# 51 2016 Dev. Lk. 2:13-14. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Luke 2:13-14
13 “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
These verses are part of the angel’s announcement of Jesus’ birth and is often read at Christmas time. It is an amazing announcement: one angel appeared to a group of shepherds. I imagine them sitting around a fire wrapped in cloaks to keep warm and discussing the day of herding or perhaps discussing the censes that Caesar Augustus ordered to be taken. The heart of the announcement is Verses 10-11: “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 thing we notice is that this event is placed in history and at a certain time of history that had great implications for the spread of the Good News (The Gospel), it was the time we now understand as “The Roman Peace” in the known world at the time.
The second observation is more difficult to understand; why was this announced to shepherds sleeping in the open with their sheep? Why is Jesus born in a stable, (probably a cave) not a very clean or attractive place? All this sets the tone of Jesus’ ministry on earth: there is no person or place that is too low in this world for Jesus to pay attention to!
This child “will cause great joy” because He is the Messiah, the savior for “all the people”That announcement tells it all but God is not finished, the Good News is the major event in all of history. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host (100,000 at least in my opinion) appeared” singing glory to God and announcing peace and God’s favor for all people. All this to humble shepherds? Why not in Jerusalem or Rome for that matter? God works in mysterious ways but one thing is clear, God begins at the bottom or the ground level of society and Jesus’ work on earth gives us some insight into God’s ways. From our place in history we see that God’s ways, who pays attention to the humble, the hurting and the fallen, are not the ways of mankind.
We read this historical event every year. The shepherds left it all and went to see and after that they spread the Good News God had given them, all who heard it were amazed.
As we celebrate this event again this year what does it mean for us? What do followers of Jesus think about: telling others the good news, living in great joy, promoting peace on earth and proclaiming God’s favor on mankind? Yes, that is God’s gift to all the people of the world! Amen and Amen.
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Heavenhigh 