The fourth day of December

The third person in the Christmas story actually arrived before the first two.
God decided at some point in time that the angel Gabriel would play an important part on many levels within the Christmas story.
God sent him with a very specific assignment.
To Zechariah, in Luke 1:19 The angel replied,
“I am Gabriel. 
I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent
to speak to you and tell you good news.”
I always find it amazing that the angels can speak in a language we can understand.
I also find it amazing that once the initial ‘fear’ leaves the one listening,
they seem comfortable in speaking with an angel.
Remember he always says, “do not fear” before he gets their attention.
Imagining that it would be a bit scary and unsettling,
to all of a sudden have a heavenly being in your presence,
not only that, but speaking to you as if they know who you are.
Each time they show up they know who they are speaking to and they know why.
There is a purpose and a lesson.
I also find it interesting that not only did Gabriel give good news to Zechariah,
he also had the power to discipline him.
In verse 20 the angel said,
“But now, because you did not believe my words, 
which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, 
unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”
In other words, I am in control and you need to be quiet.
If he was mute till the baby came that would be almost nine months.
That would be a powerful lesson.
The next assignment Gabriel had was to go visit Mary six months later.
That means he left God’s presence to tell Zechariah something.
Then he returned till it was time to tell Mary something.
Amazing details and interactions.
Luke 1:26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God
to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, vs 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. 
The virgins name was Mary.
Notice the specifics in this, a town within a town, a virgin who was engaged and he knew the virgins name along with who she was engaged to.
Nothing is missed. All the details very specific within the story.
In the book of  Matthew 1:20 Joseph was met by an angel in a dream
and it doesn’t say it was Gabriel but it makes me wonder.
Just as in Matthew 2:13 and 2:19 an angel met him again in a dream.
In Luke 1:28-38 we are told of Mary’s interaction with Gabriel.
Every year more details seem to come out of the Christmas story.
Nothing was by accident or chance it was all planned and ordained.
On this fourth day of December,
I am amazed that so much detail was poured into the birth of Jesus.
I can’t help but believe in this all knowing, all powerful God.