DECEMBER 15TH
A Christmas Bargain
Luke 2:8-14 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
People love a good bargain. If we see a sign that advertises three for the price of one, we're probably going to stop and take a look. If it's a really good deal, it’s likely we're not passing it up; we might even buy three or four, even if we didn't really need one in the first place. We've heard many times that Jesus is the best gift of all, and while that's true, it is easy for those words to start to sound a little cliché, and for us to become desensitized to just how true they are. When we think of the gift of Jesus, we should remind ourselves that He is not just one perfect gift, but three for the price of one.
One of the most well-known Christmas songs of all time is Hark The Herald Angels Sing. This song perfectly summarizes these three gifts Jesus brought into the world when He was born. The first is found in this line: Joyful all ye nations rise. The first gift Jesus brought was joy. Anyone who has ever celebrated a new baby understands the joy that surrounds the birth of a new life, and Jesus' birth was no different. The angel immediately proclaimed, "Good news of great joy!" There is not just joy for His mother and father; people everywhere and throughout all time would experience great joy because of His birth. That tells us a lot about the kind of father God is to us. Yes, God cares about our righteousness, but He also desperately wants to offer us real, lasting joy- the kind that can't be taken away or lost by changes in our economic status, employment, possessions, or relationships. The next line in the song where we see a gift from God is: God and Sinners Reconciled. This second gift the angels announce is hope. Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord. To a world of sinners, doomed to die for our sins since Eden, a savior has finally come. No longer do we need to fear death; no longer does our sin have to separate us from the God who loves us. He made a way for us to be reconciled with Him when He sent a Savior. The third line is Peace on earth and mercy mild.
Finally, the angel is joined by a vast number of heavenly messengers to sing out "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." The third gift we have received is peace unlike anything we have ever known. In the current age of conflict and violence, peace may feel like a foreign concept. We wince every time we turn on the news, afraid of what new attack, or threat we'll hear about. When Jesus came, He brought the internal peace of knowing we are loved by God and reconciled to Him. He also brought hope for peace in the world around us amongst violence. This is supernatural peace that cannot be found in anyone or anything besides Jesus. The angel wasn't just making a birth announcement, but advertising an unbelievable three-in-one gift of joy, hope, and peace, given by God to anyone who wants it. When we receive Jesus, we're receiving everyting we could ever want. That’s why He is truly the best gift of all.
One of the most well-known Christmas songs of all time is Hark The Herald Angels Sing. This song perfectly summarizes these three gifts Jesus brought into the world when He was born. The first is found in this line: Joyful all ye nations rise. The first gift Jesus brought was joy. Anyone who has ever celebrated a new baby understands the joy that surrounds the birth of a new life, and Jesus' birth was no different. The angel immediately proclaimed, "Good news of great joy!" There is not just joy for His mother and father; people everywhere and throughout all time would experience great joy because of His birth. That tells us a lot about the kind of father God is to us. Yes, God cares about our righteousness, but He also desperately wants to offer us real, lasting joy- the kind that can't be taken away or lost by changes in our economic status, employment, possessions, or relationships. The next line in the song where we see a gift from God is: God and Sinners Reconciled. This second gift the angels announce is hope. Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord. To a world of sinners, doomed to die for our sins since Eden, a savior has finally come. No longer do we need to fear death; no longer does our sin have to separate us from the God who loves us. He made a way for us to be reconciled with Him when He sent a Savior. The third line is Peace on earth and mercy mild.
Finally, the angel is joined by a vast number of heavenly messengers to sing out "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." The third gift we have received is peace unlike anything we have ever known. In the current age of conflict and violence, peace may feel like a foreign concept. We wince every time we turn on the news, afraid of what new attack, or threat we'll hear about. When Jesus came, He brought the internal peace of knowing we are loved by God and reconciled to Him. He also brought hope for peace in the world around us amongst violence. This is supernatural peace that cannot be found in anyone or anything besides Jesus. The angel wasn't just making a birth announcement, but advertising an unbelievable three-in-one gift of joy, hope, and peace, given by God to anyone who wants it. When we receive Jesus, we're receiving everyting we could ever want. That’s why He is truly the best gift of all.