Christmas: Good News, Joy, Peace & Hope
Yes, today is good news because today we celebrate Jesus’ birth. In the account in Luke 2, it documents at powerful celebration that we can model every year at Christmas. An angel appeared to shepherds in a nearby field, announcing a profound message of hope that even today, 2,000 years later, we can receive.
IT IS GOOD NEWS
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
Luke 2:9-11
The angel announced good news, a reference to a familiar phrase prophesied in the Old Testament of the good news of God’s reaffirmed favor to the Israelites. (Isaiah 40, 52, 61) This time, the angel announced good news that will bring great joy to all people. Jesus’s birth was meant for all, not just a select group. This message the angel brought applies even today to you and me. The news of Jesus’ birth is meant to bring us great joy! Because Jesus was born, God chose to come and become a man for the sake of redemption and to bring us freedom. God came and was born a baby, choosing to come in the middle of humanity’s darkness and bring a great light. (Isaiah 9) He became “God with us.” The Savior, Messiah, Lord was born a baby. What a mystery yet cause for great celebration for mankind!
OUR VERY PEACE
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
Luke 2:13-14
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
After this announcement came came from the angel, the armies of heaven suddenly appeared in the sky around this angel, as if in their own spontaneous celebration of the news. Imagine the sight to those shepherds witnessing this moment. And yet this celebration from the angels model the celebration we should all take part in. They declare peace is now on earth, the very Prince of Peace. And that God is well pleased, giving God the glory He deserves in the midst of the greatest moments in history.
REMEMBER THIS
It’s always been good news and today demonstrates to us like no other God’s attitude and love for us. God deeply loves us and is well pleased. There is peace on earth that we all can experience, there is great joy and celebration. And there is hope. Hope that we can experience the life Jesus died for, the very goodness of God all the days our lives.
