THURSDAY
This week we are looking at the scene of the angels and the shepherds. God is worshipped in the highest heaven and the earth below. He is to be worshipped by all creatures from the greatest to the least. Today, let’s look at the content of the angel’s message and see, in part, why he is to be worshipped.
Luke 2:8-11 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
The first angel comes with an announcement—the birth of the Messiah is "good news that will cause great joy for all the people." This should be a welcome reprieve for us today, as most of our news is bad news that causes fear, anxiety and anger that pits some against others. The Greek word for "good news" is the word "euangalion,” meaning “gospel.” This is the type of announcement that one would hear when a king comes to power or his birthday comes around or he was victorious in war. This is a royal declaration, as the next line will confirm. Jesus is said to be Savior, Messiah, and Lord (cf. Isa. 40:9; 52:7). These are all kingly terms. This good news, however, is far greater than a king’s victory. It is the good news of God visiting humanity to redeem humanity and all creation (Lk 1:68). This is some really good news!
The angel goes on to declare that this good news that will cause joy will be for "all the people." This, in its original hearing, likely would have been understood to be referring to all the people of Israel. But, as Luke develops this theme in the life of Jesus through his gospel and the apostles in book of Acts, we see this theme extending out to all the nations of the earth. This announcement is likely signifying the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham to bless all peoples on earth through him (Gen. 12:3). Wherever this gospel that brings joy will go, followers of Jesus will strive to make this world a better place. Ultimately this blessing will be fully realized at the second coming of Jesus and full establishment of his kingdom.
Caesar’s “good news” of a military victory would bring joy for the Romans, but fear and anxiety, death and subjugation for the defeated peoples. The angel’s good news, by contrast, is news that will cause joy for all people. The news of God redeeming his creation and filling it with his goodness is indeed cause for joy for all people. This should inspire our worship.
This announcement is good news of great joy for all the people precisely because of the identity of the child. The angel isn’t very cryptic in his announcement to the shepherds. He tells them directly the identity of the baby. He is the Savior, Messiah and Lord.
Jesus is the Savior. We will revisit this theme of salvation later in this series, but for now this term would have brought up thoughts of the Exodus where Israel was delivered from slavery and bondage in Egypt. This was God’s greatest act of power and salvation in Israel’s history. The salvation that God will bring through Jesus, however, is greater yet. It is a salvation from sin and death.
The figure of the Messiah in Jewish thought was to be a kingly figure. He was to have the throne of David, restore the kingdom to its glorious state, and overthrow any oppressive forces. These misunderstandings caused great tensions throughout Jesus' ministry. Yet, in Jesus' ministry, he came to not only as a fulfillment of all the Messianic promises of the Old Testament but as something far greater than the Jews of the first century imagined. The Messiah would be God himself; his kingdom would be a spiritual kingdom; it would be eternal and expand to all creation.
Finally, Jesus is said to be "the Lord.” This term can generally refer simply to one in authority, but the Old Testament context of it is far more rich. In Hebrew the personal name of God, YAHWEH, was considered too sacred to pronounce. So the people would use the term ’aḏōnāy (my Lord) instead. In your Old Testament Bible, when you see "LORD" it is the personal name of God. When you read "Lord" it is ’aḏōnāy. With that context in mind, the reference to the Lord could be referring to the divinity of Jesus or simply to his office of authority and power. If it is the former, which I think more likely, it would be used in the same way Zechariah uses it in verse 68 in reference to YAHWEH:
Luke 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
The glorious identity of Jesus is another way that we see the dichotomy between humility and glory. Darrell Bock puts it well, "The contrast between the birth’s commonness and the child’s greatness could not be greater." Jesus is born in such a humble manner; his birth is announced to humble people; yet he is the Savior, Messiah and Lord.
Reflection
Reflect on the message of the gospel. Do you perceive of it as “good news that will cause great joy for all the people”? Or has it become something else? Has it become a story that you’ve grown so familiar with that you feel indifferent to it? Has it merely become a weapon of the culture war to “keep Christ in Christmas”? Or is it still this glorious redemption story that brings you great joy and you love to share so that others will experience great joy as well?
Spend some time reflecting on the three aspects of Jesus’ identity. He is the Savior, Messiah and Lord. How do these three terms enrich your worship of him? Employ them in your prayers and private worship today.