Abed_nego2
Servant of the Lord
Luke 2:10-11, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”
John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory”
__________
The indescribable splendor of “the glory of the Lord” was enough to bring fear to the lowly shepherds. Those men on the quiet slopes near Bethlehem were startled not only by the brilliant light but also by the announcement of a Savior born in that little town. The stunning proclamation was accompanied by a great number of the heavenly host praising God!
C. H. Spurgeon wrote, “This little planet of ours was made to burn with a superior light among its sister stars while the Creator sojourned here in human form. If for the first time you had heard of the visit of the Incarnate God to this world, you would be struck with a wonder which would last throughout all eternity. This is the heart of the gospel – the incomparable fact of the incarnation of the Son of God, His dwelling upon the earth, and His presentation of Himself as a sacrifice unto God for the sins of mankind.” My brethren, this is cause for great rejoicing today and every day throughout the year. As John Hus said, “Rejoice, that the immortal God is born, so that mortal men may live in eternity. Rejoice, because the rich Lord of the Universe became poor, that He may enrich us needy ones.
Thus, the glorious news of the birth of Christ is certainly “good tidings of great joy”!
__________
Closing thoughts:
When proclaiming the good tidings of great joy, the angel bypassed Jerusalem, the religious center of Israel. He didn’t go to Herodium, Herod’s villa near Bethlehem, but instead the angel appeared to a band of shepherds tending to their flocks (Luke 2:8-9). Back then no one thought God would be interested in shepherds, or that shepherds would be interested in God. Shepherds were notoriously irreligious, ranked by the rabbis with prostitutes and other “habitual sinners.” They were outcasts, barred from the synagogue and polite society. They assumed that God would never accept them, and they feared Him.
But God did speak to them. I think He knew that these shepherds, like so many people who appear indifferent to spiritual things, were quietly longing for God. All of us have a longing for something more. And no matter how hard we try to appear self-sufficient, sooner or later we run out of something essential – love, money, time, or life. Isolation, loneliness, and fear of death lead us to acknowledge our need for a Savior. But where can we find Him? The angel’s words to the shepherds were simple and direct: “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). You can find Him too if you are truly searching for truth.
__________
Heaven’s choir came down to sing when heaven’s King came down to save us.
John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory”
__________
The indescribable splendor of “the glory of the Lord” was enough to bring fear to the lowly shepherds. Those men on the quiet slopes near Bethlehem were startled not only by the brilliant light but also by the announcement of a Savior born in that little town. The stunning proclamation was accompanied by a great number of the heavenly host praising God!
C. H. Spurgeon wrote, “This little planet of ours was made to burn with a superior light among its sister stars while the Creator sojourned here in human form. If for the first time you had heard of the visit of the Incarnate God to this world, you would be struck with a wonder which would last throughout all eternity. This is the heart of the gospel – the incomparable fact of the incarnation of the Son of God, His dwelling upon the earth, and His presentation of Himself as a sacrifice unto God for the sins of mankind.” My brethren, this is cause for great rejoicing today and every day throughout the year. As John Hus said, “Rejoice, that the immortal God is born, so that mortal men may live in eternity. Rejoice, because the rich Lord of the Universe became poor, that He may enrich us needy ones.
Thus, the glorious news of the birth of Christ is certainly “good tidings of great joy”!
__________
Closing thoughts:
When proclaiming the good tidings of great joy, the angel bypassed Jerusalem, the religious center of Israel. He didn’t go to Herodium, Herod’s villa near Bethlehem, but instead the angel appeared to a band of shepherds tending to their flocks (Luke 2:8-9). Back then no one thought God would be interested in shepherds, or that shepherds would be interested in God. Shepherds were notoriously irreligious, ranked by the rabbis with prostitutes and other “habitual sinners.” They were outcasts, barred from the synagogue and polite society. They assumed that God would never accept them, and they feared Him.
But God did speak to them. I think He knew that these shepherds, like so many people who appear indifferent to spiritual things, were quietly longing for God. All of us have a longing for something more. And no matter how hard we try to appear self-sufficient, sooner or later we run out of something essential – love, money, time, or life. Isolation, loneliness, and fear of death lead us to acknowledge our need for a Savior. But where can we find Him? The angel’s words to the shepherds were simple and direct: “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). You can find Him too if you are truly searching for truth.
__________
Heaven’s choir came down to sing when heaven’s King came down to save us.
