Luke 2:4–20 ‘I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today… a Saviour has been born…’ (vv10–11)
The long wait for a Messiah began at the beginning. When Abraham was promised a descendant who would bless all peoples, the world waited for a son.
When Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Micah, Hosea and John the Baptist rebuked God’s people for continuing to sin and abandon God’s instructions, the world waited for a saviour from those sins.
When Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel despaired at the terrible leaders who oppressed the people of God, the world waited for a good shepherd, a light for the darkness, a Prince of Peace, the Mighty God.
The prophecies built up over the centuries and gathered pace, and humanity increased its longing for someone to rescue us from this continued pattern of sin, judgement and death – until finally, on a quiet day in a Roman-occupied village, the wait was over.
The Messiah was finally here. And the first to know of this universe-altering, history-making news were an exhausted couple near an animal’s feeding trough and a bunch of unwashed shepherds.
God delights in bringing the best news and the most privileged information to those whom society forgets.
The angels are giddy with wonder: they can’t even get through their instructions to the shepherds without the whole heavenly host bursting out at once in praise of God, giving God glory.
The remarkable thing was that God Himself would be this perfect sin- saving, peace-giving, light-shining leader, who would live among us and die to unite us fully with God. The wait is over: the Messiah is here – in our world and in our lives. To God be the glory.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to us, living among us, and being our saviour. We praise and glorify You. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Sing your favourite carol today from the rooftops, as loudly as you dare, celebrating God’s great love in sending Jesus.
Scripture To Consider:
Isa. 9:6–7; Mic. 5:2–4; John 4:25–26; Heb. 11:1–40
