Good News for All People

Luke 2:8-20

I remember when I was young that one of the great highlights of the Christmas season was listening to “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on television. I remember Linus responding to Charlie’s anguished question about what Christmas was all about. Linus puts His blanket around his heas as though it was the headdress of a shepherd and responds with: “I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” He then recites the Christmas story from Luke. Therefore, it caused me great sorrow to hear that this would be the first season that it would not be shown. Some claim that it is “racist.” I would agree that one must be careful about racist stereotypes, especially those which do not appear obvious. However, one must realize that Christianity was Middle Eastern before it was Western. The first Christmas message was sounded by the angels to humble shepherds watching their flocks. Even though Palestine had been occupies by the Western Greeks and then the Romans, these shepherds were little changed from the shepherds of King David’s day. So let us put aside whatever prejudices we might have and go back more than 2000 years to Bethlehem and hear the message of the angels.

The shepherds were busy minding their own business. Being a shepherd was hard work and could be dangerous at times. Many lonely nights were spent in the field watching over the flocks. Several of them might gather around and tell stories to one another to break up the monotony of the long night. There was little indication of the story that would be told that night. Matthew tells us about the star the Magi saw in the East. Perhaps they were the only ones given the sight to see this star. But the night sky was broken that night in the most extraordinary way to the shepherds. The Jewish leaders went to bed that night as they habitually did. They slept right through the event. The rest of the world slept along with them too. Caesar Augustus who had made the birth of a greater king in Bethlehem possible through his decree was also unaware.

Maybe the shepherds were telling one of their stories to each other when their story was interrupted by the greatest story ever told. The Angel of the LORD appeared to the shepherds. We can read throughout the Scripture that when the Angel of Yahweh appeared that great fear ensued. Isaiah felt undone. Samson’s father was sure he would die. Daniel and the Apostle John fell as dead. One can feel the dread of the shepherds. The glory of the LORD was blinding. I love how the King James bible puts it: “They were sore afraid.” But these shepherds were not going to die. Instead, they would be the first to hear the greatest message ever spoken.

After the Angel of the LORD encourages them to stop shaking in fear, He brings the words: “Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” Can you hear these words? The Greek word for “glad tidings” is the word we normally translate “gospel” or “good news.” When we hear the word “gospel” we associate it with the message of salvation. So this announcement is a gospel message. The Savior has been born!” This message would continue to be fleshed out in the life of Jesus. We have learned more details of the gospel of our salvation. The Gospel does not even start here. It actually started in the promise Yahweh gave to Adam and Eve after they fell. One of Eve’s descendants would have His foot bruised by the serpent. But this child would give a death blow to Satan. On this night, the old prophecy would find its fulfillment. A greater visitation of God than the daily visitation in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve had come. The Word had become flesh and dwelt among us.

This message was not just for the shepherds. This message was not just for the Jews. This message was not for another ethnic group. Nor was it for a particular social class. The message transcends the time that Jesus walked among us. This joyful message is for all people. This means that this “glad tidings of great joy” is meant for us here today as well. It is also meant for everyone else as well. Instead of the Angel of the LORD telling them directly, He has called us to tell them the message of salvation.

The shepherds are now startled by the appearance of the “heavenly host.” We remember the Christmas Angels and the Heavenly Choir which sung that night. This is true, but the word is actually “army” in Greek, and the underlying Hebrew word Sabaoth means the same. We normally think of armies as those who fight in wars. We think of conquest. They bring death and destruction to enemies and protection for one’s own nation. However, let us listen to this message. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will to men!” These soldiers do not come with the message of war, but rather the words of peace. God does not need armies to protect Him. Here He uses His army to proclaim Him.

Some modern translations translate the “good will toward men” by “to people upon whom His favor rests.” But upon whom does his favor rest? When we go back to the Message of the Angel of the LORD, we come back to “all people” and not just “good people.” If it was just a message to good people, then no one would hear this message at all. The problem is that none of us is good. The only one who has ever lived who deserved the LORD’s favor is the Lord Jesus Christ. This proclamation is “glad tidings of great joy” to sinners. Those who believe this message are those upon whom the favor of God rests. It is entirely a gift of God’s grace. So peace on earth and good will towards men is proclaimed to all. Therefore, the King James renders the Greek better than the modern translators.

We live in a world controlled by the decrees of our Caesars, or so they think. They tell us to go and pay taxes. They think the world centers around them. They point to the magnificent Rome’s they have built. They control the flow of the news. Little of this news is “good.” Yet, we are saturated by it. These people want to control everything that happens on the globe. They want the power to lock down and open up. They want a world as remote as possible from the news the shepherds heard that morning. There cry is “come to Rome and see” rather than come to Bethlehem and see.” They want rid of the good news of the Christmas message.

However, the world cannot shut out the words of the Angel of the LORD or the response of the heavenly armies. They can lock us down in our houses “for our own good.” They can deny passports to travel. But they cannot stop us going to Bethlehem and see the Savior born that Christmas morning. Let this be in our mind’s eye. The message of the first Christmas is our “glad tidings of great joy.” This is the global message that needs to be proclaimed rather than the message of the global “experts” who think they have the message the world needs. When the good news of the first Christmas is believed there is great joy. There is incomparable joy in heaven among the heavenly hosts. There is great joy in the church. Finally, there is great joy in the believer. The new believers like the shepherds return changed by the trip to Bethlehem.

We need this joy in a world full of great sorrow. We have had our eyes opened to a new reality. We see the Christmas star the world cannot see. The reception of the gospel comes with great joy. When the joy of the gospel slackens, let us remember this first message of Christmas. For it is not only that Christ was born in Bethlehem a long time ago. It is equally true that Christ has been born in us. We must not let the cares of this life or the deceitfulness of riches distract us on our journey. Keep looking at the Morning Star, our Lord Jesus. The world will be looking for a conjunction of planets this Christmas time which they call the “Christmas Star.” This is an unusual event astronomically speaking. But it is nothing more than an unusual occurrence. They will miss the one who came into the world to give us light.

Come see Him in a manger laid. He had no crib for a bed. He slept His first night in a mange carved out of stone. His blanket was strips of cloth. At the other end of His life on earth, he would be laid in another place carved out of stone, having been wrapped in strips of cloth. This same child who was so humbly born in a stable and laid in a manger would someday lie for three days in a rich man’s tomb. This little lamb would die as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Come behold Him! Come, let us adore Him. He is Christ our Lord who rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Behold Him at the Father’s right hand interceding for us in our sorrows. Behold, He is coming to take us to that “happy place, a place beyond all tears and sinning.” Let us join in that great hymn: “O Morning Star” by Philipp Nikolai.

O Morning Star, how fair and bright

Thou beamest forth in truth and light,

O Sovereign meek and lowly.

Thou Root of David, Jesse’s Son,

My Lord and Master, Thou hast won,

My heart to serve thee solely!

Thou art holy,

Fair and glorious, all victorious,

rich in blessing,

Rule and might o’er all possessing.

Thou heavenly Brightness! Light divine!

O deep within my heart now shine,

And make thee there an altar!

Fill me with joy and strength to be

Thy member ever joined to thee

In love that cannot falter;

Toward thee, longing,

Doth possess me, turn and bless me;

Here in sadness;

Eye and heart long for thy gladness.

What joy to know when life is past,

The Lord we love is first and last,

The end and the beginning!

He will one day, O glorious grace,

Transport us to that happy place

Beyond all tears and sinning.

Amen. Amen. Come Lord Jesus,

Fount of Gladness

We are longing

For the day of thy returning.

Let the joy of the gospel be lit within your heart or rekindled this Christmas. Amen.