Breaking News - Luke 2:8-20

Introduction

Christmas on Sundays can feel like an interruption. Many of you are probably feeling that this morning. We have our traditions to keep, our meals to cook, and our family to see. And, those are all beautiful things. So, perhaps you’d feel guilty to say it out loud, but, truthfully, it feels like an interruption, an addition to already hectic schedule to have worship today.

I actually think that feeling of interruption can help us appreciate what took place on the original Christmas all those years ago. You know when you’re watching your favorite show, and you’ve planned your whole day around it. Then, out of nowhere it’s interrupted by some guy with overdone hair and a fake voice saying, “Breaking news!” And, suddenly your whole evening is changed. That’s the scene in the shepherd’s field outside of Bethlehem. All day long the shepherds have looked forward to being around the campfire and chewing the fat. Then, suddenly, there’s breaking news. The Angel of the Lord interrupts their evening, and nothing will be the same.

God’s Word

And, what we see with the shepherds on the morning of Jesus’ birth is Why Christmas Really Matters (headline):

“Bad” news became “good” news.

If you had life-altering, world-shaping news, who would you tell first? Maybe you’d call CNN or Fox News so you could turn on the TV and see the banner scroll across the screen. Maybe you’d reach out to the NY Times or the Atlantic in hopes of a serious journalistic piece. Either way, you probably wouldn’t start with a used car salesman with a giant inflatable monkey outside his lot. (Preachers didn’t rank very high either!)They were ranked lowest in trustworthiness by a recent Gallup Poll. But, that’s who God chose to tell. Shepherds were a distrusted group of people. Their work kept them from participating in worship. They dealt with dead animals so much that they were viewed almost as perpetually unclean as the Gentiles, and they had a bit of reputation for stealing sheep.

So, it’s no wonder when the sky opened up, an angel descended, and the glory of God “shone around them” that they thought it was bad news for them. In fact, their response is always the response of people when they see the glory of God — fear, awe, trembling, inadequacy.

Glory “humiliates.”

Luke 2:8-9 “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.”

We’re so used to squinting in the dark that we can’t see how underdressed we really are for a meeting with God. Our stealing of sheep doesn’t seem so bad when all the people we hang out with steal them too. Our sins don’t appear so deplorable when we’re surrounded by fellow sinners. But, when the light of God’s glory really shines through, when his presence is really made known, when we catch any glimpse of true holiness, it totally humiliates any version of good we think we are. It shows us the truth, and the truth is bad news. Trying to look good and moral in the presence of God is like trying to feel big while standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon. It’s not possible.

That’s why there’s always fear when someone glimpses God’s true holiness and goodness. That’s why there’s never any audacity in the presence of God. And, that’s why Christmas is Good News. The glory that humiliated them ought to have annihilated them, but instead it came to liberate them.

Grace “liberates.”

Luke 2:10 “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.”

The Angel throws up his hand, and says, “No! No! No! Don’t be afraid. You’re humiliated, I know, but you’re about to be liberated.” The Good News of Christmas is that the fearsomeness of God’s glory has been met by the ferocity of God’s grace. The power that humbled you, turns out, is the power that is for you. The “great fear” of verse 9 has been met and extinguished by the “great joy” of verse 10. God is on your side! He’s come for “YOU” — even the shepherds, even the despised, even the lowly. And, He’s come for “all the people” like you. Bad news (you cannot withstand God’s glory) has become Good News (his glory has came for you).

“Promises” became a “person.”

Luke 2:11-12 “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 cloths and lying in a manger.””

In 2 Corinthians 1:20, Paul says: “For all the promises of God find their Yes in (Christ).” This is being made clear to the shepherds right at the outset. And, it’s the most important news in the world because it’s the difference for them between “great fear” and “great joy.” So, the Angel’s message is very specific to them. He says:

“That” king became “this” baby.

Notice that Luke says “this day.” It’s term that Luke uses 20 times in his two books, and it marks the beginning of the new era of messianic salvation. As we think of the future promises of God, how do we often say them? How do I often say them to you? We think about “that day,” don’t we? “On THAT DAY, there will be no more tears or suffering.” “On THAT DAY, all of our trials will turn to glory.” Here’s the Angel’s message to the Shepherds: THAT DAY has become THIS DAY. He’s here! It’s no longer just a promise. It’s an actual baby! The promises have become a real person! He’s here!

And, he stacks these titles upon one another to show the fullness. It’s some of the rich Christology in the Bible, and it’s given to the Shepherds. He’s the “Savior.” (The deliverer we need from our plight. He’s the “Christ.” (The long awaited Messiah-king.) He’s the “Lord.” (This is God!!!)

So, the sign the Angel gives to the shepherd to know that this is true would’ve been jarring to the shepherds. This Savior, this king, their God would be swaddled and laid in a feeding trough. You see...

“That” God became “this” servant.

You see, it sounds only bad to think of the glory of God humiliating us. We may even wonder how such a God could appeal to a modern generation. Until you see that this very God laid down that very glory and humiliated himself on your behalf. Think of it. The Sustainer of the Universe has to be “swaddled”. The God “who never sleeps nor slumbers” is sleeping in a manger. What King subjects himself to his servants. What God humiliates himself for his people. Ours! Ours! Ours! What a glorious interruption in the story!

“Peace” became “possible.”

Luke 2:13-14 “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!””

All of this breaking news was too much to contain the praise of heaven. An army of angels shattered the silence of the night by singing in unison: “Gloria in excelsis Deo!” “Glory to God in the highest!!” There’s no God like this! You see, now peace was really possible. You could stack every atomic bomb on top of one another, and they would not equate the power and might of this angel army. But, the song on the lips of this mighty army is not one of war but peace. That is, for “those with whom God is pleased.” Peace is possible, but it’s no automatic. There’s one prerequesite: bow down before this servant God and declare him King. Will you?

(That’s exactly what we’re doing in the Lord’s Supper. We’re reminding ourselves that we love a servant King.)