Tidings of Great Joy

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:8-14

Good News

In these verses we have the most joyful message that was ever proclaimed to man. The angel appeared to the humble shepherds to tell them that none other than the Savior of the world had been born. This wondrous child was the long expected Messiah, promised in Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” He was God in the flesh!

When the angel announced the birth of Jesus, he declared himself to be the bearer of  “good news of great joy” and these glad tidings were immediately repeated and confirmed by a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.” The gospel, properly speaking, and in its own words, simply means glad tidings. “Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy;” the original expression is, “This is a gospel of great joy.”

Through the long, dark, weary ages man had been groaning in captivity to the tyrant powers of sin. He was incapable of saving himself. He  needed a deliverer. He needed a Savior. He needed good news. God had sent prophets many times to herald the coming Messiah. When the world was at its darkest, He sent his Son. “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” Hebrews 1:1,2

When our blessed Lord began His public ministry, He came proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The prophet Isaiah spoke of a Messenger who would publish good tidings to mankind. The Lord Jesus Christ is undoubtedly that Messenger.

The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,”The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:17-21

Isaiah is the fullest revelation of Christ in the Old Testament—so much so, that it is often called “the gospel (good news) according to Isaiah.” A wonderful reference to the Lord is found in Isaiah 52:7. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Never were feet so beautiful as those of the Lord Jesus.

I’m going to end this post by quoting pastor John Munro. I think his words will help you understand the greatest Christmas gift that has ever been given to mankind.

Although Jesus was truly a man, at His glorious birth He did not cease to be God. In Jesus Christ, the true light of the world comes, and His followers see “his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This glory is manifested against the darkness of our sin and rebellion. We are held captive in a prison by sin. We are in a dark pit whose walls are so high that we cannot possibly climb out. We are all in the same darkness. We cannot help one another. But Christmas reminds us that in Jesus the Light of the world has come into our prison. “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16). When Jesus comes He does not come to judge or to condemn, but to save (John 3:17). Jesus means Savior, Rescuer and Deliverer. This is what His glorious birth is all about: He comes to “save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). John Munro

Be sure to read the rest of John Munro’s article-The Glorious Birth of Jesus Christ. “It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. These should be glad tidings to all.” (Matthew Henry)