The Angelic Announcement of Jesus' Birth (Luke 2:8-20)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
24 December 2023
One angel, not a host of angels, announced the birth of Jesus. All angels of God are messengers but some are archangels—leading angels. It was an archangel who announced the birth of Jesus. At the second coming of Jesus another archangel, with a loud voice, will herald the second coming.
The archangel's presence brought fear to the shepherds. When God works mightily people fear. They need to be pacified. The angel allayed these fears saying, "Do not be afraid." When Jesus appeared after his death the disciples were fearful thinking they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus said, “Peace". The Lord desires faith, not fear.
The angel spoke with precision. He announced the day, location and person who was born. The baby born in Bethlehem that day was Jesus Christ, the Saviour.
Marvel at the fact that Jesus was born. He is the eternal Son of God yet he was born into this world. This indicated his total identification with humanity. He tasted birth. He tasted death. He is one of us. He is a suitable Saviour. He is the only Saviour.
The angel's announcement brought forth loud praise from the angelic world. The things of God were hidden from angels. They desired to look into matters but God hid things from them (1 Peter 1:12). Now, however, with the announcement of Jesus' birth the angelic world understood the plan of God and irresistibly burst forth in praise.
Observe the response of the shepherds. Once their fears were removed they immediately responded. "Let us go," they said. And so they went, in response to revelation. So we must go when the Lord reveals things to us.
The shepherds were ordinary people doing their work. It was night time. Nothing seemed to be happening. We all have times our lives when nothing seems to be happening. But God is always working. In the days of Noah nothing seemed to be happening. The world continued in its violent ways. But something was happening. Noah was building an ark. God was about to judge the unsuspecting, unbelieving world. In the last days nothing will seem to be happening. Scoffers will say all things continue unchanged. But God is reserving the sinful world for judgment (2 Peter 3:3-7 ). Just as Noah was building the ark so Christ is building his church.
The shepherds were rewarded. They find Mary and Joseph. They see baby Jesus. Those who seek Jesus shall find him. Seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you.
The shepherds went everywhere proclaiming what they had experienced. The people who heard marvelled at the news. People marvelled. Mary pondered. Angels praised. It was a truly remarkable scene. The birth of Jesus touched the hearts of angels and people as no other birth has done.
The lesson for us is that the birth of Jesus brought forth praise and proclamation. Jesus is revealed to us today from the Scriptures. Believe the Bible. Believe in Jesus. Your life will be changed just as the lives of the shepherds were changed by the announcement of Jesus' birth.