God’s Good News!

When you have good news, whom do you share it with? Family, friends, co-workers and, in some cases, church members? Who were told about the soon birth of the Messiah? The people of Nazareth, the city Joseph and Mary were from? No. As far as their community was concerned Joseph was the father. The religious leaders? No. Who were the first hear the exciting news beside Elizabeth and Zacharias? Shepherds and wise men.

The shepherds were in the fields, tending their sheep at night when suddenly an angel appeared before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid.  The angel told them not to be afraid. He was there to, “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 cloths, lying in a manger.”

A multitude of angels joined him and praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 

When the angels left, the shepherds, filled with wonder and excitement, said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” With haste, they went to the manger where Joseph, Mary and the Babe were. When they saw Jesus, they told those present what the angels told them about the Child and they marveled.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them (Luke 2:8-20).

I would have loved to be there with the shepherds, seeing the angels in their glory, praising God for sending His beloved Son into the world to save His people from their sins.

God revealed the soon birth of His Son to wise men from the East. They traveled a long way to Jerusalem, following the star. They inquired,  “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” What was good news for them was troubling news for king Herod and all Jerusalem.

Herod called the chief priests and scribes and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They told him that He was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea and then proceeded to quote Micah 5:2 which says:

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’

Herod secretly called the wise men and determined the time the star appeared and he sent them to Bethlehem, telling them to, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” Of course, as we will later learn, he had no intention of worshiping this new King of the Jews.

The wise men left and went merrily on their way until they came to the house over which the star stood still. They went in, saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Why didn’t the religious leaders rejoice that the prophecy of Micah which they knew by heart had come to pass? It’s understandable why Herod was troubled. He saw this new King as a threat. But, what was religious leaders’ excuse. Why was His birth so troubling to them? It was because the true Light has come into the world.

We have every reason to rejoice. God loved us so much that He sent His beloved Son into the world so that whosoever believes in Him would have everlasting life. That glorious night God’s Gift of salvation came into the world. This Christmas season, I encourage you to share with others this precious Gift who was wrapped in God’s love.

Image by Peakpx

Merry Christmas, Everyone. May the love of God and the peace of Christ and the comfort of the Holy Spirit warm your hearts and homes.