Luke 2:8-14
Angels Declaring the Good News to the Shepherds
Throughout the whole world, Christmas is celebrated by both
Christians and non-Christians. Many people revel and party on what is supposed
to be the “silent night” of Christmas Eve. They do not know the meaning of
“silent night,” which is a night of peace.
Even more ironic is that many crimes that disturb the peace are
committed on Christmas Eve. After all-night long wild parties, people drive
under the influence of alcohol and drugs, so it is natural that car accidents
happen and crime rate escalates on Christmas Eve.
According to the Bible, something amazing happened on the night
when Jesus Christ was born. In Luke 2:8-14 say:
“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to
them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with
great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good
news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this
day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a
sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a
manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
The weather in the Middle East is very dry, with little grassland
and water. Therefore, shepherds wander from place to place in search of grass
and water for their flock. As their livelihood was dependent on livestock, they
live in the wilderness. They lived under the pressure of the nomadic lifestyle
and the harsh economic environment.
Besides, shepherds had low social standing in the culture of the
time. They were a marginalized group in society. On that night, they were
astonished that an angel appeared to announce a message to them. For such a
marginalized and forgotten class of people, how can they not be frightened by
the appearance of a heavenly messenger?
“The good news of great joy” that the angel announced to them was,
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord” (v.11).
For a shepherd, if one is to be realistic, the discovery of
fertile grassland and abundant water would constitute “good news of great joy.”
As such, we wonder would all the shepherds truly understand how
this announcement by the angel was “good news of great joy”.
Likewise, to many people today, the good news of the salvation
that comes with the birth of Jesus is less exciting and interesting than the
news of sales at the shopping mall. Even many Christians also do not seem to
live out the peace and joy of having received the “good news of great joy”.
What is the reason?
The reason is simple, because we do not truly comprehend the
meaning of “glory” and “peace.” Since we do not understand
“glory” and “peace,” we can’t render glory to God or be pleasing to Him and
thereby receive the God-given peace.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among
those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). This verse reveals to us the truth
concerning “God” and “humanity.”
First of all, God is in the highest and human beings are here on
the earth. Secondly, God is the Giver and human beings are the recipients.
Thirdly, glory belongs to God and peace is granted by God to those whom He is
pleased.
In other words, peace does not originate from humanity nor is it
something that humanity deserves. Rather, it is a gift from God!
Glory belongs to God and not to us. The Bible tells us that the
most fundamental sin is to fall short of the glory of God. “For all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).
According to the Bible, human beings are created to express the
glory of God. Unfortunately, not only did human beings not glorify God, they
rebelled against God and did things that contradict His glory.
Adam and Eve, the ancestors of all human beings, rebelled against
God’s commandment by consuming the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil!
Again, the Bible tells us that, “the wages of sin is death” (Rom
6:23). The result of the sin on humanity is death. The death that comes from
sin is not merely physical death. More than that, sin brings in spiritual
death, that is, spiritual separation from God.
The damage of spiritual death is more serious than physical death
because it renders one unable to approach the holy God and comprehend the
things of God.
Due to sin, the people of the world are separated from God and
fall further and further away from the glory of God. Thus, human beings live in
the wrath of God. “Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the
wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).
As long as people reject the salvation of the Lord, they live in
the wrath of God. Given such a scenario of broken relationship between God and
human, it is not a surprise then that the world does not have peace.
The Bible says that sinners cannot find the path to peace: “The
way of peace they have not known” (Rom 3:17). They are not capable of living in
peace with one another. They are also not living in peace with a righteous God.
How then can we find the way of peace?
Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). Jesus Christ declared
that He is the only way to return to God!
This confirms what the angel called “good news of great joy,”
which is the descent of the Way among the human race that leads sinners back to
the path of eternal life!
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who
is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
Human beings depend on themselves are unable to be pleasing to
God. They are not able to receive the peace that God gives. Jesus Christ is the
only way. Jesus Christ proclaimed that He is the Lord of peace and He wants to
grant His unmatchable peace to those who trust in Him.
He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as
the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27).
The peace of Jesus Christ is extraordinary for that peace belongs
to the Lord Jesus Himself and contains His promise of victory and the power to
overcome. He said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have
peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome
the world” (John 16:33).
Jesus’ life on the earth testified that He truly is the Lord of
peace. Although He went through all manner of trials, injustices, harsh
environment, hostile groups, and even the threat of death, yet these did not
cause Him retreat in fear.
Instead, He was calm amidst the storm and bravely faced all kinds
of challenges. He is truly the Prince of Peace.
The salvation of Jesus Christ provides for humanity an opportunity
to be reconciled to God so that human beings may once again live lives
that glorify God. Jesus Himself glorified God throughout His life,
so that we may imitate Him in giving glory to God in the highest, become a
people with whom God is pleased and, thereby, receive from God the true and
everlasting peace!
This is “good news of great joy!”
Conclusion
Today, the “good news of great joy” has arrived. The child that
was born two thousand years ago is the Lord Jesus who died on the cross for
your sins and for my sins. But He did not remain dead. He rose from the dead to
affirm that He is indeed the Redeemer whom God has sent.
Those who repent and believe in Him do not only have their sins
forgiven but also have the hope of eternal life. Yes, the wages of sin is
death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23).
Jesus Christ has already accomplished salvation. He gives the
peace of forgiven sins and eternal life to those who trust in Him. It is like a
prisoner on death row who rejoices greatly upon receiving the good news of his
pardon.
The good news that we are talking about is “for all the people,”
regardless of nationality and race. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of the
all mankind.
May you believe and receive Him today that you may experience the
“good new of great joy” of the gospel like those shepherds who saw the salvation
of Jesus and gave glory to God (Luke 2:15-20).
May we become those with whom God is pleased and thereby receive
the peace that only God can give.
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