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Luke 2:8-20
Let me invite you to take your copy of God’s Word and turn with me to Luke 2. We read the first 7 verses last week when we considered Bethlehem’s Light of salvation in the darkness of oppression. This week we’re going to be reading the next 13 verses – some of the most familiar and happy words of Christmas – as we consider Bethlehem’s Light of joy in the midst of fear. So follow along with me as I read:
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
I want to begin this morning by just breaking down verse 11 for us. It was a real day. “For unto you is born this day…”. It happened on a day. A day in history. Not a day in some mythological, imaginary story, but a day when “Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome and Quirinius was governor of Syria” (vss. 1-2).
It was a day planned in eternity before the creation of the world. Indeed, the whole universe – with untold light-years of space and billions of galaxies – was created and made glorious for this day and what it means for human history. The Apostle Paul would write these words concerning this day, “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16).
It happened on a day. The perfect day. In the fullness of time. The perfect time appointed by God before the foundation of the world.
But it was also a real city, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David…” It happened in a city. Not in Narnia. Not in Middle Earth. Not in a galaxy far far away. It happened in a city about 6,000 miles from Greenville. The city still exists today. It’s a real city named Bethlehem.
Verses 4 and 15 both confirm that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, approximately six miles from Jerusalem. Bethlehem, the city where Jesse lived, the father of David – the great king of Israel. Bethlehem, the city that Micah prophesied over saying, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2).
It happened on a real day, and it happened in a real city. A real city, just like Greenville, Greer or Landrum.
And the child that was born there was Savior, Messiah, and Lord. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior…” A Savior. If you’ve ever sinned against God you need a Savior. In Matthew’s gospel, the angel said to Joseph, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
Only God can forgive sins against God. That’s why God sent the eternal Son of God into the world, because Jesus is God. That’s why Jesus said, “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6). So, a Savior was born.
But He’s more than just the Savior. He’s also Christ. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ…” Christ is the English for Christos, which means “anointed one,” which is the meaning of “Messiah” (John 1:41; 4:25). This is the long-predicted, long-awaited, anointed one above all others (Psalm 45:7). The final anointed King. The final anointed Prophet. The final anointed Priest.
In Him all the promises of God are yes! (2 Corinthians 1:20). He would fulfill all the hopes and dreams of godly Israel. And more, vastly more. Because He is also “the Lord.” “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
He’s the Lord, the ruler, the sovereign, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Lord of the universe. The prophet Isaiah would put it like this, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). So, He’s Savior, Christ and Lord.
Finally, notice that one angel can bring the news, but it’s not sufficient for one angel to respond to the news, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host [army!] praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2:13–14). So, I exult with you today that we have a great Savior, one who is Christ and Lord, one who was born on a real day in a real city to save us from our real sins. Bethlehem’s Light is the light of joy (amen?).
On these Sundays, we’ve been thinking together about the theme: Bethlehem’s Light. Today, I want us to focus our attention on the fact that the light of joy shines even in the darkness of fear. As Phillips Brooks’ great hymn, O Little Town of Bethlehem tells us, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
This is why Christmas is always such good news for us. It has this great message for us, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Because this one child was born, we can face all our fears. We all have fears, in one form or another, at one time or another, in one way or another. Even in the darkness of fear, the light of joy still shines.
LET THE LIGHT OF JOY BE A SURPRISE
Luke tells us there were shepherds out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks. Luke writes, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.”
Just outside Bethlehem, about 1.5 miles away is the Shepherd’s Field. It’s a vast pasture area still today, where the winter rains cause grass to grow. Shepherds still take their sheep there to feed. You can stand down there in those fields and see Bethlehem out in the distance. And in that place, the shepherds were surprised as “the glory of the Lord shone around them.”
Reminds me of the preacher that went to see one of the families in his church. He was met at the door by a six-year-old boy who said, “Preacher, am I glad to see you. I have some good news. Daddy and I are taking mama to the hospital to get a baby. But don’t tell her about it. We want it to be a surprise.”
Sometimes, the things we plan with the greatest detail turn out to be a surprise. I suppose our problem is we think we have to plan it all; even life’s surprises. Maybe what we should do instead is stand back, catch our breath for a moment and let the glory of the Lord shine on us.
Maybe we could dare to do that – open our lives up to a surprise by God and let God shine His light of joy on us, especially in those times when, like the shepherds, we’re afraid. That’s when we need to be surprised most of all. In the darkness of fear, let the light of joy shine on you.
LET THE LIGHT OF JOY GIVE YOU COURAGE
This was the message that the angel gave the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Did you get that? Don’t be afraid. Why? Because good news of great joy has come to all people. It doesn’t read, “Be not afraid… instead, be courageous, be brave, be strong.” None of these human qualities are the antidote of fear. The antidote of fear, the cure of fear, is joy. The joy of Christmas will keep you from being afraid.
Armed with Bethlehem’s Light – the light of joy shining around us – we can stand against anything and everything which would threaten us.
Bethany Hamilton is probably best known as the surfer that survived a shark attack leaving her without her left arm. She ultimately returned to professional surfing and wrote about her experience in the 2004 autobiography Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. In that book she says, “Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.”
In December 1944, in the Ardennes forest outside a little Belgian town known as Bastonge, the German army surrounded the 101st Airborne. On December 22, the American troops were sent an ultimatum from the German forces outside of the town, demanding “the honorable surrender” of the town within two hours. Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe sent a brief and succinct reply: a one-word message, “Nuts!” It was one of the greatest responses of military history.
That’s the message of Christmas for every Herod and every heartache and every hatred and every hardship and everything that seeks to destroy you – “Nuts!” Or, as the angel put it, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
In the darkness of fear, let the light of joy give you courage.
LET THE LIGHT OF JOY ENABLE YOU TO ACCEPT THE GIFT
We’re back to where we started. The angel told the shepherds, “To you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The Savior is for you.
One of the great hymns of this season is by Isaac Watts – Joy To the World. In that song we sing these words, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King.” Would we let that sink in for a moment? Just let the words of that familiar tune settle over your heart and mind: joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King.
Jesus is the light of the world. He’s the light of joy. This is your best gift at Christmas. He has come to save you, to redeem you, to pardon you, to restore you to a right and holy relationship with God the Father.
This is why in the darkness of fear the light of joy still shines on us. It’s a joy which casts out all fear – even the fear of our own death. Would you accept this gift this Christmas?
Sometimes, it is easy for us to give a gift, but not as easy to accept one. We’re gracious givers, but sometimes we’re not gracious receivers. A gift comes to us out of the love of the other person, and not because we deserve it or earn it. That’s why it’s a gift.
Christmas is a gift. The light of joy is a gift. Our Savior, Christ the Lord, is a gift. And because of this gift, we can stand against, above, and even in the midst of, the darkness of fear. But we have to receive Him.
Would you accept the gift of Christmas joy, the gift of Christ the Lord, the gift of a Savior? If you would, you would then be able to face all that life brings your way. In the darkness of fear, Bethlehem’s Light still shines.