The Song of the Angels
Luke 2:14
Intro
Songs fill the air at Christmas time. Christmas carols are heard everywhere. Perhaps the pattern for this was set for us by the angelic hosts who announced the birth of Christ.
I. An angel announced to Joseph the forthcoming birth of the Savior (Matt. 1:18-21)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanted to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Hymn 217 “Oh, How I Love Jesus”
There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth;
It sounds as music in my ear, The sweetest name on earth.
II. An angel announced the Savior’s arrival to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-12)
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ‘This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Hymn 120 “O Sing a Song of Bethlehem”
O Sing a song of Bethlehem, Of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them, From angels in the air.
The light that shone on Bethlehem fills all the world today;
Of Jesus birth and peace on earth the angels sing alway.
III. An angelic choir sang an anthem of praise at the time of Christ’s birth (Luke 2:14-15)
‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
Hymn 100 “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains;
And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains.
IV. Angels announced to Mary that the Christ had conquered death and the grave (John 20:12-13)
And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, whey are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
Hymn 187 “In the Garden”
I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses.
V. Angels explained Christ’s ascension and prophesied his personal return to earth for his own (Acts 1:10-11)
And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
Hymn 408 “This Is the Threshold Truth”
This is the threefold truth on which our faith depends,
And with this joyful cry worship begins and ends:
Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!
Closing
We perform the function of worship when we sing of the Savior. It is proper to join our hearts and voices together about our wonderful Savior. Christianity is the only religion that has put a song into the hearts of humankind.
