Angels Announce Christ's Birth to the Shepherdsby GrahamWeir
2:14Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
At His birth a multitude of heaven praised God above for a Saviour born to bring joy to all people, announcing divine honor joined to peace on earth and kindness toward humanity. The words declare God's loving purpose in His law, which Christ came to honor and uphold in order to shield people from sin and reconcile sinners at enmity with their Maker through paying its penalty. That peace rests entirely on His atoning sacrifice and is received through faith in His shed blood, freeing captives from Satan's power and bringing salvation, happiness and everlasting life. When received and obeyed, this gospel reconciles people to God and to one another in love to God and neighbor, yet its holy principles expose sin so that those who reject them may hate and persecute believers without contradicting the announcement. The anthem first sung over Bethlehem will swell to the close of time and be re-echoed by the saved, and those saved by it are to live it and carry it to the world in unselfish service, gratitude and Christlike character.
Angelic Announcement Setting
A multitude of the heavenly host praised God at the birth of Christ, giving glory above while announcing peace and goodwill on earth as glad news of a Saviour born that brings joy to all who hear it. The announcement was first made to humble shepherds, and the lowly circumstances of the child marked Him as the Saviour.
On the night of the birth shepherds were keeping their flocks on the hills and plains around Bethlehem when sudden heavenly brightness terrified them. An angel quieted their fear with good tidings of great joy for all people, that that day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord was born, to be found as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. With tender regard for human weakness they were given time to become accustomed to the divine radiance, and then joy and glory could no longer be hidden as the whole plain was lighted by the shining hosts, while earth was hushed and heaven stooped to listen. The shepherds went with joyful hearts to worship Him where He was to be found, for the work of heralding belonged to men and angels did it only because none among men would do it. The song belongs to the future events connected with the first advent, proclaiming that Christ exchanged majesty and splendor for lowliness, coming divested of kingly honors without pomp or grandeur to give life as the only star of hope.
The revelation was given to good men watching by night who talked together of the promised Saviour, prayed earnestly for His coming, and joyfully received the testimony from bright messengers sent from the throne of light. Like the Eastern magi they had heeded the light they had received, and God revealed truth to them rather than to those who rejected further light. Priests and rulers knew the Saviour was soon to come but expected a mighty temporal king who would make them rich and great, felt no need of greater piety, and were too proud to welcome Him as a helpless child, so He was not revealed to them and the great and honored remained in darkness. Learned Jews professing to expound prophecy had no heart to receive it, and Jews separated so far from God by wicked works could not be communicated with, while humble shepherds received and worshiped the newborn King whom many failed to recognize because He did not fulfill hopes for a temporal prince.
The nearness of the coming had been announced to Zacharias as he ministered before the altar in the temple, attested by the miraculous birth of the forerunner whose mission was confirmed by miracle and prophecy and whose tidings spread abroad, pointed to daily by morning and evening sacrifice to the Lamb, preserved in witness that Christ was to be born of Abraham's seed and David's line, and shining as light in Jerusalem where prophecy declared humble circumstances. Yet Jerusalem was not preparing to welcome her Redeemer, and messengers beheld with amazement the indifference of the people called to communicate sacred truth, with priests and teachers rehearsing meaningless prayers and rites to be seen by men in strife for riches and worldly honor, and the same world-engrossed indifference pervading Israel with hearts untouched by heaven's joy. News of the angels' visit was carried to Jerusalem and gave priests, elders and rabbis true knowledge and opportunity to find Jesus and lead others to Him, but in pride and envy, unwillingness to be instructed by those they called ignorant shepherds and heathen, and fear of losing standing as exponents of truth, they refused even to go to Bethlehem to verify it. They treated it as unworthy of notice, led the people to dismiss interest as fanatical excitement and unworthy fanaticism, and thus closed the door against light in a rejection beginning then and growing from stubbornness into settled hatred, while God opened the door to the Gentiles.
Though without worldly grandeur Christ's birth was honored by heaven, for His divine glory and majesty were veiled in humble humanity as a helpless infant laid in a manger, yet heaven took deep interest, all heaven recognized His advent, and angels could honor Him even in humiliation. His coming to the fallen world was to accomplish redemption and through His death bring peace, happiness and everlasting life.
The glory of God flooded the hills of Bethlehem and attended the host enshrouded in light that illuminated the heavens. Humble shepherds were privileged to see face to face and hear the proclamation, while watchers in the East saw only the distant brightness and did not hear the words. When that light faded what lingered as a large, bright, unusual luminous star, looking like a new star never seen before, was in reality a distant cluster of flaming angels, and by the Spirit the wise men took it as the sign that Messiah had come and were moved to seek Him, though they received no revelation of His lowly circumstances.
The song shows heaven very near earth and humanity as the object of heaven's care, sung to common men doing common work to show heaven draws near in the ordinary walks of life. God's angels attend humble workers in daily duties to observe whether they can be trusted with greater responsibilities, attending the steps of those who come and go at God's command, and that nearness is unchanged today.
God makes Christ known in the manner best fitted to reach each group and works in every place by the way He can best reach the people, differently to shepherds on the plains face to face and to the Magi by a star. Joseph and Mary were honored by being entrusted with the responsible charge of the Saviour, and God directed Joseph's course to preserve the infant's life as part of divine care surrounding the birth. Scarcely had the glory disappeared when the malice of envious Herod was aroused in opposition to the infant Saviour. The account belongs to the story of the Babe of Bethlehem heralded to shepherds watching flocks, announcing salvation to the fallen race.
The proclaiming angel was a mighty heavenly angel enshrouded in clouds, the same angel who later descended to the tomb at the resurrection, rolled away the stone, called forth the Son of God, and was seen by the guards.
The announcement shows Jesus entering human life in humble conditions with heaven's good news coming to the lowly, revealing God's deep sympathy for people in every humble station. He shared their doubts and needs, and His humiliation sanctifies every part of human life and teaches people to live for God in it.
Glory Peace Goodwill Meaning
The words declare the principles of God's law, which Jesus came to magnify and honor. That law was given from love to shield people from the results of sin and to bring joy through obedience. In this the song expresses God's loving purpose for humanity.
Giving glory to God with peace and goodwill on earth is fulfilled by love that fulfills the entire law: loving God with all heart, soul, mind and strength and loving neighbor as self. This is possible only as people become partakers of the divine nature, and the Holy Spirit imparts that love to human hearts from age to age, for love is the living principle of brotherhood. When that love is realized the gospel reaches its purpose, God is glorified, and peace and goodwill come into human life. Such love produces refinement and harmony with God's purpose, with purity, patience, kindness and sympathy, and reflects Christ's love. Christ Himself carried out this work, and when His followers value and represent it souls are saved, which was the joy set before Him when He gave His life.
When God's love fills a person, love for others follows naturally in fulfillment of the call to love neighbor as self. A tender, humble, sympathetic, pitying heart is not weakness but strength derived from Christ. Christianity is Christ formed within, a life shaped by His abiding love that brings glory to God and peace and goodwill among people. As that love abides it produces growing refinement and harmony in keeping with God's purpose and carries out that purpose. True Christian culture comes through Christ's teaching and the Spirit's discipline, not merely through outward manners or set rules.
Conformity to God's requirements has transforming power that brings life and produces peace and goodwill in social and national life. God's Word is a revelation of mercy, peace and goodwill to humanity. Christ declared His earthly mission to be peace on earth and goodwill toward men, and He gave His own precious life so that everyone believing in Him as the Son of God may escape the corruption in the world through lust, uniting human nature with the divine nature in response to faith. While trusting in Him and partaking of the divine nature believers proclaim that mission. That peace rests entirely on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and could be proclaimed only through the shedding of the Saviour's blood, and it is received through faith in that blood, so faith in the blood of Jesus Christ is to be talked, prayed and dwelt upon.
The verse calls people to manifest goodwill toward men as Christ did, revealing Christlikeness in all dealings with fellow men and obeying heaven's law in every particular. This requires individual reformation and study and imitation of Christ's character in order to enter the city of God, with no excuse for failure. When this goodwill is manifested the truth sanctifies the soul, but preaching the truth while practice is corrupt makes the truth of none effect and honors God in theory only.
Redemption Through Christ's Coming
The birth brings salvation to humanity through God's mercy, as part of the plan to recover people fallen into sin so they are not left in hopeless ruin. His coming to a fallen world began the work of redemption, and through His death He brings peace, happiness, and everlasting life. Though humble in outward setting and without worldly grandeur, that birth was honored by heaven with the host glorifying God as they announced the Son's coming.
He came as Redeemer to free people from Satan's power and bring them the light of heaven. That glad news of great joy was borne to the humble shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem, announcing He had come to limit the power of Satan and set the captive free. His coming brings heaven's light, peace, and goodwill, and His presence is cause for joy, not mourning.
The joyful proclamation signaled a threat to Satan's kingdom and alarmed him because he foresaw danger to his rule. Satan heard the song praising God and proclaiming peace and goodwill as divine confirmation of the newborn's authority and mission, as declaration that One had come to challenge and dispute his authority and control. The song announces the entrance of the world's Redeemer and Prince of life into a world wholly under Satan's control, whom Satan saw as a rival to contest his power and overthrow his rule, and he immediately began planning to destroy Him.
The song expresses heaven's joy over the plan of salvation, whose first notes were heard in heaven and later echoed above Bethlehem. The promise of redemption was heard by Adam and Eve in Eden before they received the sentence for sin, and the news of Christ's advent was received with joy in heaven as angels heralded His coming. That joy of redemption filled heaven and surpassed even the joy of the new creation, while angels wondered and watched how God's people would receive His Son.
Through redemption His death would ransom humanity, defeat the power of death, restore the lost kingdom, and make possible a renewed world where sin and sinners no longer disturb peace. He exchanged majesty and splendor for lowliness, coming divested of kingly honors without pomp or grandeur to give life as the only star of hope, and the divine song broken forth by the joyful voices of the shining host over the manger proclaimed to the shepherds glad tidings of great joy that a Saviour who is Christ the Lord was born in the city of David for all people.
He came to make peace between sinners at enmity with their Maker and God, and the angels' joyful message celebrates salvation for the fallen world. Through His mission to uphold God's law and pay the penalty for its transgression, reconciliation between God and humanity became possible, and peace and goodwill were proclaimed as the blessings of His first advent.
The heavenly hosts knew Him at His birth and sang His praise over the plains of Bethlehem, bearing testimony that He was the Son of God and giving a witness attesting His mission and recognizing Him as Saviour. The brightest and most exalted sons of the morning who had heralded His glory at creation proclaimed His birth with gladness and sang His triumphs and resplendent glory, belonging to the same worship in which they veil their faces before Him as He sits upon His throne and cast their crowns at His feet. Their songs proclaim the glory of the Son of God in admiration of the perfection of His character and His love in taking human form to suffer for sinners, and His birth is celebrated aright only by exalting Jesus and abasing self, dwelling upon His matchless charms, love and mercy until beholding Him changes life and character.
His condescension, poverty, humiliation, infinite sacrifice and death to rescue fallen humanity from guilt and woe called forth the angels' highest adoration and praise and joy. All heaven was amazed at God's gift of Christ to man, through which every blessing enjoyed comes, and the song therefore requires gratitude and self-denial unlike the world, shown by rendering best gifts and thank-offerings without withholding self and by honoring His coming through imitating Him in doing good rather than by self-indulgence that exalts the creature above the Creator.
Gospel Peace and Opposition
The song over Bethlehem declares that the gospel is a message of peace, for Christ came to reconcile people to God and to one another. When His teachings are received and obeyed they spread peace, harmony and happiness, uniting His followers in one fellowship. That peace does not mean His work causes no conflict, for its holy principles stand against sinful habits and desires. Its truths expose and condemn sin, and those who reject them may answer with hatred, persecution and strife against His followers. Such opposition does not contradict the angels' announcement but arises from resistance to the message of peace, and is fully compatible with His word about bringing a sword.
The peace announced is the gospel of peace and salvation through repentance and the Saviour's power for remission of sins. It was entrusted to the disciples as witnesses of His life, death and resurrection, with the harmony of prophecy, the sacredness of the law, and the mysteries of salvation, to proclaim to all men in all nations beginning at Jerusalem. After completing His earthly life and coming forth from the dead, Jesus Himself confirmed that commission by appearing to His assembled disciples and greeting them with peace. That greeting echoed the birth announcement and showed His readiness to bring peace to those burdened by doubt and fear.
The same word gives a great and grand principle to be practiced by those who believe in Christ as laborers together with God. Christ's love and grace unite hearts and quiet long-standing controversies. They settle a willingness to accept better ways and lead Christians to speak and act with unity and love. Then small outward matters not settled by Scripture are no longer magnified into important causes of disunion.
Future Echoes of Song
The anthem sung over the birth is heaven's joy at the arrival of the Redeemer, giving glory to God while announcing peace and goodwill on earth. That same joy is the song that all the nations of the saved will one day sing.
The declaration made over Bethlehem will swell to the close of time and resound to the ends of the earth. The song of the angelic throng thrilled the hearts of the shepherds on the plains and swept round the world, showing that music is of heavenly origin and holds great power.
When Christ arises as the Sun of Righteousness with healing, the song will be re-echoed by a great multitude as the voice of many waters crying that the Lord God omnipotent reigns. The human family needs to recognize that gospel song today as it continues to grow toward that final chorus.
The words supply the praise the redeemed will shout when they enter the city and cast their crowns at Jesus' feet, acknowledging Him as Lord of all. There they join heaven's songs of victory, glorifying the Lamb and worshiping Him in the joy of salvation.
The song of triumph at Christ's birth was sung by a mighty heavenly angel with the heavenly host. That same mighty angel appears at Christ's resurrection, where he rolls away the stone, calls forth the Son of God, and is enabled to be seen by the Roman guards. At the resurrection the angels sing the song of redeeming love, and the risen saints with the whole heavenly train all unite in it.
Living and Proclaiming Message
The song joins honor to God above with peace and goodwill on earth as a gospel that must be lived, not merely believed. Church members whose names are written in heaven are to be fellow workers with God, organized as living active forces and channels to make known that Christ's religion is for publicans and sinners and for humanity itself. That living is fulfilled when the burdens of the poor are lightened instead of increased, when the church is not merely an organization controlled by the strongest class of society, and when saving truth is demonstrated in character building and self-sacrificing effort to save perishing souls. Jesus as Prince of life is made known through active members clothed in His righteousness, standing beside every true self-sacrificing worker, young men and young women, as the Friend of publicans and sinners to reveal His saving truth to the world.
Peace on earth and goodwill toward humanity are the precious gospel and glad tidings to be carried throughout the world to its remotest bounds and farthest parts. The grace of Christ is not to be hoarded but inspires seeking others for Him, and its weight and importance fill bearers with zeal from love for Christ and desire to win souls. Their highest aim becomes calling all to come to Christ and to the Saviour. The first believers took this salvation message as their calling and carried the good news outward with burning desire.
Those who carry that gospel of peace and goodwill must themselves be prepared and shod with it so Christ is seen in them in word and deed. This means being wise unto salvation, wise as serpents and harmless as doves, restraining harsh expressions, making no denunciatory speeches and no personal thrusts. It means guarding against arousing antagonism or malignity so doors stay open for truth, especially when speaking in other churches and seeking to save souls. When the work is entered imbued with the Spirit of Christ in righteousness, mercy and love, with clear-cut messages borne in that spirit, wonderful results follow, help comes in necessity, and truth triumphs and bears away the victory.
It is the message God's children proclaim by lives of unselfish endeavor and service, to awaken brotherhood and establish order and harmony in the world. That peace and goodwill express God's purpose from age to age, and brotherhood depends on Christlike love imparted by the Holy Spirit, without which nothing can be done toward fulfilling God's purpose for humanity.
Salvation through Christ gave the whole heavenly host cause for anthems in view of its great benefits, breaking forth in praise on the plains of Bethlehem for what was given to men. Those He came to save should therefore be filled with gratitude, thankfulness and praise rather than complaint, with more praise and less complaining. Unbelief, distrust, lack of gratitude, worldliness and selfishness grieve Jesus and forfeit the mercies promised the obedient, while receiving and enjoying the exceeding great and precious promises lets praise flow forth and continually extend and increase in the earth. Heavenly angels join Christians in joyous songs of praise and thanksgiving and cannot be silent, and Christians have the same right to rejoice because they receive Christ as a sin-pardoning Saviour who takes away sin and clothes them with light, joy, gladness and His righteousness. He gives full joy and expectation of being children of the heavenly King and members of the royal family, and gives the gospel as good tidings of great joy bringing heaven's brightness into life when God's promises are freely and fully accepted, to be expressed with cheerfulness and appreciation of Christian hope while remaining sober and watchful and never light or frivolous.
The angels' song was inspired by amazement through all heaven at God's gift of Christ in condescension, humiliation and infinite sacrifice to free people from the guilt and woe of sin, through which every blessing is enjoyed. It therefore requires gratitude and self-denial unlike the world, shown by rendering to God best gifts and thank-offerings and by not withholding self. Christmas as a precious reminder of that sacrifice is to be honored by imitating Christ in doing good and benefiting humanity rather than by gluttony, self-indulgence, feasting and merriment that exalts the creature above the Creator. The birth of the Son of God, proclaimed with gladness by the brightest and most exalted sons of the morning who had heralded His glory at creation and who veil their faces before Him on His throne and cast crowns at His feet, is celebrated aright only by exalting Jesus and abasing self. Dwelling upon the matchless charms, love and mercy of the Redeemer and the perfection of His character changes the beholder, so the cold and dull soul reflects Him in life and character.
As God worked at Bethlehem, He can work through ministers and shed His light and glory when people allow Him to act.
At His birth a multitude of heaven praised God above for a Saviour born to bring joy to all people, announcing divine honor joined to peace on earth and kindness toward humanity. The words declare God's loving purpose in His law, which Christ came to honor and uphold in order to shield people from sin and reconcile sinners at enmity with their Maker through paying its penalty. That peace rests entirely on His atoning sacrifice and is received through faith in His shed blood, freeing captives from Satan's power and bringing salvation, happiness and everlasting life. When received and obeyed, this gospel reconciles people to God and to one another in love to God and neighbor, yet its holy principles expose sin so that those who reject them may hate and persecute believers without contradicting the announcement. The anthem first sung over Bethlehem will swell to the close of time and be re-echoed by the saved, and those saved by it are to live it and carry it to the world in unselfish service, gratitude and Christlike character.
Angelic Announcement Setting
A multitude of the heavenly host praised God at the birth of Christ, giving glory above while announcing peace and goodwill on earth as glad news of a Saviour born that brings joy to all who hear it. The announcement was first made to humble shepherds, and the lowly circumstances of the child marked Him as the Saviour.
On the night of the birth shepherds were keeping their flocks on the hills and plains around Bethlehem when sudden heavenly brightness terrified them. An angel quieted their fear with good tidings of great joy for all people, that that day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord was born, to be found as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. With tender regard for human weakness they were given time to become accustomed to the divine radiance, and then joy and glory could no longer be hidden as the whole plain was lighted by the shining hosts, while earth was hushed and heaven stooped to listen. The shepherds went with joyful hearts to worship Him where He was to be found, for the work of heralding belonged to men and angels did it only because none among men would do it. The song belongs to the future events connected with the first advent, proclaiming that Christ exchanged majesty and splendor for lowliness, coming divested of kingly honors without pomp or grandeur to give life as the only star of hope.
The revelation was given to good men watching by night who talked together of the promised Saviour, prayed earnestly for His coming, and joyfully received the testimony from bright messengers sent from the throne of light. Like the Eastern magi they had heeded the light they had received, and God revealed truth to them rather than to those who rejected further light. Priests and rulers knew the Saviour was soon to come but expected a mighty temporal king who would make them rich and great, felt no need of greater piety, and were too proud to welcome Him as a helpless child, so He was not revealed to them and the great and honored remained in darkness. Learned Jews professing to expound prophecy had no heart to receive it, and Jews separated so far from God by wicked works could not be communicated with, while humble shepherds received and worshiped the newborn King whom many failed to recognize because He did not fulfill hopes for a temporal prince.
The nearness of the coming had been announced to Zacharias as he ministered before the altar in the temple, attested by the miraculous birth of the forerunner whose mission was confirmed by miracle and prophecy and whose tidings spread abroad, pointed to daily by morning and evening sacrifice to the Lamb, preserved in witness that Christ was to be born of Abraham's seed and David's line, and shining as light in Jerusalem where prophecy declared humble circumstances. Yet Jerusalem was not preparing to welcome her Redeemer, and messengers beheld with amazement the indifference of the people called to communicate sacred truth, with priests and teachers rehearsing meaningless prayers and rites to be seen by men in strife for riches and worldly honor, and the same world-engrossed indifference pervading Israel with hearts untouched by heaven's joy. News of the angels' visit was carried to Jerusalem and gave priests, elders and rabbis true knowledge and opportunity to find Jesus and lead others to Him, but in pride and envy, unwillingness to be instructed by those they called ignorant shepherds and heathen, and fear of losing standing as exponents of truth, they refused even to go to Bethlehem to verify it. They treated it as unworthy of notice, led the people to dismiss interest as fanatical excitement and unworthy fanaticism, and thus closed the door against light in a rejection beginning then and growing from stubbornness into settled hatred, while God opened the door to the Gentiles.
Though without worldly grandeur Christ's birth was honored by heaven, for His divine glory and majesty were veiled in humble humanity as a helpless infant laid in a manger, yet heaven took deep interest, all heaven recognized His advent, and angels could honor Him even in humiliation. His coming to the fallen world was to accomplish redemption and through His death bring peace, happiness and everlasting life.
The glory of God flooded the hills of Bethlehem and attended the host enshrouded in light that illuminated the heavens. Humble shepherds were privileged to see face to face and hear the proclamation, while watchers in the East saw only the distant brightness and did not hear the words. When that light faded what lingered as a large, bright, unusual luminous star, looking like a new star never seen before, was in reality a distant cluster of flaming angels, and by the Spirit the wise men took it as the sign that Messiah had come and were moved to seek Him, though they received no revelation of His lowly circumstances.
The song shows heaven very near earth and humanity as the object of heaven's care, sung to common men doing common work to show heaven draws near in the ordinary walks of life. God's angels attend humble workers in daily duties to observe whether they can be trusted with greater responsibilities, attending the steps of those who come and go at God's command, and that nearness is unchanged today.
God makes Christ known in the manner best fitted to reach each group and works in every place by the way He can best reach the people, differently to shepherds on the plains face to face and to the Magi by a star. Joseph and Mary were honored by being entrusted with the responsible charge of the Saviour, and God directed Joseph's course to preserve the infant's life as part of divine care surrounding the birth. Scarcely had the glory disappeared when the malice of envious Herod was aroused in opposition to the infant Saviour. The account belongs to the story of the Babe of Bethlehem heralded to shepherds watching flocks, announcing salvation to the fallen race.
The proclaiming angel was a mighty heavenly angel enshrouded in clouds, the same angel who later descended to the tomb at the resurrection, rolled away the stone, called forth the Son of God, and was seen by the guards.
The announcement shows Jesus entering human life in humble conditions with heaven's good news coming to the lowly, revealing God's deep sympathy for people in every humble station. He shared their doubts and needs, and His humiliation sanctifies every part of human life and teaches people to live for God in it.
Glory Peace Goodwill Meaning
The words declare the principles of God's law, which Jesus came to magnify and honor. That law was given from love to shield people from the results of sin and to bring joy through obedience. In this the song expresses God's loving purpose for humanity.
Giving glory to God with peace and goodwill on earth is fulfilled by love that fulfills the entire law: loving God with all heart, soul, mind and strength and loving neighbor as self. This is possible only as people become partakers of the divine nature, and the Holy Spirit imparts that love to human hearts from age to age, for love is the living principle of brotherhood. When that love is realized the gospel reaches its purpose, God is glorified, and peace and goodwill come into human life. Such love produces refinement and harmony with God's purpose, with purity, patience, kindness and sympathy, and reflects Christ's love. Christ Himself carried out this work, and when His followers value and represent it souls are saved, which was the joy set before Him when He gave His life.
When God's love fills a person, love for others follows naturally in fulfillment of the call to love neighbor as self. A tender, humble, sympathetic, pitying heart is not weakness but strength derived from Christ. Christianity is Christ formed within, a life shaped by His abiding love that brings glory to God and peace and goodwill among people. As that love abides it produces growing refinement and harmony in keeping with God's purpose and carries out that purpose. True Christian culture comes through Christ's teaching and the Spirit's discipline, not merely through outward manners or set rules.
Conformity to God's requirements has transforming power that brings life and produces peace and goodwill in social and national life. God's Word is a revelation of mercy, peace and goodwill to humanity. Christ declared His earthly mission to be peace on earth and goodwill toward men, and He gave His own precious life so that everyone believing in Him as the Son of God may escape the corruption in the world through lust, uniting human nature with the divine nature in response to faith. While trusting in Him and partaking of the divine nature believers proclaim that mission. That peace rests entirely on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and could be proclaimed only through the shedding of the Saviour's blood, and it is received through faith in that blood, so faith in the blood of Jesus Christ is to be talked, prayed and dwelt upon.
The verse calls people to manifest goodwill toward men as Christ did, revealing Christlikeness in all dealings with fellow men and obeying heaven's law in every particular. This requires individual reformation and study and imitation of Christ's character in order to enter the city of God, with no excuse for failure. When this goodwill is manifested the truth sanctifies the soul, but preaching the truth while practice is corrupt makes the truth of none effect and honors God in theory only.
Redemption Through Christ's Coming
The birth brings salvation to humanity through God's mercy, as part of the plan to recover people fallen into sin so they are not left in hopeless ruin. His coming to a fallen world began the work of redemption, and through His death He brings peace, happiness, and everlasting life. Though humble in outward setting and without worldly grandeur, that birth was honored by heaven with the host glorifying God as they announced the Son's coming.
He came as Redeemer to free people from Satan's power and bring them the light of heaven. That glad news of great joy was borne to the humble shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem, announcing He had come to limit the power of Satan and set the captive free. His coming brings heaven's light, peace, and goodwill, and His presence is cause for joy, not mourning.
The joyful proclamation signaled a threat to Satan's kingdom and alarmed him because he foresaw danger to his rule. Satan heard the song praising God and proclaiming peace and goodwill as divine confirmation of the newborn's authority and mission, as declaration that One had come to challenge and dispute his authority and control. The song announces the entrance of the world's Redeemer and Prince of life into a world wholly under Satan's control, whom Satan saw as a rival to contest his power and overthrow his rule, and he immediately began planning to destroy Him.
The song expresses heaven's joy over the plan of salvation, whose first notes were heard in heaven and later echoed above Bethlehem. The promise of redemption was heard by Adam and Eve in Eden before they received the sentence for sin, and the news of Christ's advent was received with joy in heaven as angels heralded His coming. That joy of redemption filled heaven and surpassed even the joy of the new creation, while angels wondered and watched how God's people would receive His Son.
Through redemption His death would ransom humanity, defeat the power of death, restore the lost kingdom, and make possible a renewed world where sin and sinners no longer disturb peace. He exchanged majesty and splendor for lowliness, coming divested of kingly honors without pomp or grandeur to give life as the only star of hope, and the divine song broken forth by the joyful voices of the shining host over the manger proclaimed to the shepherds glad tidings of great joy that a Saviour who is Christ the Lord was born in the city of David for all people.
He came to make peace between sinners at enmity with their Maker and God, and the angels' joyful message celebrates salvation for the fallen world. Through His mission to uphold God's law and pay the penalty for its transgression, reconciliation between God and humanity became possible, and peace and goodwill were proclaimed as the blessings of His first advent.
The heavenly hosts knew Him at His birth and sang His praise over the plains of Bethlehem, bearing testimony that He was the Son of God and giving a witness attesting His mission and recognizing Him as Saviour. The brightest and most exalted sons of the morning who had heralded His glory at creation proclaimed His birth with gladness and sang His triumphs and resplendent glory, belonging to the same worship in which they veil their faces before Him as He sits upon His throne and cast their crowns at His feet. Their songs proclaim the glory of the Son of God in admiration of the perfection of His character and His love in taking human form to suffer for sinners, and His birth is celebrated aright only by exalting Jesus and abasing self, dwelling upon His matchless charms, love and mercy until beholding Him changes life and character.
His condescension, poverty, humiliation, infinite sacrifice and death to rescue fallen humanity from guilt and woe called forth the angels' highest adoration and praise and joy. All heaven was amazed at God's gift of Christ to man, through which every blessing enjoyed comes, and the song therefore requires gratitude and self-denial unlike the world, shown by rendering best gifts and thank-offerings without withholding self and by honoring His coming through imitating Him in doing good rather than by self-indulgence that exalts the creature above the Creator.
Gospel Peace and Opposition
The song over Bethlehem declares that the gospel is a message of peace, for Christ came to reconcile people to God and to one another. When His teachings are received and obeyed they spread peace, harmony and happiness, uniting His followers in one fellowship. That peace does not mean His work causes no conflict, for its holy principles stand against sinful habits and desires. Its truths expose and condemn sin, and those who reject them may answer with hatred, persecution and strife against His followers. Such opposition does not contradict the angels' announcement but arises from resistance to the message of peace, and is fully compatible with His word about bringing a sword.
The peace announced is the gospel of peace and salvation through repentance and the Saviour's power for remission of sins. It was entrusted to the disciples as witnesses of His life, death and resurrection, with the harmony of prophecy, the sacredness of the law, and the mysteries of salvation, to proclaim to all men in all nations beginning at Jerusalem. After completing His earthly life and coming forth from the dead, Jesus Himself confirmed that commission by appearing to His assembled disciples and greeting them with peace. That greeting echoed the birth announcement and showed His readiness to bring peace to those burdened by doubt and fear.
The same word gives a great and grand principle to be practiced by those who believe in Christ as laborers together with God. Christ's love and grace unite hearts and quiet long-standing controversies. They settle a willingness to accept better ways and lead Christians to speak and act with unity and love. Then small outward matters not settled by Scripture are no longer magnified into important causes of disunion.
Future Echoes of Song
The anthem sung over the birth is heaven's joy at the arrival of the Redeemer, giving glory to God while announcing peace and goodwill on earth. That same joy is the song that all the nations of the saved will one day sing.
The declaration made over Bethlehem will swell to the close of time and resound to the ends of the earth. The song of the angelic throng thrilled the hearts of the shepherds on the plains and swept round the world, showing that music is of heavenly origin and holds great power.
When Christ arises as the Sun of Righteousness with healing, the song will be re-echoed by a great multitude as the voice of many waters crying that the Lord God omnipotent reigns. The human family needs to recognize that gospel song today as it continues to grow toward that final chorus.
The words supply the praise the redeemed will shout when they enter the city and cast their crowns at Jesus' feet, acknowledging Him as Lord of all. There they join heaven's songs of victory, glorifying the Lamb and worshiping Him in the joy of salvation.
The song of triumph at Christ's birth was sung by a mighty heavenly angel with the heavenly host. That same mighty angel appears at Christ's resurrection, where he rolls away the stone, calls forth the Son of God, and is enabled to be seen by the Roman guards. At the resurrection the angels sing the song of redeeming love, and the risen saints with the whole heavenly train all unite in it.
Living and Proclaiming Message
The song joins honor to God above with peace and goodwill on earth as a gospel that must be lived, not merely believed. Church members whose names are written in heaven are to be fellow workers with God, organized as living active forces and channels to make known that Christ's religion is for publicans and sinners and for humanity itself. That living is fulfilled when the burdens of the poor are lightened instead of increased, when the church is not merely an organization controlled by the strongest class of society, and when saving truth is demonstrated in character building and self-sacrificing effort to save perishing souls. Jesus as Prince of life is made known through active members clothed in His righteousness, standing beside every true self-sacrificing worker, young men and young women, as the Friend of publicans and sinners to reveal His saving truth to the world.
Peace on earth and goodwill toward humanity are the precious gospel and glad tidings to be carried throughout the world to its remotest bounds and farthest parts. The grace of Christ is not to be hoarded but inspires seeking others for Him, and its weight and importance fill bearers with zeal from love for Christ and desire to win souls. Their highest aim becomes calling all to come to Christ and to the Saviour. The first believers took this salvation message as their calling and carried the good news outward with burning desire.
Those who carry that gospel of peace and goodwill must themselves be prepared and shod with it so Christ is seen in them in word and deed. This means being wise unto salvation, wise as serpents and harmless as doves, restraining harsh expressions, making no denunciatory speeches and no personal thrusts. It means guarding against arousing antagonism or malignity so doors stay open for truth, especially when speaking in other churches and seeking to save souls. When the work is entered imbued with the Spirit of Christ in righteousness, mercy and love, with clear-cut messages borne in that spirit, wonderful results follow, help comes in necessity, and truth triumphs and bears away the victory.
It is the message God's children proclaim by lives of unselfish endeavor and service, to awaken brotherhood and establish order and harmony in the world. That peace and goodwill express God's purpose from age to age, and brotherhood depends on Christlike love imparted by the Holy Spirit, without which nothing can be done toward fulfilling God's purpose for humanity.
Salvation through Christ gave the whole heavenly host cause for anthems in view of its great benefits, breaking forth in praise on the plains of Bethlehem for what was given to men. Those He came to save should therefore be filled with gratitude, thankfulness and praise rather than complaint, with more praise and less complaining. Unbelief, distrust, lack of gratitude, worldliness and selfishness grieve Jesus and forfeit the mercies promised the obedient, while receiving and enjoying the exceeding great and precious promises lets praise flow forth and continually extend and increase in the earth. Heavenly angels join Christians in joyous songs of praise and thanksgiving and cannot be silent, and Christians have the same right to rejoice because they receive Christ as a sin-pardoning Saviour who takes away sin and clothes them with light, joy, gladness and His righteousness. He gives full joy and expectation of being children of the heavenly King and members of the royal family, and gives the gospel as good tidings of great joy bringing heaven's brightness into life when God's promises are freely and fully accepted, to be expressed with cheerfulness and appreciation of Christian hope while remaining sober and watchful and never light or frivolous.
The angels' song was inspired by amazement through all heaven at God's gift of Christ in condescension, humiliation and infinite sacrifice to free people from the guilt and woe of sin, through which every blessing is enjoyed. It therefore requires gratitude and self-denial unlike the world, shown by rendering to God best gifts and thank-offerings and by not withholding self. Christmas as a precious reminder of that sacrifice is to be honored by imitating Christ in doing good and benefiting humanity rather than by gluttony, self-indulgence, feasting and merriment that exalts the creature above the Creator. The birth of the Son of God, proclaimed with gladness by the brightest and most exalted sons of the morning who had heralded His glory at creation and who veil their faces before Him on His throne and cast crowns at His feet, is celebrated aright only by exalting Jesus and abasing self. Dwelling upon the matchless charms, love and mercy of the Redeemer and the perfection of His character changes the beholder, so the cold and dull soul reflects Him in life and character.
As God worked at Bethlehem, He can work through ministers and shed His light and glory when people allow Him to act.