Pastor's Pondering
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The Angel's Message is for Us
by Duane Mabee on December 20, 2018
The Gospel of Luke describes the first Christmas this way:
For those who are familiar with the second chapter of Luke you know that the description goes on, but I stopped at this point for a reason. We need to remember that the angel’s message to the shepherds is still God’s message for us today. God sent us His Son to be good news of great joy for all people – including you: A Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you. Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! The best news ever is that God loves us – favors us – enough to send His Son to us to be our Savior and Lord.
backIn those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son,
and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn.
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,
“Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people He favors!
(Luke 2:1-14 CSB)
So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son,
and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn.
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,
“Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people He favors!
(Luke 2:1-14 CSB)
For those who are familiar with the second chapter of Luke you know that the description goes on, but I stopped at this point for a reason. We need to remember that the angel’s message to the shepherds is still God’s message for us today. God sent us His Son to be good news of great joy for all people – including you: A Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you. Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! The best news ever is that God loves us – favors us – enough to send His Son to us to be our Savior and Lord.
