“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor…” Isaiah 61:1
It was during a very quiet night in the fields somewhere around the small town of Bethlehem that “an angel of the Lord” came and stood before some shepherds who were watching over their sheep. The glory of the Lord by the light of His countenance shined so brightly that the shepherds were greatly afraid. It would only be after hearing the words of the angel that they were able to again know a great calm of soul. The angel declared unto them: “Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY which will be to ALL people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:9-11) After the angel indicated to the shepherds where this child was, “…wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger,” there was a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” From before the foundation of the world, God had foreordained this moment of humble beginnings, when His message to mankind would begin to be spread abroad to all men, and nations. God at that time would declare it to be “glad tidings of great joy.” Of what did God speak, and why did He characterize the message and the tidings as being not only “of great joy,” but also a message which communicated to mankind His peace and goodwill towards all men?
The answer to the first part of the question is that in the wisdom, eternity, and holiness of God, there would be only ONE answer to the need of fallen, helpless, and hopeless man, in the face of sin and death, Satan and judgment, and also only ONE possibility, one certainty of knowing God, of having eternal Life. God in His mercy, grace, and supreme love, would take great joy in providing for all of mankind a “way,” a “singular means” by which, salvation would come to men’s souls. The message was first of all one of revealing to mankind that there IS a God, a God of shepherds as well as kings, of simple, humble families, as well as royal dynasties. There would be no one too lowly and in need that God would not reach out to save, and no one so high and powerful that He would not seek to deliver them from their pride, so that they too might know Him. He was and is the God of all men, of every race, color, nation, and family. To all of mankind the message was proclaimed, that God in His great mercy and grace, in His selfless love, with great joy, had provided for mankind a perfect, and accessible, way to know Him, to love Him, and to bring peace to the hearts of men, and peoples and nations. But what was the power of this message? Was it just in the knowledge of the truth of the fact that a Savior had been born? No. It was in the testimony of Christ’s LIFE, the provision of a perfect work on Calvary, and the coming of the Holy Spirit to bring about a new birth in the hearts of men, a new birth whereby Jesus Christ the Lord, by His Spirit, would come and dwell in the hearts of men. What specifically did the message declare by which the power of God would be effective men’s lives?
It would declare first of all that God was holy, pure, and good. He alone could provide such a remedy for mankind. That remedy dealt completely with the all the sins of men Christ having born the penalty for them on the cross. He also dealt with the “law of sin,” that dominating principle in the sinner’s heart, overcoming it by the Law of the Spirit of Life. Christ’s victory over sin and Satan became the believer’s victory.
Dear Father, Fill us with Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.