Hope Awakening: The Birth Announcement
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said, ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger. Suddenly the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.'”
Luke 2:8-14
Merry Christmas! Glory to God and peace on earth!
Picture it: you are an ordinary shepherd working out in the field, watching your flock and protecting them against predators. You feel fortunate to have other shepherds to chat with, as the nights are long and lonely. It’s dark outside. Not the type of dark I’d experience walking outside at midnight, with faint glows of house lights and street lamps, but DARK. All of a sudden, a bright light explodes above you! Your eyes instinctively close, blocking out the piercing change and giving your brain time to process what’s happening. As you slowly open your eyes again, you see the angel of the Lord and you are filled with terror.
By now, you’ve caught on to this theme. Fear accompanies all visits from an angel. God told His people that no one could look upon His face and live, and throughout history God’s people associated angels with God. The fear that would fill them was fear for their lives. They were terrified being face to face with an angel was akin to being face to face with the Lord. Knowing this, we also see another consistent theme: the angel’s first words to the people are “Don’t be afraid” or “Do not fear.” The terrified shepherds are comforted with these same words.
The birth announcement of Jesus is first given to shepherds. Shepherds weren’t glamorous. They were looked down upon, marginalized. King David was a shepherd, overlooked by his own father when Samuel visited Jesse to anoint a king. (1 Samuel 16) Yet, they were the first recipients of the greatest news of all!
Can you hear the excitement in the message? This good news will bring great joy for all people! The Israelites have been looking expectantly for the Savior, the one who will redeem them, and Jesus’ birth echoes God’s promise to Abraham: “all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Jesus came not just for the Israelites, but for all people. Jesus gives all people hope for eternal life with God!
The angels declare the baby born in Bethlehem is the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord. Numbers hold great significance in Scripture, and once you start to look for them, you will see them often. The number three signifies divine perfection or completeness. God’s plan will be perfected through Jesus: our Savior, Messiah, and Lord.
All praise and glory be to God, forever and ever!
Reflection: As you celebrate the birth of our Savior today, join the angels in their praise by singing out “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”