“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”
When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.” Luke 2:8-20 (NASB)
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)
I’ve read this account of the birth of Jesus more times than I can count throughout the years. I’ve known it as a passage about the birth of a Savior, the Messiah, being revealed to lowly shepherds through the angels. Ordinary shepherds encountering the divine. I can only imagine how bearing witness to this would have changed their lives forever.
But it wasn’t until this year, that I sat with Jesus and let Him reveal the personal nature of this passage. This message was not just for the shepherds, not just for others, but also for me. This is “Good news of great joy…(for YOU, Amy)…there has been born FOR YOU a Savior… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased. It’s much easier to give, do, and perform than it is to just be, receive, and humbly accept a gift, especially when it’s one we don’t deserve and can’t match even with our best efforts. Jesus was born a Savior for me. I am one of the “people with whom He is pleased.”
As we close this Advent season, imagine if we lived and walked as though we believed this message was for us. Jesus was born as Savior for YOU. He is pleased in you, takes delight in you with gladness, with His love He calms our fears, and rejoices over you with joyful songs. Our lives, like the shepherds would be changed forever. We would witness firsthand the good news of great joy the angels proclaimed and want to proclaim His light, life, and healing He brings with every person we encounter.
“Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings;
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king”
1. Do I believe Jesus was born a Savior for me? Do I believe He delights in me with gladness and rejoices over me with joyful songs? If not, why do I struggle to believe it?
2. Where do I need His love to calm my fears?
Jesus, thank you for coming near, for being a Savior for me, especially me. I often struggle with receiving your delight and pleasure in me because of all of the ways I know I continually fall short. And yet, that’s why it is such “good news of great joy” because you paid a debt we could never fulfill, allowing God and sinners to be reconciled, bringing your kingdom to earth and wholeness to our brokenness. May we be like the shepherds that first Christmas, who couldn’t help but share with everyone what they had seen and experienced in Jesus. May we walk as though we believe that we truly are Your beloved, and allow Your pleasure to radiate from our very beings. Amen.