The following month God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin, Mary... Luke 1:26-27, TLB

In a recent conversation, stories were shared of times we felt God had stepped in to keep us from danger.  Maybe you've had similar miracle moments in your life -- harm you were spared from, help that came from out of the blue, a change of circumstance you thought impossible.   Angels really are "ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation" (Heb. 1:14), and in the pages of Scripture their ministry manifests itself here and there in some pretty incredible ways -- like flaming protection (2 Kings 6:16-17) and compassionate provision (1 Kings 19:5-8) just to name a few.  In the Christmas story, God is up to something extraordinary, and the activity level of angels skyrockets as a result, not just to provide protection or provision, but to send divine revelation to the people through whom and for whom God's extraordinary purposes would be fulfilled.

One of the angels involved in this pivotal point of redemptive history is actually named:  Gabriel.  His name only shows up twice in all the New Testament right here in Luke 1 -- first appearing to Zechariah and then again to Mary, both times to announce a miraculous birth.  Interestingly, Gabriel is named only twice in the Old Testament as well.  Can you guess where?  In the prophetic experiences of Daniel (cf. Dan. 8:15-17; 9:21-23).  And I don't think that's coincidence.  

The prophecies of Daniel 8 & 9 cover a significant amount of chronological time, but their central focus is on the ministry of Jesus and particularly the timing of His arrival as "Messiah the Prince" (Dan. 9:25).  Then, almost six centuries later, this same Gabriel gets to be heaven's appointed messenger to tell Mary that this promised Messiah will be brought forth through her (Lk. 1:31)!  I doubt Gabriel would have let anyone else be the message bearer when the fullness of time had come.

But beyond the common content of Gabriel's message to both Daniel in the Old Testament and Mary in the New Testament, there's a common approach Gabriel takes with both Daniel and Mary.  In both encounters, this angelic messenger begins with an address of affirmation, assuring both the aged prophet and the young virgin that they are prized in the eyes of heaven.

And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you...Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." (Lk. 1:28, 30, NKJV)

At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved... (Dan. 9:23)

Did you hear it?  In both instances, the message God sent Gabriel to bear begins with a note of assurance.  Yes, God proceeded to outline incredible information, but first Daniel and Mary needed to be assured of heaven's love and favor, not just evidenced by the fact that they received angelic visitation but the fact that they were about to receive DIVINE visitation!  

Friends, we can be certain of heaven's love and favor toward us as well.  Though completely undeserving, God wants fallen humanity to know that we are highly favored and greatly beloved, and if we ever feel a tinge of doubt or unbelief about it, we can turn our eyes to Jesus.  We can look to the One who forever favored us by becoming flesh and dwelling among us.  We can look to the One who not only came once as a baby but who will soon come again as our King.

This Christmas, I pray we'll each hear this part of the angel's message.  More than that, I pray that God would use each of us to share that heavenly assurance with someone else who may be burdened by fear or doubt.  May God use us to share this message of hope that God has favored us and will soon favor us again with the personal presence of Jesus.