December 25
“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,” Luke 2:8-11.
Today, Christians throughout the world will celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promises to send a Savior for all people. It marks the fulfillment of the promise that God gave to Adam and Eve after they had listened to the devil and had eaten of the forbidden fruit and brought sin into the world. Then, Scripture reports, “The Lord God said to the serpent: ‘Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel,’” Genesis 3:14-15.
The promised Seed of the woman was the virgin-born Jesus, of whom the prophet Isaiah also wrote, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel,” Isaiah 7:14. The evangelist Matthew reports that Joseph was told to take Mary as his wife, “’For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us,’” Matthew 1:20-23.
The fulfillment of the virgin-born Jesus was announced to the shepherds who were watching their flocks by night in the fields at Bethlehem. The angel of the Lord miraculously appeared to the shepherds, and they were filled with fear. Of course, when sinners are confronted with holiness, it is only natural that they are afraid.
However, the announcement of the angel was a fear-removing message: “I bring 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, which is Christ the Lord.” The shepherds were hearing a message of joy – the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Savior for all people!
We do not know what the shepherds knew about the promise of God to send a Savior, Christ the Lord. But after having heard the Good News, which was confirmed by, “The heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men!’” Luke 2:13-14, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see the fulfillment of God’s promise lying in a manger!
First, the shepherds heard the Good News of a Savior who would conquer sin, death, and the devil. Having heard, they went to see the Savior. And having seen, they rejoiced and told everyone with whom they came into contact that Jesus the Savior was born.
Friend, you and I must do the same! Having heard the message of God’s love for sinners, which was revealed in the sending of His Son who would suffer, die, and rise again to redeem us, we too must tell others, “God loves you! Jesus has saved you! Your sins are all forgiven! Rejoice! It’s Christmas Day! We are celebrating the birthday of Jesus our Savior!”
Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child, Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be, A quiet chamber kept for Thee. Amen.