The Battle at Christmas

It is revelational to me when I see a familiar story or passage of scripture from a different angle - from a perspective I had not considered previously. This happened yesterday as I was swept into the Christmas story through the music and drama of "Miracle of Christmas", at Sight and Sound theatre in Lancaster, Pa. They portrayed what was going on among the angels and demons during advent. I had never focussed on how much angelic activity is recorded in scripture surrounding the birth of Christ. The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah concerning John the Baptist (Luke 1:11,19). Gabriel again appears, this time to Mary announcing her pregnancy (Luke 1:26). An angel appears to Joseph in a dream (Matthew 1:20). An angel appears to the shepherds announcing Jesus' birth (Luke 2:9). A heavenly host join the shepherds and praise God (Luke 2:13-15). What incredible activity was taking place in the heavens in preparation for Jesus' birth and then announcing his arrival. A couple aspects they dramatized really caused me to ponder - God, the Father sending Jesus, announcing to the heavenly host that Jesus was going to earth, giving Him His assignment so to speak, making His purpose clear and Jesus agreeing to go. The conversations between the angels - Gabriel and Michael. Michael was given the assignment to protect Mary during the pregnancy and to do battle so that the birth took place. Then when Jesus was born, they portrayed Satan attempting to stop it and Michael defeating him. I realize that some of that is speculation, not being recorded in scripture. Yet, it helped me to ponder and consider all that was happening "behind the scenes" so to speak. I also realized how much we have reduced the Christmas story and made it seem so matter of fact. What a tremendous battle was going on. God was coming to earth in human form - it was going to change the world as they knew it then and the enemy tried to stop it. Yet, God, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Gabriel and the heavenly host all did their part in winning the battle at Christmas. No wonder the heavenly host sang out - "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will toward all"