Unto Us (2)

We are the Reason

Luke 2:8–14 NKJV

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 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. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!”

Every Christmas we remember and even the recite the verses above as year adfter year go passing by

Did you ever stop to consider the importance of the message given that day?

Luke 2:10 NKJV

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.

The angles bring “good tidings” the Hebrew is the announcing of a son

It speaks of a messenger who brings news of victory from the battle front!

News that could be assured of as a matter of fact!

But many such announcements were made in the past

What is so different about this one?

The message that days was that the plan to redeem man was about to unfold and the victory secured!

From that moment until today, the news of the birth of this Son would be proclaimed to the ends of the earth!

It wasn’t simply news that they were hearing, connected to the news was the expectation that a great victory of Yahweh was in motion!

Isaiah 52:7 NKJV

How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

It isn’t simply a hope that things would get better but a proclamation that the salvation of God WILL come into effect!

I love the verse in Psalm 68:11

Psalm 68:11 NKJV

The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it:

It was also the messenger announcing the news of an approaching wedding

My friends there is a wedding day approaching and we are the waiting bride!

Revelation 22:17 NKJV

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Ephesians 5:25–27 NKJV

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

We see Christ as the husband of the bride (the church) those whose garments have been cleansed by His blood!

All of this wrapped up in a single verse in the Bible

Luke 2:11 NKJV

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

It was “unto you” personal, direct, intimate in purpose and focused in mission!

There is no ulterior motives of secret gain for this Savior, just a road of suffering for the lost

Isaiah 61:1 NKJV

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Jesus read from this in temple one day after returning from the wilderness!

Luke 4:16–22 NKJV

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

When John the Baptist sent word to know if Jesus was the promised one, the answer was clear

Matthew 11:2–6 NKJV

And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

The key though is that the message is “unto you”

Its personal, piercing, its life-changing!

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Hebrews 12:1–2 NKJV

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The message also said “which will be to all people”

There isn’t a soul on earth that the grace of God is not available

No race, nationality, sin or rebellious spirit that His love cannot change

For unto you…whoever YOU are! He is ready, how about you?

re you ready to end the war with God in your life?

Are you ready to lay down your pride and surrender to the One who died for you?

Today you can have great joy if you would only but hear the words of the angle

“for unto has been born a Savior!”