"Joy Worth Sharing with Everybody"

The New International Version Chapter 2

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Text: Luke:2:8-14

Introduction:  As we contemplate the good news of our Savior's birth and all that it means. In light of that, it's easy to understand why Satan is doing everything he can to distort and discredit, even disallow, Christianity in our modern culture. For many Christmas is just an event to celebrate every year. However, I want to remind us, the joy that entered the world on that Christmas morning is worth sharing with everybody. Allow me to set the stage for what is happening in the text and it will possibly help us as we go through the current time in which we are living. Israel has not witness the glorious presence of God since it departed from the temple for over 400 years or more. Sin and disobedience has cause them to be out of contact with God. No voice from the prophet was being proclaimed through out the land. The appearance of Angels nor the Angelic host had appeared in the midst of God’s people as they once had experienced. Darkness had covered the land and their future was in a state of demoralization and destitution. Similar to what Covid has done in the times in which we currently live. Sorrow, fear, and gloom is racing around the world almost at the speed of light. It shows up one place one day and the next day its discovered thousands of miles away. Nothing good about it nothing but sadness, gloom, and uncertainties. But on this night in a tiny little town, God introduces the world to some joy worth sharing with everybody. Three things about this joy that I want to lift from this text and then we’ll go and enjoy the rest of the aftermath that this joy brought to humanity.

Assessable to All People (Lk. 2:9-10)

The angels’ message was comforting. The shepherds are told not to be afraid. The message was that “a Savior,” Christ the Lord, was born. This was good news of great joy. The text says: “the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were sore afraid. The light of God should and will naturally strike fear in the hearts of man. The only way it doesn’t is you deny the existence of the light. The word of God tells us that God is constantly revealing his wrath against all ungodliness and all unrighteousness of men. Now, he does this both directly and indirectly. This lets us know that there are consequences for failing to adhere and respond to God’s statues. The good news about Christ is, He came for the benefit of all who will hear and humble themselves to accept Him as Lord. He is assessable to the plain, ordinary, rich and the poor. He comes to accept you just as you are! Fear came over the wise men because they were in the presence of the angel of the Lord. Humble, lowly shepherds, thought to be low class, that's who the angel appears too. I tell you, here is joy worths sharing with everybody.

Announces a Savior (Lk. 2:10-11)

What an announcement! In the midst of chaos, confusion and hostile rule. As if their sinful condition wasn’t enough, Israel had been looking for this moment in time for years. So the text says they came with haste vs. 16. They were so happy that they were eager to see “joy worth sharing with everybody. So when they see the Christ child, they make it know abroad what was told to them concerning Christ. Yes our job is to tell it every where we go, that , Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. Yes, Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. If He is good enough to save you, you ought to be glad to share about His saving grace to others so that they can experience the same joy that you have. Christians don't have a monopoly on Joy to the extent that it shouldn’t be shared around the world. That’s exactly why He came, to save us all. He is worth sharing with everybody.

Administers Eternal Peace (Lk. 2:12-14)

Some were waiting for a Savior to deliver from Roman authority, others were wanting deliverance from physical illness, social injustices or whatever that was suppressing them and us. However let me remind you that God is more that a healer and deliverer. His work and power extends further than our finite mind could ever imagine. He paid the price for our sins and made it possible for us to be reconciled back to God. He came to offer us more than temporary change and peace. As a matter of fact as long as God allows us to be stewards of His possessions, there will be chaos and confusion. But when Jesus comes again, there will be ushered in eternal peace which only the Master can give. Thank God for His immaculate birth, for He is worthy to be praise as Savior, Lord and King.

Closure:

Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let heaven and nature sing, He does rule the world with truth and grace. His coming into the world brought about a joy that is worth sharing with everybody.