Intro: Sometimes what is extremely important in heaven is not seen as important on earth. Such is the case with the birth of Messiah. When God wanted to announce the greatest event the world would ever know, he sent an angel to announce the news to shepherds. Shepherds were the ones taking care of the sheep used as a sacrifice for sin at the temple. Jesus Messiah would become both the Shepherd and the Lamb (John 1:29;10:11).
The shepherds quickly ran to the stable to worship Jesus; they knew the miraculous had come to earth. Like the shepherds, Caesar should have come to worship Jesus, but he did not. Herod should have come to worship Jesus, but he did not. The people of Israel should have come to worship Jesus, because they were waiting for the Savior, but most did not. All nations should have come to worship Jesus, because the world would otherwise be lost from fellowship with God, but they did not. However, all of heaven worshiped and rejoiced at this most important event.
It is Christmas, and your Savior awaits your response and worship, because he is God’s greatest Gift. Ponder in your heart this Good News and be filled with great joy. Join with the heavenly choir this morning and sing, “Glory to God in the highest!” Merry Christmas to you all!
Luke 2:8-20 An Angelic Encounter
8 That night, in a field near Bethlehem, shepherds were watching over their flocks. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified! 10 But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid, for I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! 11 For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. 12 You will recognize him by this miraculous sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in the feeding trough!”
13 Then all at once in the night sky, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing:
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“Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven!
For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.”
15 When the choir of angels disappeared and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word who is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 So they hurried off and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a feeding trough.
17 Upon seeing this miraculous sign, the shepherds recounted what had just happened. 18 Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story was astonished by what they were told.
19 But Mary treasured all these things in her heart and often pondered what they meant.
20 The shepherds returned to their flock, ecstatic over what had happened. They praised God and glorified him for all they had heard and seen for themselves, just like the angel had said.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for rescuing me from the penalty of sin and death with your perfect life; you are my Lamb and my Shepherd. I am born anew, because you have been born in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.