God prepared for the coming of the Messiah for hundreds and thousands of years. He told prophets of old the details of the fact, time, and nature of the Savior’s birth. They were given details of His nativity and early years.
- Bethlehem, the city of David was to be the place of His birth, Numbers 24:17, 19; Micah 5:2.
- Kings would come and worship him and bring gifts of gold and incense, Psalm 72:10, 15; Isaiah 60:3, 6.
- Around the time of His birth, lamentation and bitter weeping would be heard because their children were no more, Jeremiah 31:15.
- Prophets said God would call His Son out of Egypt, Hosea 11:1.
- They were shown what His mission and purpose would be.
- Every aspect of His life was laid out with explicit detail so that when He appeared there would be no doubt that He was the Christ.
After being given the details of His coming, birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection, around 400 B.C. God became silent.
- During those silent years, there was no adequate testimony of God.
- The world experienced the rise and fall of many empires during those dark days.
- Around 539 B.C., King Cyrus gave an edict to rebuild the Temple.
- Under Babylonian authority, Zerubbabel completed the rebuilding of a modest Temple.
- By 445 B.C. Nehemiah had repaired the walls of Jerusalem but nothing happened that was a testimony of God’s presence.
- Around 167 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes polluted the temple by erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing swine on the altar.
- Three years later it was rededicated and ultimately Herod had the Temple rebuilt.
Just before the announcement of Christ’s birth, the angel Gabriel was sent to Zacharias to tell him that he and Elizabeth would have a child.
That child would be the forerunner of the Christ and would turn many to the Lord their God.
Six months after Elizabeth had conceived, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the city of Galilee, to Nazareth, to a virgin named Mary.
Luke 1:28-32 NKJV And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.”
Luke 1:34-35 NKJV Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Then Gabriel told Mary that her relative Elizabeth, who was barren, has conceived a son in her old age. “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Luke 1:38 NKJV Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
In those days, Mary went into the hill country to the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby within her womb leaped and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all should be registered and a census took place.
Mary and Joseph went up to Bethlehem to be registered since they were of the house and lineage of David. While they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn Son, wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger. While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, God sent a heavenly host to a group of shepherds, who were watching their flocks at night.
Luke 2:10-14 NKJV 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. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
The angels’ message to the shepherds is exactly what the world needs to hear today.
Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, mankind needed to hear this message of lasting peace and joy. What God was giving is the solution for the curse and distresses of sin.
The angel’s proclamation addressed three areas of great need.
- First, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”
- Second, “For there is born to you this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
- Third, “On earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
These three phrases are connected.
“Joy, peace and goodwill” depended on “Christ the Savior is come.” The answer for humanity and for your life is: “There is born to you this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
A Savior is born is good tidings of great joy.
The angelic message is good news directly from heaven. From heaven’s point of view, this message will bring great joy to the entire world.
Joy to the world, the Lord has come.
Tell somebody – “God has given you great joy.” This was such a wonderful declaration that the angels sang “glory to God in the highest.” There are many types of good messages and different qualities of joy. This message is extremely good news of great joy.
God has given this child to you.
This is the deepest expression of God’s love. “God so loved that He gave His only Son.”Jesus Christ the Lord is born.
Biblically, many things bring joy.
- 1 Chronicles 15, Israel rejoiced when the ark was restored.
The ark of the covenant was a testimony of God’s abiding presence. It had been taken by the Philistines in war. David and all the hosts of Israel rejoiced when the ark was restored.
- Ezra 3, the people rejoiced and celebrated with great joy when the foundation of the House of the Lord was laid.
The temple had been destroyed and God’s people had suffered greatly. Zerubbabel, Jeshua, the priests and Levites came together to rebuild the temple. When the foundation of the house was laid, the people shouted with a great shout, “The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever.”
- In Psalms 98, they sang a new song of joy over victory the Lord gave.
- In Psalms 30:5, when David had been healed, He said, “Weeping may endure for a night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.”
- In Psalms 92:4, the psalmist said, “You make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of Your hands.”
- Isaiah 12:3, says with joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation.
The angel’s announcement was a proclamation of the greatest joy that can be found.
This was the greatest message that angels could bring. Their declaration affect the whole earth.
Your Savior is born.
God had searched through earth for some man who would be able to intercede and deliver mankind from sin. No one was able to help and there was no hope and no savior.
There was no peace for the troubled soul. There was no rest for the weary and no joy for our sorrow.
The angel’s message is a declaration that a new day of hope, peace, and joy has arrived.
Salvation has come. The Healer is on the scene. The Curse Breaker was born. The Joy of the whole world had arisen. Jesus Christ is born.
They said: “A Savior is born”… “On earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
When the angels made this declaration, there had been no peace on earth. The angels sang about something more enduring than a temporary pause from war. Within 70 years, one of the bloodiest battles in history took place where the angels sang to the shepherds.
What exactly were the angels singing about?
They were not singing about a transient peace that is lost when the next war or rumor of war arises. They sang about a peace that hatred, strife, murder, and terrorism cannot take away.
They sang about the Prince of Peace Who would bring a dramatic change to the history of the world.
In John 14:27Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
The Bible mentions peace 429 times.
There are many philosophies on how to find peace.
God has provided the only true peace.
When declaring the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior, the heavenly host sang about “Peace on earth.” Jesus Christ is OUR PEACE. The Child born in a stable in Bethlehem is our Peace. He provides peace for our souls. His peace stills every strong attack against us. His peace brings quietness to raging seas and inner turmoil. His peace calms all fear. His peace is for all who believe in Him.
This PEACE came down from the Father above.
In Christ Jesus, our peace is secure. There is no hope for PEACE if it does not include Him. His peace abides. His peace brings calm to a troubled home. His peace will calm the troubled mind. He gives peace.
The angels were drawing attention to the Baby in the manger.
They were declaring: “Look, here is peace.” It is inconceivable that a baby could bring peace. The reason for peace is found in Who He is and what He does.
“For there is born to you this day a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.”
Isaiah 7:14 said: “He is IMMANUEL” – God with us. Then Isaiah 9:6 said: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
The angels were saying your Peace and Joy has come.
He has come to break the power of your sins. He will lift and bear away your burdens.
He will heal your sick and dying body. He will conquer every evil foe. He will save your hell-bound soul. He will give you hope for eternity in heaven with God.
JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD HAS COME !
