⁸ In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before 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; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹ to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth 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 heaven,  and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” Luke 2:8-14

The Son of God, the long awaited Messiah has come, and the announcement is being made to shepherds living in a field.  And these shepherds are witnesses to a multitude of the heavenly host praising G-d and saying “Glory to God in the highest and peace on the one to bring peace on earth”. This message flies in the face of the Emperor Augustus, who was widely acclaimed as the one that will bring peace.  Luke, in a sense, is making a theological as well as political statement in this one verse. And this is not a bad idea since religion and politics have been linked in many ways for thousands of years. It is the reason that the announcement to shepherds is scandalous (since they would have been considered the last people to whom a “king” would be announced) and why Herod would be seeking the death of this “so-called Messiah”.

Even if it means our own persecution or shunning, we should also make claim to our own acclamation: “Glory to G-d in heaven”. If we truly want peace in the world, I believe it will only come when we finally realize that it is only possible through the Lord.

Pastor Dave

⁵⁹ On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. ⁶⁰ But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” ⁶¹ They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” ⁶² Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. ⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. ⁶⁴ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵ Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶ All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.” John 1:59-66

It is reported that the Lord’s hand is with John.  They marvel at the events of his parents; Elizabeth who has been barren all her life, and Zechariah who is stricken mute until it is time for the child to be born.  “What then is this child going to be?”, they ask.  John will be the one to prepare the way of the Lord – who will bring a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins available to all in Jerusalem and the surrounding area.  But John will also withdraw once Jesus begins his ministry – and will be beheaded for his outspokenness against Herod.   There were those who followed John who believed he was either the Messiah, or Elijah who was to return before the Messiah. It is written in Malachi 4:5-6:  “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. ⁶ He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” There was confusion about John: who he was and his purpose for the people. He answers their questions once and for all: “There is one coming of whom I am unworthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”

Pastor Dave