Luke’s Gospel chapter 2:8-14 reads, “ 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 clothes, 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!”
That says it all. That’s the Christmas truth, nothing more, nothing less, but the absolute truth.
In this verse we see at least two timeless, living truths, firstly we have, “good news of great joy for all people” and secondly, “unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Why is this good news for you today? This event fulfils Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 9:2-7), “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.”
God has become flesh and blood! God incarnate deity! Christmas reveals to us that nothing is impossible with God.
We cannot explain how the creator of all things would come and encase Himself in Mary’s womb and be laid in a little manger in Bethlehem. But it has happened. What great news for us today! What a great relevant message: salvation has come to you in the person of Jesus Christ, the hope of the ages.
So it was not a silent night when the angels sang the timeless message which echoed down through the ages that Jesus, the Messiah has come to us.
Let us join in the song the angels sang of unspeakable joy, hope, love and peace of God.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Gerald Bradbury is the pastor at CenterPoint Church
