“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!'” Luke 2:13,14
The night when Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a stable, there was certainly great joy in the hearts of Mary and Joseph, for a promised child had been born to them. It must have been a quiet night for they were alone, except for perhaps the animals also in the stable. It was quiet also out in the fields which surrounded the small town of Bethlehem, with almost no one aware of what just occurred. In the blessed, sovereign economy of God, in the hidden quietness of an undisclosed stable, there was born one whom an angel would declare to be a “Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) God the Father, by the Spirit, had now intervened in the affairs of men, men who were blind, spiritually dead in their sins, having no idea of the importance of what had just occurred. The occurrence was so small, and yet, the effect of that one single event would change the world, opening up for lost mankind a door to heaven, an escape from the prison house of sin and death, to give to man access to God Himself, to know, love, and serve Him. In that blessed relationship of being justified by faith in God, made one with Christ, with all sins washed away and a new life imparted to him, man’s sole means of rising to the heights of Life in Christ would be revealed. Eventually the church, that living body of Christ, would be born, in which the great purpose of God would also be revealed, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” From the simplicity of a stable, to the heights of heaven, the message of a single Savior of the world would be proclaimed. The remarkable thing about this matter is that it cannot be explained adequately, the Eternal Father having chosen at that very moment, to bring forth His OWN Son, in love, providing for lost man an eternal hope and certainty of eternal life.
That same night, Scripture tells us that, as would usually be the case, there were shepherds living out in the fields, caring for their flocks. Again, the scene is very serene and peaceful. It must have been a very clear night, for there would appear “an angel of the Lord” revealing the shining, bright glory of the Lord all around them. They were afraid, for none had seen such a sight, nor had even heard of such an appearance. Then the angel spoke to them very clearly, with wonderful words. First, he would tell to not be afraid. The reason for this was because He brought them from God,”…good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” (Luke 2:10) There was great joy in heaven that night, as there was in the stable. Now in the fields, there also will be great joy, overwhelming joy. That joy would be called forth from a “multitude of the heavenly host,” which suddenly appeared. Their words, appearance, and unison of voice and purpose would declare: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men!” In that moment, God suddenly released the host of heaven to raise their angelic voices in perfect unity, harmony, exceeding the beauty of a glorious symphony, to reveal to men, even the lowliest of men, that the Eternal God had come in Christ to save the world. In that sudden declaration came with it the revelation of the underlying reason for it all, that God would be seen and worshipped because of His glory, that revelation of Himself. At this moment, and in this way, the eternal love of God for all men was confirmed by the sudden, glorious testimony of the Eternal God who was revealing that Christ had come, being born in the lowliest of circumstances, to lowly parents, surrounded by lowly shepherds, to save all men who would believe.
Dear Father, Come quickly to save. In Jesus’ name, Amen.