140-105 Good News of Great Joy

Luke 2:8-20

The world still finds itself infatuated with angels. Unbelievers may not want to have anything to do with the church, the gospel, JC or salvation—but they love angels. They love the thought that a guardian angel is watching over them, keeping them from harm. They love the belief that their loved ones who have passed on from this life have become angels themselves—even as wrong as their understanding is. And now, you add a secular Christmas celebration and angels are a common representation. You see angel xmas tree toppers and ornaments. Movies about Christmas will make references to angels. People are comfortable with the overall concept of angels. But most people have no idea about the connection b/t angels and the very reason Christmas is precious to us.

Angels are featured prominently in the Christmas story…not just at the birth of LJC but the whole narrative: in prophesy to Joseph, to Mary, and we might even add to Zacharias (John the Baptist).

So too in a strong majority of our Christmas hymns, angels are mentioned regularly. Now today I want us to see Christmas from the perspective of the angels, what does it mean for them, what their response is to it and what this means for us.

But to begin with, I would like to set before you a doctrine of angels (angelology)—to provide a foundation for our study.

The Existence of Angels

All thruout Scripture we see the appearances of angels. In fact, the Bible never sets out to prove their existence (just like God) but presupposes their reality. (42 books; 213x OT, 176x NT). 2 primary words are translated “angel” (malak, angelos—both making reference to powerful spirit beings who inhabit the heavenly spheres): lit. “messengers”

They did much more than just deliver messages. We see angels thruout Scripture. OT Angels guarding the Garden of Eden. They offered special praise at creation. Angels delivered Lot from Sodom. Jacob was directed by angels. Moses was given the law thru the angels (Gal 3:19). Elijah was comforted and translated to heaven by angels. Daniel ministered to by angels. In fact, Gabriel himself came and delivered the message regarding the coming of the Jew's Messiah (Dan 9).

Ed Glasscock (exec dir xdoulos) “The Bible never really explains angels. It just makes casual references to their activities.” While the teaching about angels is extensive, there has been terrible much speculation about them.

In medieval times, philosophers debated how many angels could dance on the head of a pin (how many at same time—wiki), they wondered if an angel could be in 2 places at same time.

In the 13th C, theologian Albertus Magnus calculated 399,920,004 angels.

The number is incalculable according to Scripture:

Revelation 5:11 NASB95

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,

The Origin of Angels

So where did angels come from?

Gen 1-2 Reveals God as the creator of all things (heaven and earth).

Ps 148:2-5

Nehemiah 9:6 NASB95

6 “You alone are the Lord. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You.

Colossians 1:16 NASB95

16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

All angels are the direct creation of God, simultaneously (God is not in the process of creating more angels), probably all created before the end of the 1st day.

Job 38:6–7 NASB95

6 “On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Angels were created having the same moral state (holy) but according to scripture 1/3 fell with Satan and they are held responsible for their rebellion (whole other study).

The Position of Angels

In relation to man—angels are higher in terms of their present powers. Angels have extraordinary power that humans do not have:

Strength: Psalm 103:20 Bless the LORD, you His angels, Mighty in strength

Speed: Dan 9:21 While I was still speaking in prayer

Supernatural powers including power over nature (Acts 12:7-10; chains and bars broken); Acts 12:23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him (Herod) because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died; Gen 19:11 blindness;

Power to be visible/invisible

Despite these powers, there are those who revile angels 2 Pt 2:10-11

Those who have been redeemed will have a part in the judgment of angels (1 Cor 6:3—evil angels).

In relation to Christ, Christ has always been far above the angels—He created them.

At the incarnation, in the Christmas story Christ becomes a little lower (in position only) temporarily.

Heb 2:5-9

It seems to be indicative of the order of creation (God, Angels, Man, creatures—water, land, air).

But following the resurrection, The glorified, risen Christ is seated at the Rt hand of God-- Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.

So that… Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

For our study this morning, to focus on that brief time when Christ humbled Himself, being made in the likeness of man and for little while lower than the angels.

The Ministries of Angels

Examining what angels do will help us to understand their role in the birth announcement of Christ.

In relation to prophets and apostles

Frequently brought revelation, brought answers to prayers, aided or encouraged in times of danger, assisted in evangelistic efforts (but did not preach),

In relation to nations

Watch over ruler and nations, direct agents of in most of the judgments of the Tribulation

In relation to the unrighteous

Sometimes pronounce impending judgment, sometimes inflict judgment, serve as reapers who separate unbelievers at the end of age

In relation to believers

They serve in a general ministry of assisting

Hebrews 1:14 NASB95

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

They rejoice at conversion, minister in death, gather the elect for inauguration of Millennial Kingdom.

But they also observe Xn experiences

1 Peter 1:10–12 NASB95

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

Apparently, the holy angels have never experienced redemption, they have no need for atonement for sin, forgiveness will never be experienced by them. So when Christ comes, first of all it must be a great mystery to them (for why would God who is infinite and majestic become man? Why would he suffer and give himself to over to death? Why would God extend grace and mercy to unworthy recipients?)

In relation to Christ

Predicted His birth, announced, protected Him as infant, ministered after temptation, strengthened at Gethsemane, remained available to His call, rolled away the stone, announced resurrection, present at ascension, will accompany His return, will forever praise and worship Him.

From this, we can see why God would employ angels (both individual and the heavenly host) to bring the announcement of the most important birth in human history. Who else are so completely devoted to the exaltation and glory of Christ? Who else truly recognizes the true nature of Him who became flesh and dwelt among men…than those who have been with Him since the 1st day of creation?

Luke 2

The Announcement of Christ’s Birth

There are 3 parts to this announcement: The shepherds, a Savior, and a Sign

The Shepherds

The Shepherds were a lowly class of people, not able to testify in court, charity given to them was forbidden, often equated with the heathen. You wouldn’t expect that the most important birth would be announced to this group. But the angel appeared to them and they became terribly frightened. That’s the normal response in Scripture when faced either with the glory of God or an angel.

It was a fearful thing to be visited by an angel. The common belief by Jews was that the visible sight of the supernatural doomed you to death. That fear was in Jacob, Gideon and esp Isaiah. Though these shepherds were by nature brave men, they were terribly frightened (feared a great fear) b/c they were looking at angels.

A second reason they were fearful was the glory of the Lord. Luke tells us it shone around the shepherds. Here the glory of the Lord was the supernatural light in which God appears-AKA Shekinah glory-visible sign of God's presence. This divine glory would be most fitting to accompany the birth of Jesus. So not only would the presence of an angel cause fear but the sudden appearance of God's glory would scare the bravest of men. But the angel was quick to dispel the need to fear.

So this unnamed angel both commands and comforts them by saying “do not fear.” This angel was not bringing judgment but:

A good message (I bring you good news) of course the goodness of the message relates directly to the nature of the person who has just been born

A glad message (news of great joy) remember what happened with John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary appeared in her home? Lk 1:44

Paul speaks of the joy that Christ brings: Phil 4:4 rejoice…again (in prison regardless of circumstances)

A global message (for all the people) there is no limit to the impact this birth would have worldwide.

The Savior

The Savior born in the city of David marks the fulfillment of numerous prophecies about the relationship of Christ to David. The angel’s announcement to Joseph was instruction that His name was to be called “Jesus” because He would save His people from their sin (same given to Mary—Lk 1:31). That mankind needs a Savior can hardly be debated. Every religion supposes that mankind is in a condition of needing rescue. Of course the savior is different in each of them. But God reveals that the true Savior is the LJC.

"Savior” speaks of His relationship to the world. Jesus is not only God, Creator and sustainer of the world, He is also the Savior. It was important that Jesus was born in Bethlehem-City of David. He was the son of Mary, the son of David which gave Him the legal right to the throne. When he was born in David's city, that connection was made clear. Even in His public ministry people recognized that He was indeed the promised Son of David.

The Sign

The Shepherds would find a simple sign confirming the reality of this newborn baby—just as announced by the angel. A baby, wrapped…manger. That’s not how a baby would be comforted back then. You wouldn’t put a baby in a manger unless the circumstances demanded it—which they did, since God was in full control of the circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ.

Why was the sign necessary?

Proof was needed for several reasons: 1st to substantiate that the angel's message was truthful.

2nd to help the shepherds identify the particular child who was born-the child who would save His people from their sins. This sign gave evidence to the shepherds that God was at work, that it was a spectacular work and the angel's message was authentic.

What was remarkable was the instantaneous celebration of praise and worship (as if it lit. could not have been contained). Innumerable angels voiced the Gloria in Excelsis Deo.

As a suddenly as the appeared, they disappeared and the focus falls back on the shepherds who say vs 15.

Their response is one of eagerness, anticipation, joy, thrill of what had just been experienced, and hope.

I’m not sure the angels fully comprehend all that happened. But we are told that angels in heaven continually behold the face of the Father, and in the fulfillment of His perfect timing, Christ was born to Mary and the angels are employed to announce it to a few lowly shepherds. It is a remarkable scene and the shepherds, having seen the Savior just as they had been told, left vs 20.

That is the message of Christmas. You need a savior. You need one who will save you from your sin. Your sin deserves the wrath of a holy God and you will spend all eternity in hell bearing that wrath if you reject LJC as Savior. But with all love and grace the Father has sent His Son, born of the virgin Mary, born in a humble manger, to deliver you from your sin and the payment it requires, being death.

If you confess Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved. That’s it! The Lord Jesus came to us, lived a perfect life in absolute righteousness, undeservingly was nailed to a cross to take upon Himself the wrath of God that was upon us b/c of our sin. God raised Him from the dead and has given all honor and authority to LJC. And so if you trust in this, the promise of God says you will be saved.

There is no more opportune time to trust Christ than today. If God’s Spirit is speaking to your heart, and the weight of your sin is overwhelming to you, confess it to God, repent of it and receive the LJC as Savior today.

This really is the only true response of Christmas. It is worship, praise, adoration…and it all begins for each one of us with an unconditional submission to LJC. You cannot praise until you are submissive. And when you are, Christmas celebration is truly the good news of great joy.