Good News, Great Joy
"Fear not! Behold! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:10
Over the last month, we've been tracing the many "good news, great joy" events found in the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke. So far we've seen two divine angelic birth announcements delivered to old Zechariah and the virgin Mary; a joyous in utero encounter between John the Baptist and Jesus; observed the corporate joy of Zechariah and Elizabeth's little community as they rejoiced over John's new birth; and sung two songs of prayer and praise with Mary and Zechariah.
Our next “good news and great joy” scene occurs following Jesus’ birth in a Bethlehem stable. An angel appears to some shepherds working the night shift. The blackened sky is suddenly bright with God’s glory and the angel says, “Fear not! Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) A savior – a deliverer. Deliverance demands praise. And once again a worship song breaks out, this time from a heavenly choir. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor/grace rests.” God’s Glory and Grace meet on the Bethlehem hillside. The shepherds hurry off to see the newborn Savior. They too then glorify and praise God for everything they’ve seen and heard. Finally, "they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child."(Luke 2:17)
Author Tim Keller writing in his excellent book Hidden Christmas notes there are at least five lessons we can learn from the shepherds' "good news, great joy" angelic encounter:
They not only listened to the angel's announcement; they heard the message well and took it to heart.
They made peace with God; God and sinners are reconciled!
The shepherds conquered their initial fear. Fear often darkens and dominates our lives, but God's perfect love casts out fear.
They beheld or looked. "To the degree that we truly behold- gaze at, grasp, relish, internalize, rejoice in- the Gospel, to that degree the fears of your life will be undermined."
The shepherds moved quickly from "come and see" to "go and tell" mode.
A Savior is born! That message is still good news which brings great joy for all those who put their faith and trust in Christ. What if all of us actually heard well; made peace with God; conquered our fears; beheld, not just the babe in the manger, but the King of Kings; and moved from observing the Gospel message to proclaiming it?
This Christmas as we celebrate with family and friends, sing Christmas songs of deliverance and praise, and worship God for Who is and What He has done, may we all hear well; make peace; fear not; behold; and "go and tell" the good news of the Gospel.
Christ the Savior is born!
Merry Christmas!