Fox News reports Chelsea Banton was healed as she was dying. Her mom, Collen Banton, and the nurse ran to get cell phones to record the Angel of Light.
The phones recorded the image. The Hospital security camera also caught this Angel of light from the hallway going into the hospital room. The Bible reports Angels are Messengers of Light.
while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.
Gabriel confronted Satan. He is an Archangel and is not going to be a weak character. He stands in the Presence of God Almighty.
Luke 1:35-45
35 And the angel answered her, “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. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Dr. Albert Mehrabian, author of Silent Messages, conducted several studies on nonverbal communication. He found that 7% of any message is conveyed through words, 38% through certain vocal elements, and 55% through nonverbal elements - facial expressions, gestures, posture. We are not privileged to hear the Word of God. Yet Father Almighty God is able to give us insight to the Word of God as we look closely.
The Word of God is written by - The Most High. We shall live by every Word of God.
Mary tells us about her family. Another very true story. Very real. Not sweet, not perfect. The Bible is gracious. We see Elizabeth encouraging.
Only the Talmud of the Time of Jesus Christ tells us her father's name is Heli. The Bible does not link the family together with wonderful stories (other than a sister of Mary's is with her at Jesus' death), yet we learn about her family. Mary is told not to fear this news. And yet the Passage records, " Mary arose and went with haste". And "into the hill country, to a town in Judah" this could be 70 miles from Nazareth. No one accompanies Mary. She goes alone. Mary stays 1,2,3 months.
When Mary gets to the town in Judah, Zechariah - does not show up to greet her. Jesus, remember with me, tells us about hospitality and is point blank - up front - with what is required for hospitality of a mere guest. Evidently Zechariah is a lot about, thinks about, goes about, doesn't go about - being about - himself. An "I am me" attitude.
Anointing a Guest - Anointing the head with oil- an ancient custom among nations of the East. Olive oil alone was often used, but sometimes it was mixed with spices. Simon the Pharisee was accused of lack of hospitality for failure to anoint Jesus (Luke 7:46). This indicates the custom is common in the Gospel accounts. Travelers discover this practice of anointing still exists in some quarters. Suggestions are the feet being anointed occurs to get dust off of the feet and prevent feet cracking. A tonic for sun. And hydration.
Maybe Zechariah was busy? Probably not. He is a Priest and a voice is needed. He is going to be mostly "off duty". A traveler from far away is a time of celebration. Elizabeth knows what is going on. This is not a surprise. And if we are as gracious as Elizabeth, in this family story of verse 36, we see no overt gracious hospitality from her husband.
Gabriel has been portrayed in recent movies as having a grudge against mankind. And we have Mary pleasing Gabriel with her willingness to be His Servant. Yesterday we read:
Revelation 22:3
His servants will serve him.
Mary is headed to what John records as high honors to serve the Lord. And God has blessed her with the timing to go second in seeing and hearing the Archangel of the Lord. Heads up!
Gabriel has ascertained in Zechariah an unwillingness to receive an Angel of God with Faith. A priest who did not grab hold of the altar horns - a place of safety - right at hand. (Perhaps... this is from demanding a child for many years as a favor of God for his own righteousness and anger? Maybe.)
My bets are on Gabriel being correct as to the placement of Zechariah's heart.
Then Zechariah,
by Elizabeth's reaction, depicts he is unwilling to receive someone meeting an - - - Archangel??? The very same one? And he realizes she has traveled 70 miles 'in haste' and probably alone. Are you miffed with Zechariah, yet?! And here is this priest being held closely in Father God's plan for salvation - And where is Zechariah's gratitude level??? Amazing.
Mary must want to stay rather zealously - away from Nazareth. Ok... we will give Zechariah points for Mary staying for 3 months. And no points for zero Biblical messages that Zechariah made signs of - anything - to the Mother of God.
This total non-communicating, evasive, demanding, too quiet Zechariah - well - God decided to forget Zechariah?
We will not write off Zechariah. Instead seeing all of the New Testament is a Testament to the struggles of Christians to attain and sustain loving each other. The Bible is real.
The Overwhelming, Pervasive, Steadfast, Wondrous Love of God. Loudly and with trumpets? No, Jesus never healed this way - often. Heals Zechariah. For? Doing like Joseph - reacting to God with obedience. Now. Don't you like Joseph better? God seems to have a knack for people. Yet, because Zechariah has this in him - he was going to turn to the Lord God Almighty and eloquently, fervently, thoroughly, with joyful abandon - exclaim - proclaim and become exuberant - over the Mercy, Love and Wonder of God's Unfailing Love.
Luke 1 - an entire Chapter of God's Willingness, as a Father - from the Creation of the Light of the World - Jesus! God who sees inside each of us and finds JOY, LOVE, MERCY. Giving us HIS Mighty Acts of Encouragement.
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Father God,
You are our Rock. Our Redeemer. In You, we have Abundant Life. Praise God from Whom ALL Blessings Flow.
Thank You Jesus. For the care and love given to me and to my loved ones.
Rock on Father God Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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