What Would The Angels Say? Series

Matthew 1:20-21; Luke 1:28-35; Luke 2:9-14

What Would the Angels Say?

Introduction

In this Christmas series, we have considered what Santa might say if He were in our services today, and last week we looked at what Satan might say if he were present. Today I want us to think about another group that was present on that first Christmas morning and before it, and let’s consider this thought: what would the angels say if they were present among us this morning?

Let’s read all three accounts. For your convenience they are in your bulletins, or certainly you can turn in your Bibles.

Matthew 1:20-21 says,

"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

Luke 1:28-35 says,

"And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

Luke 2:9-14 says,

"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Wow! Can you imagine the scene as Joseph lay in bed and the angel of the Lord came to him? While he lay there sleeping, the angel came and provided the answers to some serious questions Joseph must have had about the will of God and what to do with his pregnant virgin wife-to-be. In the midst of Joseph’s wondering and waiting, the angel of the Lord appears and personally delivers the message of God. Truly God cares for His people!

What about the scene that unfolds before Mary, or with the shepherds who were watching their sheep and suddenly – in the middle of the night when all was quiet and dark, the sky lights up with the glorious presence of this heavenly being, then, after the announcement of the birth of a Savior the whole sky is full of the angelic host praising God. Were there dozens? Hundreds? Thousands or more? Who knows? But this much is clear – their message to Joseph and Mary and the shepherds was heard and heeded – because you know something? It wasn’t their message; it was God’s. These were glorified deliverymen. The angels have no message of their own to give – they can only tell you what they were created to tell – and that was the message of the Christ who was to come.

After reading these accounts, I have come to believe that the angels would say to us much the same thing that they said 2000 years ago, because you see, although times have changed, cultures have changed, clothes and music and transportation have all changed, Jesus is still the same only begotten Son of God! He is the same yesterday, today and forever! He is still the answer to man’s greatest need – the need for salvation! So, let’s look at these accounts more closely and notice three announcements they might make if they were present with us this morning.

Jesus is the Son who was.

Jesus was no ordinary Son. He was the Son of God. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…" Notice in Luke’s account to Mary that the angel said, "you will bring forth a son…He shall be called the Son of the Highest." Jesus Christ was the embodiment of all the Godhead wrapped up in the human born son of Mary.