Christmas Message – A Saviour Has Been Born for You
24th December 2023
In Luke 2:1-20 we read about the birth of Jesus and traditionally we celebrate this historic event at this time of year even though He wasn’t actually born on the 25th December. Nevertheless, it still gives us an opportunity to be reminded of one of the glorious events that took place when Jesus was born.
And the event we have in mind is the announcement of the birth of Jesus to some shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. At that time, shepherds were from the lowest class of society. And yet God chose to announce the most important event in human history to them. It wasn’t announced to the VIPs of the world but to lowly shepherds. And that is so important because in God’s eyes we are all equal. That is in contrast to the way the world operates. Earlier this month we went to a wonderful carol concert in a large church building. And the people who organised it failed to understand how God sees us. So, they arranged the seating so that the people that the world calls VIPs had the best seats at the front. This was despite the fact that Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus was read out during the concert. If you think that you are unimportant, remember what happened to those lowly shepherds and take heart and know that to God you are important.
And it wasn’t just the people that God chose to make the announcement to that made this a glorious event, it was the way that the announcement was made. God sent an angel to make the announcement and the angel came with the glory of God which shone around the shepherds. There is nothing that man can produce that comes close to the magnificent, majestic glory of God. It is terrifyingly awesome. It is His glory that sets him apart from us and which deserves our praise. Oh, to have been there that night. Just picture it for yourself if you can. And the wonder of it all is that we too will stand in the presence of God’s glory one day. And when that day comes all fear will be gone and there will be great rejoicing for all who are with Him.
When the angel told the shepherds that their Saviour had been born, he told them how to identify Jesus. They would find him wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger. This was the Son of God that the angel was talking about. He was born in such humble and humiliating circumstances. No palace for the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. No, it was a stable for Him. Can you see again the contrast with the world’s way of doing things? God’s ways are not our ways. Notice too how the heavenly host responded to the circumstances of Jesus’ birth. They praised God and gave glory to Him. And finally, after seeing Jesus and the fulfilment of what they had been told about Him, the shepherds went away glorifying and praising God. And this should be our response to the revelation of Jesus too.
This Christmas it is our hope that you will have a revelation of the glorious coming of our Saviour as a babe wrapping in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And like Mary, you will treasure these things and ponder them in your heart. In the meantime, we’ll be singing that wonderful carol, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks.
Peace be with you.
Mike and Suzanne Ashton