Good Tidings of Great Joy to All People!

Luke 2:7–20 NKJV

7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

There Was No Room For Them in the Inn

Mary, the mother of the savoir of all the world, who was blessed among women, had to give birth in a manger.

“becasue” there was no room for then in the inn.

Imagine all the people that there was room for in the inn

Those who could afford it

those who were popular

How many of them would have gladly given their room, had they known who it was being born

There were probably people celebrating. Others on business, others visiting relatives

So focused on their own lives, they didn’t have any room in their thoughts or lives for this young girl giving birth

Not that they didn’t care, they just didn’t think about her at all

How many people are missing the signs today - having no room for Jesus in their hearts

It is not that they are against Him, or have rejected Him, they just don’t have room to think about Him at all.

The First Noel

The first Christmas song, was to these certain poor shepherds

Not to the rich

not to the famous

nor the powerful, or popular

Not even to the religious or pious

But to these common, ordinary people, who were simply doing what they were supposed to be doing at that time.

To them, the greatest news ever told was first revealed!

Good Tidings of Great Joy!

The message of Jesus Christ is Good News

In fact, it is the best news that was ever reported in the history of the world

We have a Savoir! Christ The Lord!

How Wonderful!

We were lost, without hope

desperately trying to satisfy God through the blood of bulls and goats, which could never take away sins, if we tried at all.

Yet, falling short, and forever condemned.

separated from God, and from faith, and miracles, and the abundant life we have through Him.

No other event in history has even come close to changing the world as much as this news has.

This was indeed Good tidings of great joy

I wonder if we have forgotten that in today’s Christian, selfian culture

has the glory of this news been lost in the traditions of self serving ritual?

Are we more mindful of the Christmas parties, gift exchanges, family get togethers, bonuses, holiday pay, and vacation time, than we are in the glorious message itself?

Jesus Christ is born!

We should still go shout it on a mountain!

We should still be coming to adore Him.

We should all hail the power of Jesus Name, as Angels prostrate fall...

He is the royal diadem, now crowned Lord of All!

Great Joy to All People

Not only was this good news, but it was to all people

Oh how we need to publish and repeat this in these days of division and separation.

This was not only news for the Jews - even though many left becasue of that

Nor was it only for the Gentiles

Not for any race, or nation

But to every kindred and tongue and nation and people!

So many cults in these days are trying to distort this message, and include only themselves tot he exclusion of others -

based in foolish pride, or bigotry, or prejudice, their err to their own exclusion

But the message of Jesus is for all people

Not only all races and cultures of that time...

But to all people of all times

It will never lose its power -

The Name of Jesus - the birth of Christ - should be celebrated by all of us today

This is good news for you today!, and for everyone who hears and believes -

Though the methods to publish it may change, the message will never change, never be updated, never be outdated, the good news truly is to all people forever.

They Made Widely Known The Saying

These shepherds were worth the angels trip to share the news with them

Because they did not keep it to themselves

the did not enjoy the blessing and then ignore it....

Instead, the let the whole world know!

The Bible says they returned: glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen!

It glorifies God when we are so excited about what we have heard and seen that we have to tell someone

It glorifies God when we are moved to share His glory with the world.

These shepherds, these ordinary people, were so excited that they could not help themselves, they made the news widely known

When was the last time you were so excited about Jesus, or what He did for you, or your family, that you even thought at all about making others know?

In fact, most Christians now have come to believe that lie that our faith is supposed to be a private thing, only to be mentioned if we are asked about it

almost like the “don’t ask, don’t tell policies

It is not politically correct to ask people about their faith, and it is not politically correct to tell people about yours if you have not been asked… what a lie from the pit of hell.

This is good news of great joy to all people… lets tell it!

Go Tell It On a Mountain