Jacob and Israel are two names for the same guy. Jacob lost his inheritance when he forfeited all he possessed to Esau. Israel obtained the blessing and promise when Esau did not kill them all and gave them back. Jacob represents the national Israel and the flesh. Israel represents the true children of Abraham by faith. Jesus is the last king of national Israel (his reign is forever). Jesus is king over the flesh of the church, meaning that our flesh is ruled or 'trained in righteousness' by him.
The Sign of Zechariah: The Forerunner Who Restores the Word
The silence of Zechariah was not a punishment but a prophetic sign that follows a pattern seen throughout Scripture: before God speaks, a forerunner must first speak. This pattern reveals how the Word of God is restored to the world.
The Prophetic Pattern: The Forerunner Restores the Word
In biblical history, the Word (symbolized by water/rain) is withheld until a forerunner speaks, preparing the way:
- Elijah and the Rain (1 Kings 17-18)
- The heavens were closed; there was no rain (Word of God).
- Elijah speaks: first declaring the drought, then calling for repentance.
- God responds: After Elijah’s confrontation on Mount Carmel, the rain returns, symbolizing the restored Word.
- 400 Years of Silence Before John
- After Malachi, there was no prophetic Word.
- John the Baptist speaks: preaching repentance and preparing the way.
- God responds: Christ is revealed, the Word made flesh (John 1:14).
- Zechariah’s Silence Before John’s Birth (Luke 1:5-25, 57-64)
- Zechariah, a priest of the old covenant, is made silent—symbolizing that the Word had not yet come.
- John is born, and Zechariah speaks—just as John must come before Christ.
- God responds: John’s ministry prepares the way for Christ, who restores the Word to the people.
This pattern is consistent: Before God speaks, a forerunner must first announce His coming.
The Fulfillment in Christ: The Final Forerunner
This pattern finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ Himself.
- John speaks → Christ is revealed.
- Christ speaks → God is revealed.
John, as the final prophetic forerunner, speaks to prepare the way for Christ. But Jesus is not just another prophet—He is the Word Himself (John 1:1). His ministry becomes the forerunner to God speaking directly to us:
- John speaks first → Christ is revealed (John 1:29).
- Christ speaks → The Father is revealed (John 14:9-10).
Just as Elijah’s words brought back the rain, and John’s words brought back revelation, Christ’s words bring direct communion with God.
The Meaning of Zechariah’s Sign: The Word Must Be Preceded
Zechariah’s silence teaches us that the Word does not come without preparation. Before we can hear God:
- A forerunner must first proclaim His coming.
- The silence must be broken by revelation.
Just as Zechariah could not speak until John was born, so the world could not hear God until Christ came. And now that Christ has spoken, God speaks to us through Him.
The sign of Zechariah was not about punishment—it was a prophetic pause. It demonstrated that without Christ, there is no Word—but with Him, God’s voice is fully restored to us.
Zechariah’s silence reveals a profound truth: the Word does not come without a forerunner, and revelation does not reach the people without a voice to proclaim it. Just as Elijah, John, and Christ each prepared the way for God’s voice to be heard, so too must there be a preacher to declare His truth. As Paul writes, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). The silence is broken when the message is proclaimed, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.
