United in Awe

Introduction

Well, good morning!

If you have a Bible and I hope that you do, go ahead and open it with me to Luke chapter 2…we’re gonna be in verses 8 through 14 this morning which is a story most of us should know very well — a story of angels appearing to the shepherds on that first Christmas night. But what I want us to see is not just a historical account this morning, its a moment that shows us something much bigger: how Christmas unites us in awe.

Last week, if you were with us, we saw Mary, and Elizabeth, and John drawn together in worship. Their ordinary, everyday lives — full of hopes, and fears, uncertainties — they were lifted into moments of extraordinary praise because Jesus had come near to them. Christmas has a way of uniting people…and that same power, its at work again today here in our passage, but this time, it draws us together not just in worship, but in awe.

Listen, as I was preparing for our message this week and trying to step into the angels’ perspective, I kept thinking about how they must’ve felt hearing the news of Jesus’ birth for the very first time. And then that classic hymn came across my mind — Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (We sang it last week)— and I thought to myself, “That song, it perfectly captures the angel’s response,” right?

“Hark” its an old word we don’t use very much anymore, but it simply means to listen. The writer of that hymn, he’s telling his audience to pay attention, not to miss what the angels had experienced. And notice, this song, it puts the message in the voice of a shepherd. These are the shepherds we’re gonna talk more about next week — ordinary people, out in the fields, far from the bustling towns and celebrations of the season. They were the first to see and hear the angels that night. And listen, the hymn, it makes sure we don’t miss what they witnessed.

The shepherds were amazed for three reasons. First, they were stunned that the angels appeared to them at all. These were ordinary, sometimes lonely, lives — lives like many of ours, especially during a season like Christmas when loss, or disappointment, when brokenness feels so much more real. And yet, God chose them to receive this incredible message.

You and I, we may not feel extraordinary, but God’s good news comes first to those who need it most.

Second, the shepherds were amazed at the celebration of this heavenly host. These angels had seen God’s mighty power firsthand — the creation of billions of galaxies with just one word. And yet, the glory they praised that night wasn’t the vastness of the universe or its unimaginable beauty. It was this: God Himself, veiled in flesh, coming to dwell with sinners, entering our broken world…That was the marvel that caused heaven to erupt in worship.

And then finally, the shepherds were amazed that they were chosen to carry this message at all. Again, we’re gonna talk more about this next week but who were they (they thought)— simple shepherds — to proclaim news that had stunned angels? And yet God invited them to join in the same celebration, to share the awe they had just witnessed.

What I love about this story is the hope it gives us. The angels’ response shows us what it looks like to be truly impacted by God — to recognize the magnitude of what He had done and respond to that in awe and worship.

That posture, that wonder, its exactly how we’re invited to respond this Christmas and every Christmas, not just to remember history, but to let it touch our lives.

Peter gives us a glimpse into what was happening that night in 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 12, noting that even the angels longed to understand the things God was accomplishing through our salvation.

I mean just think about that — creatures created to dwell in God’s presence, to serve Him, to do His bidding — and yet they were amazed at what God was accomplishing through the birth of a baby in Bethlehem. The greatest thing the angels had witnessed God do, it wasn’t creation…it wasn’t all the miracles He had done time and time again…what gave glory to God in the highest, according to the angels, was this: “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with man to dwell. Jesus, our Emmanuel.” The greatest glory, they thought, that God ever displayed was His decision to come and die for sinners. To come and live among sinners. To come and identify Himself with them.

And that’s exactly the point this morning. Just like the angels, we’re invited to pause, and to look, to be amazed, to be drawn together in awe at what God’s done in Christ for us — not just in history, but in our lives today.

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And so, as we look at this passage this morning, we’re gonna see this unfold in Luke chapter 2 and we’re gonna see three different ways Christmas unites us in awe:

Number 1, Awe begins when God breaks into our darkness (vv. 8–9)

Number 2, Awe deepens when we realize how personal the gospel is (vv. 10–12)

And then, Number 3, Awe explodes when we see the heart of God on display (vv. 13–14)

And so, if you’re there with me in Luke chapter 2…let’s stand together for the reading of God’s Word.

It says this, starting in verse 8:

Luke 2:8–14 ESV

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. 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. 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.” 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!”

Thank you, you can be seated.

[Prayer]

Again, our three points this morning, Awe begins when God breaks into our darkness…Awe deepens when we realize how personal the gospel is…Awe explodes when we see the heart of God on display.

Let’s look at this first part together.

I. Awe Begins When God Breaks Into Our Darkness (vv. 8-9)

Awe begins when God breaks into our darkness.

Not just the shepherds' darkness. Not just Israel’s darkness. Our darkness.

But listen, here’s the thing about the Christmas story: the ones who recognize this truth most clearly in our passage…its not the shepherds. It’s the angels.

Look at verse 8 and 9 with me again:

Luke 2:8–9 ESV

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.

Listen, the angel here appears because Jesus appeared. Heaven doesn’t send messengers without a reason. The angel isn’t the main event in this story — he’s the spotlight pointing to the main event.

And so what’s the main event here?

Not that the shepherds are in the field at night. The main event, its that the world is in the night — spiritually, morally, hopelessly dark — and for the first time since Eden, God Himself steps into that darkness…not in judgment, but in grace.

Jesus didn’t enter a bright world; He entered a broken one. He didn’t descend into daylight; He descended into midnight.

That’s why the angel shows up. Because Light entered the dark.

Isaiah 9 said it would happen: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

The angel, in this passage, he’s saying here, “This is it. The Light has come.”

This is why the glory shines. Not because the shepherds are so special — but because Christ has come.

This is what ties the whole passage together: The angels understood the darkness better than we do, and they understood the Light better than we do. They’ve watched human sin for thousands of years. They saw the fall. They saw Cain kill Abel. They saw the flood. They saw idolatry, and rebellion, and violence, and pride. They’ve watched a world that was meant to reflect God’s glory, they’ve watched it slowly erode into ruin.

They know how deep the darkness goes.

And now — for the first time ever — they see God Himself stepping into that same world.

No wonder they show up with glory. No wonder they explode in praise. No wonder they can’t stay quiet.

R.C. Sproul said, “The angels aren’t astonished at creation, but at redemption — that God would step into the darkness to rescue rebels.”

Listen, it’s like when a rescue team arrives on the scene of a collapsed building. The bystanders on site, they see dust…but the rescuers see death. They see the danger. The urgency. The desperation. They know what’s at stake.

The angels are heaven’s rescue team here. They know what darkness does to the human soul. They know what sin deserves. They know humanity’s trapped.

And so when they see Christ — the Rescuer — enter the world, they erupt with awe because they know exactly what He came to do. They see more clearly than we ever could.

And listen, here’s where this hits home for us: The angels respond with awe because they see the darkness of the world and the beauty of God entering it.

But in turn we struggle to feel awe…because we’ve forgotten the darkness we were in when Christ stepped into our lives.

We downplay our sin. We soften our rebellion. We clean up our past. We pretend we weren’t that bad. We treat salvation like its a small thing.

But listen to me — Until you understand the darkness Christ stepped into, you’ll never feel awe at the Light He brings to you.

Guys, if the angels — holy, glorious beings who’ve seen God’s throne room — if they erupt at the birth of Christ…then why are we so often unmoved by it?

Probably because if we’re honest: We get more excited about a sale on Amazon than the incarnation of God. We feel more awe watching a sunset or scrolling Instagram than reading the story of Jesus. We hear “Christmas” and we think travel plans, not trembling glory. We sing songs of angels with the same enthusiasm of mumbling through a weather report.

Guys, something’s off and the truth we need to hear this morning is this: If angels who don’t even receive salvation are overwhelmed with awe at the coming of Christ, then how much more should we be — the ones Christ actually came to save?

Charles Spurgeon said, “You’ll never value the Savior until you feel your need of saving.”

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And so let me just ask…Where was it that Jesus stepped into your darkness?

The addiction you couldn’t break. The shame you couldn’t shake. The anger you couldn’t tame. The loneliness that ate you alive. The guilt that kept you up at night. The emptiness you tried to fill with everything else.

That darkness —not someone else’s —your darkness…that’s where Christ came.

And listen, the angels saw that, even when you didn’t.

Again, if angels — who’ve never sinned, never fallen, never stumbled — if they stand in jaw-dropping awe at Christ stepping into your world…why would you respond with anything less?

Awe begins right here. When you remember how deep that darkness was — and listen, how far the Light came to pull you out of that darkness.

Luke says this angel, he came to announce the birth of Jesus to shepherds at night.

II. Awe Deepens When We Realize How Personal the Gospel Is (vv. 10-12)

Point number 2…Awe deepens when we realize how personal the gospel is.

Look again at verses 10 through 12 with me again. After the angel appears and the glory of the Lord floods the darkness, Luke tells us:

“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. 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.’”

Listen — those “you’s,” in this passage, they matter. Luke didn’t stutter. He repeats that word over and over again because he wants you to feel the weight of it.

But listen, before we feel that, we have to see how the angels felt it.

Because what amazes me about this passage, its not just that the angels brought a message to shepherds… it’s that the angels brought a message they themselves would never personally experience.

Again think about it: These angels, again they’ve watched God work from the moment they were created. They know His power. They’ve seen His wonders. They’ve witnessed His judgments and His mercies. But here — in this moment — they deliver a message that’s not for them. It’s for us.

It’s personal…not to them. It’s personal…to you and I.

The angels, they’re announcing a salvation they don’t receive.

Angels don’t need forgiveness. They don’t need mercy. They don’t need redemption.

And yet they’re the ones sent to proclaim the most personal news God’s ever delivered:

“A Savior is born… for you.”

You want to talk about awe? That’s awe.

The angels hold nothing back in worship because they understand something we often forget: God’s grace is staggeringly personal, and it’s directed at humans — fallen, fragile, broken image-bearers who could never save themselves.

The angels aren’t jealous of salvation. They’re amazed by it.

They marvel that God would tailor this message, this rescue, this Redeemer — not for them — but for ordinary sinners like shepherds…like us.

1 Peter 1:12 told us earlier that the angels long to look into these things. They bend over the balcony of heaven, so to speak, watching the story of redemption unfold — not because it benefits them, but because they can’t believe what it says about the heart of God.

And here in Luke 2, they’re the first heralds of this deeply personal gospel.

And notice the shape of this message.

Look again at verse 10:

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy…”

That phrase “good news” — it’s the same Greek word used for “gospel.” This is the first proclamation of the gospel after the birth of Jesus…and it comes from an angel.

And what’s the gospel according to the angel?

It’s not advice. It’s not encouragement. It’s not vague spiritual feelings…It’s news — news that something’s already been done. A Savior’s been given. A promise has been kept. A King’s arrived. Hope has entered the world.

And then he says:

“For unto you is born this day… a Savior.”

Don’t miss that word: “unto.”

He doesn’t say a Savior has been born in a general sense. He says a Savior has been born unto you — meaning for your benefit, on your behalf, in your place, for your need.

I say this all the time but that’s covenant language. It’s relational language. It’s the language of God bending low to say, “I see you. I know you. I’m coming for you.”

Can you see what the angel’s doing here?

He’s personalizing the gospel before the shepherds even see Jesus. Before they touch the manger. Before they tell a single soul about this news…Because awe doesn’t just come from knowing what God does. Awe deepens when we realize who He does it for.

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The angels, they emphasize the humility of Christ.

Again verse 12:

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

A manger — a feeding trough. Not a throne. Not a palace. Not even a cradle.

Why would heaven’s angelic messenger highlight something so… ordinary? So undignified?

Because the angels know what this means.

They’ve seen Jesus in glory — the blazing, holy radiance of the eternal Son. They’ve heard His voice shake the heavens. They’ve watched Him command ‘em with a single word.

And now they say to shepherds: “You’ll know Him…because He’ll be the lowest one in the room.”

The angels know that the humility of Christ is the signature of the gospel — the mark that this salvation isn’t theoretical, or distant, or symbolic. It’s personal.

The eternal Son chose a manger because He chose you.

The angels highlight the manger not to shame Christ, but to spotlight His heart — a Savior who descended lower than any human’s ever gone so that He could raise sinners higher than they could ever possibly dream.

These angels teach us just how personal the gospel really is.

If you wanna understand how personal Christmas is…don’t start with the shepherds. Start right here with the angels.

They’re the ones who announce good news — not advice. They’re the ones who say He’ll bring great joy — not some kind of mild encouragement. They’re the ones that say its for all the people — not just a remnant of Israel. They’re the ones that say unto you — not “out there somewhere.” They say a Savior — because your deepest problem isn’t external, it’s internal. They call Him Christ the Lord — the One who rules all things, He came for you. They say Christmas, its a sign for you — God leaves no questions. They give the details of a manger — because nothing says “I am coming near to you” like God lying in a feeding trough.

The angels here in this passage, they’re saying something the world still struggles to believe: God’s love, it’s personal.

And listen — awe deepens the moment that truth sinks in for you.

Not “God so loved the world” in a vague, emotional sense…but “unto you is born this day a Savior.”

You.

The angels saw that long before the shepherds did. The angels celebrated it long before the shepherds understood it. The angels worshiped because the God who created galaxies chose to write Himself into the story of your redemption.

The gospel becomes awe-inspiring not when we understand it generally…but when we understand it personally. When you hear the angel’s words not as a Christmas reading…but as God’s heart aimed directly at you…awe flows out of you. Because when the gospel becomes personal, awe deepens — just like it did for the angels on that that first Christmas night.

Which moves us into our final point this morning.

III. Awe Explodes When We See the Heart of God on Display (vv. 13-14)

Awe explodes when we see the heart of God on display.

Look back with me at verse 13:

“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!’”

That word “suddenly,” it’s so important here. It means abruptly, all at once, without warning. This wasn’t a slow build. It wasn’t a planned performance. Something triggered heaven.

And here’s what I want you to consider as we read this — something I think fits the text here and fits the whole story of Scripture: It may very well be that the multitude of angels came rushing forth because they were hearing this message themselves for the very first time.

Only one angel was sent. And he delivers the announcement:

“Unto you is born this day… a Savior… who is Christ the Lord.”

And the moment heaven hears those words — the moment they realize God’s taken on flesh, the moment the eternal Son stepped into the world as a baby, the moment God’s rescue plan was no longer just a promise…heaven explodes.

And when Luke says “a multitude,” don’t picture a handful. The word literally means a number so large it can’t be counted. Scripture gives us glimpses of this: Daniel 7:10 describes the angels around God’s throne as “thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand.” John sees the same scene in Revelation 5 — “myriads of myriads,” the Greek way of saying millions upon millions. So when Luke writes “a multitude of the heavenly host,” he’s telling you that the sky over those shepherds didn’t just brighten — it detonated. The armies of heaven filled the night. The horizon became a sanctuary. That field became the front row of the largest worship service the world’s ever known.

Why? Because angels aren’t all-knowing. Angels learn, just like we do. They marvel. They respond to revelation.

Again, that’s why 1 Peter 1:12 says these are the things “angels long to look into.” They’ve been watching redemption unfold, step by step, but they weren’t able to see it all.

And so when this first angel declares the incarnation — when heaven hears that God Almighty’s wrapped Himself in human flesh — the armies of heaven can’t remain silent a second more.

Luke says: “Suddenly… a multitude.”

It was as if all of heaven gasped… and then they shouted.

And listen, that phrase “heavenly host” its a military term. Again, it literally means armies of heaven.

These aren’t soft, glowing figurines from a Christmas card. These are the warriors of God — the ones who fought when Satan rebelled, the ones who attended the throne of the Almighty, the ones whose presence makes prophets collapse.

And this army shows up… and they sing.

Because the Commander’s arrived. Because the invasion of mercy has begun. Because the heart of God, its just been unveiled — and heaven erupts in worship.

Calvin put it this way: “The angels sing because in Christ the glory of God shines with full brightness.”

What could possibly make an army break into song? Only this: the heart of God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.

I mean just listen to their words:

“Glory to God in the highest…”

They begin with God and glory and theology, not man or nostalgia or emotion.

Christmas isn’t a story about us. It’s a revelation of who God is.

And listen, it shows us that God, He’s a God who enters, who stoops down, who saves…He’s a God whose heart is more merciful than the angels could’ve ever imagined.

Jonathan Edwards said, “True religion consists much in holy affections.”

Listen, when the heart sees God clearly, it erupts. That’s what’s happening in this field.

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Their praise goes on:

“Glory to God in the highest…and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.”

This isn’t vague world peace like at the Miss USA pageant? This isn’t an emotional Hallmark kind of peace. It’s peace with God — the peace purchased by a cross that the manger was always pointing toward.

Romans 5:1 says: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God…”

The angels know that the baby in the manger is the Lamb who would be slain. They know that the peace they’re singing about, it would be bought by His blood. They knew a Messiah would come…and listen they’re see that for the first time…God would pay for His people and purchase their peace Himself.

That’s the heart of God on display — a God who brings peace to sinners who don’t deserve it.

Guys, this was the largest recorded worship gathering in Scripture up to this point. It wasn’t in the temple, or a palace. It’s not in the throne room…It was in a dark field with forgotten shepherds.

Why? Because God loves to reveal His heart in unexpected places. Because God draws near to the lowly. Because He delights to pour heavenly glory onto earthly nobodies.

And listen, when the angels see that — when they recognize who God’s chosen to reveal Himself to, how He’s chosen to deliver His people — they rejoice even more.

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And so, again the question for us, this morning, is this: If angels who aren’t redeemed, if they explode in worship at the birth of Christ, what does it say about us when we treat Christmas so casually?

Spurgeon said, “If Christ is not all to you, He’s nothing to you.”

If heaven can’t remain silent… why can we?

Guys, the angels teach us something very important here: Worship, its the natural response of a heart that sees God’s heart clearly. And Christmas is God’s heart on full display. Because in the manger we see the God who comes low. We see the God who moves toward sinners. We see the God who brings peace to those who had none. We see the God who’ll save His own at the cost of His own blood. We see the God who deserves—and demands—our highest praise.

And when you see that… awe doesn’t just grow in you…it explodes.

Closing

And so listen, as we wrap up this morning, I want you to notice something that ties this entire passage together.

Everyone in this story, they’re all responding to Jesus.

The angels respond with awe. The shepherds, which we’ll talk about next week, they respond with urgency. Mary responds with humble faith. Heaven responds with worship.

Guys, Christmas demands a response.

Because if Christ really entered our darkness…If Christ really came for you personally…If Christ really revealed the very heart of God in a manger… Then the only wrong response is no response.

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So let me speak first to those of you here this morning who follow Christ—who love Him, who belong to Him, who bear His name.

If the angels—who again aren’t redeemed, who’ll never taste forgiveness, who’ll never call God “Father”—if they erupt in awe at the birth of Christ… then what should our worship look like?

Christmas isn’t meant to make you nostalgic. It’s meant to make you kneel. It’s meant to ignite something in you that doesn’t flicker out on December 26th.

And so, if you’re awe’s grown cold…or if your obedience, if it’s grown casual. If your worship’s become routine. If the gospel’s become too familiar instead staggering to you.

This passage, its challenging you to look again. Look at the darkness Christ entered. Look at the manger He chose. Look at the peace He brings. Look at the cross He carried. Look at the heart of God that He revealed.

If angels explode in praise, God’s people shouldn’t whisper about what’s He done.

Let this Christmas be the one where your awe is rekindled—where your worship becomes wholehearted—where obedience is joyful—where Christ becomes central in your life again.

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But listen, if you’re here and you wouldn’t consider yourself a believer, or you’re just not sure where you stand.

Christmas isn’t a heartwarming story. It’s a rescue story. And every rescue story begins with bad news, right?

You’re a sinner. You’re not just imperfect—you’re sinful. You’re not just broken—you’re rebellious. And I want you to listen to me, you’re not just struggling—you’re guilty.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

And the worse news is this:

You can’t fix it. You can’t save yourself. You can’t clean your own heart. You can’t undo your guilt. You can’t earn God’s favor. Your sin, it deserves judgment—and no amount of effort can erase that.

That’s the darkness.

But the good news:

A Savior’s come into that darkness. Not to judge first, but to save…to rescue sinners. He didn’t come demanding you climb up to Him, He descended all the way down to you.

“For unto you is born… a Savior.”

A rescuer. Someone who does what you can’t do for yourself.

And the best news:

Salvation’s offered to you right now, freely, through faith in Christ Jesus.

Not by working. Not by achieving. Not by proving yourself. But by trusting in the finished work of Jesus— His perfect life in your place, His death for your sins, His resurrection for your forgiveness.

The best news in one sentence: Jesus saves sinners—not when they get better, but when they come to Him.

Peace with God can be yours. Mercy can be yours. Forgiveness can be yours. A new heart can be yours. A new life can be yours.

Not someday—today, this morning.

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And so as we close, I just wanna ask you:

Will you respond the way heaven responded? Will you join the angels and the shepherds in awe and worship? Will you receive the Savior who came for you?

Or listen, will you walk away from the greatest gift God’s ever given?

Christ has come. Light has entered the darkness. God’s drawn near.

And the invitation of Christmas is simple: Come to Him. Bow before Him. Believe in Him. Worship Him. And let awe explode in your heart just like it did in heaven that night with the angels.

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Would you bow your head and close your eyes with me?

Listen, Wendy’s gonna come back up…our deacons are gonna come prepare Communion for us.

Listen, as we get ready to do that together…respond to the Word of God…respond to this Christmas story…Listen, don’t come to this table, don’t take these elements unless your heart’s exploding with awe this morning.

And so, you take this time and we’ll come around the table in just a moment.

[Prayer]

Matthew 26:26 (ESV)

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

Matthew 26:27–29 (ESV)

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”