The Greek word for angel (angelos) means messenger. This name is fitting, for although these spiritual beings have various jobs as they serve God, a major task that they do is to give God’s messages to humans. We especially see these angelic encounters surrounding Jesus’ first coming.
Angels carry messages, but their encounters with people are rare. These spiritual beings do not typically appear in everyday circumstances, so when they do show up in the Bible, we should realize that their presence and messages are important.
Leading up to the events of the first Christmas, there were four angelic encounters in which different people received messages from the Lord. We should recognize the significance of these events since angels appeared to deliver important news from God.
So, what were these Christmas encounters, and what messages did the angels deliver?
1. The Angel’s Message to Zechariah
The first encounter occurred in the Temple in Jerusalem. Zechariah, a devout man from the priestly line, was chosen by lot to offer incense in the Holy Place as part of his duties as a priest (Luke 1:8-9, NET Bible). This was a high honor that only a priest could perform.
While Zechariah was offering incense, the angel Gabriel appeared to him. Scripture tells us that Zechariah was frightened at the sight of the angel (Luke 1:12).
Gabriel reassured him and delivered amazing news. Although Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, had been childless and were now too old to have any children, the angel told him that he would have a son named John (Luke 1:13).
This son would act as an Elijah figure, preparing the way for the Lord and turning the hearts of the people back to God (Luke 1:17).
Since the child would serve in this role and be filled with the Holy Spirit before birth, Gabriel told Zechariah that his son must never drink wine or other alcohol (Luke 1:15; compare to Ephesians 5:18). John’s life had a specific purpose that was not like anyone else’s — to prepare the way for Jesus as the Messiah.
After hearing the angel’s message, Zechariah could not believe he could have a son in old age. Because of his unbelief, Gabriel made him mute until John was born (Luke 1:20).
We might think that Gabriel acted harshly against Zechariah, but he is an angel who stands directly in the presence of God (Luke 1:19). To not believe Gabriel’s words meant not trusting a message from the Lord.
During his time of silence, which lasted nine months, Zechariah had time to think about the words of the angel. He later responded in faith and affirmed that his son’s name was John.
Also, he prophesied about John’s ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:67-79). John would serve in the prophetic role of preparing the way for the Lord (Isaiah 40:3; Luke 1:76).
2. The Angel’s Message to Mary
Another angelic encounter recorded in the gospels is when Gabriel appeared to Mary in Nazareth. When the angel greeted her, Mary was bothered by his words and was frightened.
Just as Gabriel did for Zechariah, he reassured Mary and proclaimed to her the good news that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, the promised Messiah (Luke 1:31-33).
Since she had not yet married Joseph, she wondered how she could have a son (Luke 1:34). She was a virgin. However, this was not a problem for the Lord.
The angel told her that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). To give proof that the Lord could do this, Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth, her relative, was six months pregnant even though she was beyond childbearing years (Luke 1:36).
If the Lord could do that for Elizabeth, then He could miraculously enable the virgin Mary to conceive and give birth.
After hearing God’s message through Gabriel, Mary humbly submitted herself to the Lord’s plans. As she said, “I am the Lord’s servant … May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).
Although she would not have fully understood all the implications of the angel’s message, she demonstrated great faith by choosing to trust God.
Gabriel’s message about Jesus ruling on the throne of David and having a Kingdom that will never end showed that Jesus is the promised Messiah (Luke 1:32-33).
However, part of Gabriel’s message is still yet to be fulfilled. One day soon, Christ will return to rule over the earth on the Throne of David (Isaiah 9:7; Revelation 20:4).
3. The Angel’s Message to Joseph
The third message was delivered to Joseph, who was engaged to Mary. He had discovered that Mary was pregnant. Since he wanted to follow God’s law and not expose Mary to ridicule, he decided to divorce her quietly (Matthew 1:19). That way, there would be less of a public scandal.
Knowing what Joseph planned to do, God sent an angel to him in a dream. Although Matthew’s gospel does not specifically name the angel that appeared to Joseph in a dream, it could have been Gabriel. This would align with what we read about Gabriel’s role as a messenger in Daniel and Luke.
Regardless of his identity, the angel told Joseph that he should not be afraid to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20). The angel reassured Joseph that Mary had conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit — she had not been unfaithful.
Furthermore, the baby was no ordinary child. As the angel of the Lord said, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
After Joseph received this message, he took Mary as his wife and chose to be the adoptive father of Christ (Matthew 1:24-25). At the child’s birth, Joseph named Him Jesus, just like the angel had said. In faith, he obeyed what God instructed him to do.
In this message, the angel made clear that Jesus had come as the Savior. Born to a virgin, He fulfilled the prophecy of Immanuel — God with us (Matthew 1:22-23).
The name Jesus means Yahweh saves, which reflects Christ’s mission as the Savior. He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).
4. The Angels’ Message to the Shepherds
The final group of people who encountered an angel during the events of the first Christmas were the shepherds. They were tending their flocks at night when an angel appeared to them (Luke 2:8).
Not only did the heavenly messenger appear, but the glory of the Lord shone around them, which made the shepherds afraid (Luke 2:9).
Like the other instances, the angel told the shepherds not to be afraid. Instead, they should rejoice because of the good news he had brought, which was news for them and all people.
As he said, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11). They would find the newly born Christ wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:12).
After the angel delivered this great news, a heavenly host appeared in the sky and praised God (Luke 2:14). We often sing the words of the heavenly host as part of Christmas hymns, but Scripture does not tell us if the angels glorified God through song that night.
However, their words were powerful and caught the attention of the shepherds. They immediately left to find the infant Christ (Luke 2:16-18).
The unnamed angel delivered the good news of Jesus’ birth to ordinary shepherds. In doing this, God aligned himself with the lowly and poor. Simple shepherds were the first to hear the news, not royalty or the religious elite.
Also, the news about the Messiah’s birth was good news for the shepherds, which would bring joy to all people (Luke 2:10). On that night, the angels delivered the wonderful message of Christmas — that Jesus the Savior was born. He is the Savior of Israel and the entire world.
Why Does This Matter?
The angelic messages to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds all convey significant news. Not only did Gabriel predict the birth of John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for the Lord, but he also announced the coming of Christ.
The other angels, though unnamed, supported these messages. Joseph learned that the child Mary bore was the Son of God, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Likewise, the angel who appeared to the shepherds delivered a message that reminds us that Jesus identified with the lowly and common people. He is the promised Messiah, the Savior of all.
For further reading:
What Was the Significance of the Angels at Christmas?
The Significance of Angelic Echoes and the Nativity
What Does the Bible Say about the Angel Gabriel?
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