Advent Day 25 :: For Unto Us
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!” (Luke 2:11-14)
There was probably no doubt that today’s passage was going to be from Luke 2. It’s a pretty familiar passage. Chances are you have probably heard it once or twice this Advent season, along with passages from Isaiah 9, Micah 5, John 1, and perhaps even Colossians 1. The more I tried to think of a different passage to end with, I believe it is fitting to end with Luke 2:11-14.
We have heard it many times before. Pastor Bob preached on it recently - watch HERE. But for a few minutes, I want you to read through the above verses SLOWLY. Take your time. Digest the details of it.
Christ was born in the city of David. An actual city that we can visit even until this day. He was born our Savior. Our Messiah. Our Rescuer. Our Redeemer. All themes that we have discussed throughout the last 25 days of Advent. Then we are hit with the beauty and significance of Christmas.
A multitude of angels sang. Not just one. The news was so grand that the heavenly court decided to send a multitude of angels. The news needed to be heard. The weight of the message of Christ’s coming needed to be felt. This wasn’t just another Amazon package being delivered. This was the One everyone was waiting for. The Messiah was born! THE MESSIAH WAS BORN! The redemptive plan of God was born. The angels came singing. This wasn’t a text message, or an email. It wasn’t a phone call or a zoom video conference. It was a multitude of angels singing. I’m reminded of the movie Elf where Buddy the Elf exclaims that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all the hear - and boy was there loud singing!
Get this. They were not singing to the Shepherds. Go back and read it. They were praising God. It was a moment of corporate worship to God for the Messiah had come! They wanted the Shepherds to join in. All mankind was to know that god was to be worshipped on that day and forevermore. Why?
Luke tells us in verse 14.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
The purpose of the now born Messiah is to bring glory to God and to bring peace to God’s people. This is the greatest purpose for the coming of Jesus Christ - glory forever ascending from man to God and peace forever descending from God to man. We are to sing forever of the glory of God and live out God’s peace wherever we go. It is the point of God’s redemptive plan. The world is to know that God is glorious above all things, and should be praised for His glory and the way that happens is through the peace-filled new creation. All who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ should live in a way that brings peace to those all themselves and in doing so brings God glory upon glory upon glory as the One who provides the peace we need through the Rescuer and Redeemer - Jesus Christ.
God sent His Son to war against the rulers and powers of this world in order that we would once again give glory and honor to God and live in peace and love towards one another. The victory has been won through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Light has come into the darkness and the darkness can not overcome it (John 1:5).
Now, this isn’t a quest to go find peace, because simply put, peace is born today. Peace is Christ himself and in receiving Him we receive peace (John 14:27; Ephesians 2:14). All we need to do is believe in order to receive Him and to receive Peace (Romans 15:13; Philippians 4:6-7).
The question now stands, how will we honor the King of kings and Lord of Lords? Will we bring Him glory? Not just today, but every day. Will we live in peace? Not just with our loved ones but also with those who it may be hard to love. In bringing God glory we honor Him and we live in peace with Him. When we live in peace with Him we are filled with the peace needed to live the same way with ourselves and with others.
In receiving Christ we will in turn do as the shepherds did (Luke 2:20), turn to glorify and give praise to God, and spread peace everywhere we go.
