Luke 2:10 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.
I’ve been involved with a lot of school musicals over the past 35 years. There’s been some really good ones and some other ones. Occasionally, on the final night of performance week, something unexpected (and unwanted) occurs. One of the students will take it into their heads that they might really know better than the playwright and they add or change lines. I’m sure they always think it’s going to make the play even better. It never does!
On a quiet hillside near Bethlehem about 2021 years ago, an angel appeared to a group of shepherds. Though the angel is not referred to in this way in the Scripture verse, he is, as the song states, a ‘herald’ angel’. A herald is a throwback to the days of kings and queens. The herald is the king’s spokesman. It’s probably more accurate to call him the king’s mouthpiece. For the herald does not utter his own opinions. His job is to say what he’s been told tot say and nothing else.
This angel is a herald angel for the King of the Universe: God. And what does God want these shepherds to know? “Don’t be afraid. Good news of great joy!” Jesus often went around telling people “fear not.” They’re His words.
We are weak and our natural inclination, often, is to be afraid. God sends His words: fear not. We think, sometimes, that God is angry with us. That He’s watching, hoping to ‘catch us’. God sends His words: Good news of great joy!
What could be the cause of the great joy? Presents? Family? Food? Health? Peace? These things may bring a measure of joy, but the great joy that the shepherds were told of was that Jesus Christ was born. Born, specifically to save us from our sins. That’s really good news of great joy! For no one else could do that! We might work harder and have money to buy nice presents and good food. We might be blessed with good family. We might live in a time of relative peace. I might be naturally healthy.
But Jesus didn’t come so that I wouldn’t have pain. He didn’t come to heal me of cancer, covid, or a cold. He didn’t come so that my family might all get along or that I just might live in peace. He came to save us from our sins. When Jesus saves me from my sins, I have true joy. Exceeding joy. That joy, unlike any of the other things we think bring us joy, will not be taken away. That joy is eternal. That joy is offered, if they will accept it, to all mankind.
blessings,
Pastor Russ
