"On Whom God’s Favor Rests"

The birth of Jesus was announced from heaven as “good news” by an angel to some shepherds in the field. An offering of “peace” was given by a heavenly host. Let’s examine that night and that message as we think about the birth of Jesus.

On Whom God’s Favor Rests

(Luke 2:8-15)

Intro:

A. I got up early today for some reason.  Maybe you did also.  It was a nice morning with a great breakfast and some presents under the tree.  Even more will be opened this afternoon.

B.  But I wonder what Christmas was like for the dad whose wife died and left him with young children at home.  I wonder what Christmas means to the 80 year old man in Zimbabwe who is living in a hut and knows nothing of shopping malls and Christmas trees?  I wonder what it like for the slave trade children in China and India whose “love” is not expressed in a parental manner.  Are those sobering questions for you this Christmas morning?

C.  For merchants it is the busiest time of the year.  Longer hours, hiring seasonal workers, and more profits.  For families it often means presents to one another, special holiday traditions, meals and desserts.

D.  But I read a story recently where a group of people decided to throw a party for a very special friend.  They sent out the invitations, decorated the hall, and catered the food.  At the appointed time they all came together for the big party.  The only problem was no one thought to invite the guest of honor.  I wonder if that can happen to us on any given Sunday, let alone this one in which the world calls Christmas.

E.  I think back to that special night in which Joseph and Mary spent a night in manger and there she went into labor and had a little baby boy whom they named Jesus.  But if think it was a party in which no one knew anything about, think again.  God in heaven threw his own party that night.  The incarnation of God had come to this world and God was going to announce it in a spectacular way.

I.  The Shepherds Story

A.  The birth of Jesus was told, not to kings and nobles, but to shepherds.  Have you ever wondered why the God of creation would make the greatest announcement mankind will ever hear to a group shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night?  It is not even just an announcement.  Look back our text and let’s walk through it.

B.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them.  What angel?  The Bible does not tell us. What we see is that this announcement was of such a great significance that God may have appeared also.  The wording in our Bible is that the “glory of the Lord shone around them.”  This word for glory has several levels of meaning.  But the phrase “the glory of the Lord” is special to the Hebrew.  It was the glory of the Lord that appeared as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night during the years in the wilderness.  It was the glory of the Lord that filled the temple of Solomon.  They understood this phrase to mean the presence and essence of God among men.  How these shepherd felt as both God’s glory and angel came before them.  The Bible simply states they were terrified.  What an understatement.

C.  The angel speaks to them and tells them what I want you to take home with you this Christmas morning (verse 10).  I love good news.  But it seems even this angel can’t contain the greatness of the news.  He tells them that this “good news” is going to bring great joy for all the people.

D.  So what is this good news that will bring great joy to the people?  In the town of Bethlehem a savior has been born.  He is the Christ Lord.  The one they have been waiting for was born.  The one they understood to lead them and bring them to greatness has been born.  The Messiah, the Christ, the Lord.  God among men has come but not in a way anyone expected.  So why is this great announcement told to shepherds?  Because they matter.  Because Jesus was not for just the rich, the righteous, the rulers, but because the Savior, Christ the Lord is for all the people.  Because the lowly matter, because I matter and you matter.  That is why God gives this great herald to Shepherd the night Jesus was born.

E.  The one who be called “the Good shepherd” and the “Great Shepherd” was born and it was to shepherd in the field that God brought the news.

II.  The Prince of Peace

A.  But let me tell you just a little more about this story.  As Luke continues to tell it to us he says that “suddenly, after this angel and the glory of the Lord, a great company of the heavenly host appear with the angel and they are praising God.  A “host” is a military term.  The army of God has arrived for the grand parade.

B.  To think that the birth of Jesus wasn’t that important to the heavenly realm is wrong.  Why this military term is used I don’t know, but I find it exciting.  All heaven seems to be breaking loose and the only people on earth privileged to witness it is a group of shepherds who are outcasts as far as most people are concerned.

C.  But look at the anthem that this great heavenly host say.  Glory to God in the highest.  The birth of our Lord and Savior came with glory to God.  One might think that is a big unusual.  Why glorify God instead of the baby Jesus.  But lest we forget, Jesus coming was planned from before the creation of the world.  When Paul in his doxology of Jesus speaks about his becoming flesh, Paul wrote, (Phil. 2:6-7).  The Hebrew writer would speak of the birth of Jesus (Heb. 1:6).  John, that disciple whom Jesus loved, the one that would lean upon and take care of Jesus’ mother, Mary, it is he who would pen the words of his story of Jesus beginning like this:

(John 1:1-5,10-14).  Yes, glory to God in highest.  The plan of God to redeem man had come into this world and would walk among men for 33 years.  He did so for a purpose.

D.  The last statement of the angels anthem is, “and peace on earth to men on whom his favor rests.”  Linus may quote this passage in the Charlie Brown Christmas special as what Christmas was should be all about, and he was right.  Jesus, born in manger, whose birth story was told by God through angels to shepherds.  Jesus of whom the angel would say is the good news of great joy for all the people.  The reason why, is because it is only through him can peace truly come to men.

E.  In a day filled with all sorts of emotions for everyone here, let me ask you to let Jesus be the one to fill you with peace.  The NIV does a good job of translating this passage.  It is not so much “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” as it that people who see Jesus for what he is, Christ the Lord, receive from God real peace.  It is God’s favor upon you this day that can bring peace.  The lack of peace with many is a lack of a relationship with God through Jesus as we walk in Holy Spirit.  When you believe the whole Christmas story, that starts with the babe in the man and culminates with Christ on a cross and the power of a resurrection that does not fail, then you have a peace that transcends understanding.