Good Tidings of Great Joy ~ The Christmas Birth Announcement

 

Possibly you have seen all the gender reveal videos or the incredibly sweet moments caught on video and in images for birth announcements. When our children were born things were quite different. The gender reveal was private – Dr. Dix looked up with a baby in her hand and said, “Look, you have a big …!” Five times I heard those sweet words that God had graciously given us our child – two beautiful girls and three big boys.

Jesus’ birth announcement beats them all. You may have heard the story before.

⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

“Good Tidings of Great Joy which will be to All People!”

In a very few words, the angel says it all to the shepherds. Every word important. Every word ultimately life changing for you and me.

Good Tidings ~ This is the word for Good News and often we use this word for whenever we discuss the Good News of the Gospel. Jesus coming to earth as a baby Who ultimately becomes the sinless, selfless, sacrificial, substitutionary atonement for our sins. How can there be greater tidings than this? The news of Jesus’ birth to this point in human history broke the charts for the greatest news ever shared in human history.

Great Joy ~ The Good News produces Great Joy! Considering the shepherds did not realize the extent of the Good News that evening, how much more did they miss the extent of Great Joy this new baby would produce. In a world hopelessly lost in sin, damned as children of wrath, and without any ability to pay for our own sins, this baby made the way. This news of His birth certainly produces the greatest joy ever! It seems like we are minimizing it simply using the word “great” to describe it.

All People ~ Of course when the shepherds heard this news, their minds considered all the people of Israel. We know now, just like they did not grasp the complete significance of the Good Tidings, nor the incredible nature of the Great Joy the birth of Jesus would produce, here, they also didn’t realize this Good News goes to All People. As those who know Christ, our responsibility is to share this Great News with every person on this planet. Why? Because Jesus did come as Good News which produces Great Joy to All People.

We’ll pick up here tomorrow and catch the rest of the birth announcement. The reason we can rejoice in this Good News for All People is described next in the angel’s announcement. That can wait to consider until tomorrow as the countdown to Christmas continues.

Don’t miss any of the Countdown to Christmas. As we continue to focus our hearts and attention on Christmas and the Christmas season, we have already considered recently the fact that Christmas is about Jesus. We highlighted and celebrated that Jesus Cares, Jesus Saves, Jesus Forgives, Jesus Intercedes, and Jesus Provides! We considered the full impact of Jesus’ Birthday Celebration.

Merry Christmas.

 

 

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