Sunday Devotional: Luke 2:10

And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for I proclaim good news to you, a great joy which is to be for all the people.”

The night that Jesus was born, some shepherds in a nearby field were visited by an angelic host. We’ve read and heard the story so often it’s easy to take for granted what a truly fearful event that must have been. It’s with good reason the angel says “Do not be afraid!” I think most of us would be somewhat startled if this happened to us.

Another reason we might not think too much of the angelic visitation is because we have developed a secular skepticism when it comes to the supernatural. Things like this don’t really happen. Angels are part of ancient myth which we, with our 21st century sophistication, have no need for any more. That’s what our culture tells us.

Granted, manifestations of the supernatural like this are not commonplace. Indeed, they haven’t been commonplace for a very long time, not since the Tower of Babel. That’s why Israel marveled at the parting of the Red Sea. Why the prophets of Baal trembled when Elijah’s soaking wet pile of wood caught fire. And why Peter, James, and John were lost for words when Jesus was transfigured before their eyes. The shepherds had never seen anything like this before, so they were quaking in their shoes.

The fact supernatural manifestations are not an everyday occurrence is not a reason to dismiss them. If you are a Christian, you already believe in the supernatural. There is no reason why the Lord could not send a host of angels to proclaim good news to the shepherds. If your worldview has no place for the supernatural, then of course you will have no time for such things. If your worldview only has room for things you can feel, see, and explain, then you will have a hard time with a lot of other things you take for granted like love, reason, justice, and truth. But we can talk about that another time.

Let’s turn to the angelic message. This is the very first gospel proclamation in the New Testament, since the verb used in the Greek is euangelizomai, from which we get the English word “evangelize”–to preach the gospel. The angel is preaching good news, the gospel, to the shepherds. He will go on to say in verse 11 that the core of the good news message is the birth of the Savior, the Christ, the Lord. The long-expected Messiah has come.

Don’t miss this vital truth: the good news is a great joy for all the people. Not just for the Jews. The promise of the Christ, or the Messiah, comes from the Old Testament. However, the Messiah is not just the Savior of the Jewish people. Rather, this Messiah, Savior, and Lord is “great joy” for all the people–Jew and non-Jew. The Lord originally promised to make Abraham the father of a multitude of nations. From the very beginning, God intended His people to be scattered throughout the world, starting with the nation of Israel. The birth of Jesus is in fulfillment of this promise. It is through Jesus that all are reconciled to God, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, or social status.

If you’ve ever wondered why God chose to bless a group of shepherds on a hill with this announcement, consider that fact. Note that God also called magi from the East who came with expensive gifts. Rich and poor, exalted and lowly, Jew and non-Jew, all are welcome to kneel and worship Christ the Savior.

And that includes you!

May you have a blessed and wonderful Christmas.