GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAINS (LUKE 2:8-20)
The two weekends before Christmas are the busiest days of the year for the mall and the stores, for ordering and mailing, and for dining and catering. In Southern California alone, more than 20 million cards and letters and 1.5 million packages are postmarked the usual third Monday of December before Christmas (Los Angeles Times 12/18/01).
The American Express Retail Index, in its survey of consumers in 2001, projected that the average will spend about $1,564 per household for gifts, travel, entertaining, decorations and other expenses this year.
Every year consumers make December the busiest month of the year, and make Christmas the biggest party of the year, all for the wrong reasons. Christmas is the biggest festival in the western world, the biggest card giving holiday, and the biggest selling season. The first Christmas was a busy season. The Christmas shepherds were in a big hurry, too. On a quiet night in the country outside of Bethlehem, an angel appeared to shepherds who were watching their flock to tell them the good news. After hearing what the angels told them, the shepherds then made haste to Bethlehem to find and see and know baby Jesus for themselves.
What is the good news at Christmas? More toys for the kids, more time with each other, more things to do and more travel to make? What is our thrill and task at this time of the year?
Greet God’s Advent with Great Pleasure
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)
I love the story of the Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The Grinch is a mean, ugly, unhappy make-believe creature living by himself on a cliff across the eternally optimistic community of Whoville. He hated Christmas and decided to put an end to it after enduring the merry-making villagers’ noise and nonsense for 53 years.
On Christmas Eve, he put on a Santa Clause hat and coat, stole into the village, climbed into the chimneys and took all the presents while the villagers were sleeping. He took everything that is associated with Christmas, including tree, stocking, and decorations, and gloated over the villagers’ gloomy reaction and lost holiday when they discovered that all their presents were gone on Christmas morning.
The next morning the Grinch expected gloom and doom, but woke to the carols and songs he had heard for over half a century at this time of the year. He looked out his window in disbelief and saw that he had failed to dampen the villagers’ Christmas spirit. They were joining their hands and singing their hearts out as usual. He waited for people to the declare Christmas season a disaster or a letdown, but instead the people were more united and determined by their loss. The repentant creature was touched of the true meaning of Christmas and returned to distribute the stolen goods.
Christmas is the celebration of what’s inside, not outside. The great joy and the real joy of Christmas is the birth of Jesus that can never be taken away. The Grinch had stolen all the presents, toys and decorations but the villagers did not miss them. They were still standing together, holding hands and singing joyfully.
The first Christmas is a contrast between dread and delight. The Greek text used the word fear twice to describe how the shepherds felt at the angel’s sudden appearance: The shepherds “feared” (phobeo) a great fear (phobos megas)!” (v 9) This is the first instance of great fear in the New Testament (Luke 8:37, Acts 5:7, 11, Rev 11:11).The emphases in verse 9 are on the verbs “appeared,” “shone around” (peri-lampo) and “terrified.” (An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.) “Appeared” make a strong debut in the New Testament bypassing the 64 chapters in Matthew and Mark, but NIV fails to capture where the angel was standing. KJV translates it as “came upon,” but Luke 24:4 refers to the action of the two men who “stood by” the perplexed women who found the empty tomb. In Acts 12:7, the angel of the Lord “came upon” Peter and rescued him from jail. Christmas angels are often depicted as flying in the sky, but they first landed on the ground, grounded before airborne. This Greek word for “shone around” occurs only twice in the Bible, the other time describing Paul’s experience on the road when he saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, “blazing around” him (Acts 26:13).
While the book of Matthew reveals that people of royalty (Matt 2:1), as portrayed by the wise man, were guided by a star to visit baby Jesus, the book of Luke contrasts it with the birth of Jesus as witnessed by commoners, lowly shepherds. The magi were of the upper crusts and high society while the shepherds were considered the outcasts on a graveyard shift. Shepherds were considered unclean because they had daily contact with carcasses of animals and all sorts of unclean animals, including spiders, flies, bugs, rats, and mice (Lev 5:2). They did not wash correctly according to the Jews therefore they were despised and considered unclean and were banned from the temple and synagogue. http://www.askives.com/were-shepherds-unclean.html
The first New Testament evangelist, technically, was not John the Baptist (Lk 3:18), but the Christmas angel. NIV clumsily translated the Greek word “euaggelizo” (evangelize) as “bring you good news.” But the angel did not come to strike great fear, but in contrast, to spread great joy or “chara megas” (v 10). Christmas is the proclamation of not just joy, but great joy, one of only two great joys associated with Christ. There is great joy at his birth (Luke 2:10, Matt 2:10) and great joy at his resurrection (Luke 24:52, Matt 28:8). This great joy is not for Jews alone, but for all people. Luke the Gentile physician stresses that the Savior is for “all people” which is repeated in verse 31. The great fear the shepherds suffered (v 9) is replaced by the good news they heard (v 10). The great joy of Christmas you hear is more than able to replace the great fear you have.
This great joy is for all the peoples of the world – Jews and Gentiles, learned magi (Matt 2:10) and lowly shepherds, angels and men. It is cause for true celebration among the Chosen Ones and the Goyim, the rich and the poor, heaven and earth.
The great joy of Christmas is the birth of the Savior, the Christ, the Lord. Savior is the focus and the word is not used lightly in the Bible. It makes its debut in Luke (Luke 1:47). Savior is stressed because sin is universal. What binds Jews and Gentiles is sin, salvation and Savior. He is the Christ, the Promise, the Anointed One, or the Coming Messiah, whose birth was prophesied in the Old Testament. In Micah 5:2, the promise of a ruler in Israel would come from Bethlehem. The title “Lord” is a recurring word in this passage (vv 9, 9, 11, 15). He is our Lord, the Lord of glory (1 Cor 2:8), Lord Almighty (2 Cor 6:18), the Lord of lords (Rev 17:14). Savior is the present salvation, Christ is the past promise, and Lord is the ever after. Why do people need a Savior? Salvation from what? The sway of sin, the slavery by Satan, and the separation from God.
Holiday happiness is fleeting, but divine joy is lasting. Christmas is for a season, Christ is for a lifetime.
Greet God’s Advent with Glorious Praise
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:13-14)
A hardworking little boy by the name of Theocrite sang the words “Praise God” like no one else. His praises not only kept him in good spirits, but it also brought joy to others, and praise from God. One day, a monk passing by heard him, and suggested: “I am sure God has heard you, but what if you were the Pope of Rome, singing God’s praises in St. Peters Church at Easter time in Rome?”
Theocrite thought that would be a tremendous achievement if he had the opportunity to do so. So the angel Gabriel who heard him, granted it, and he became the next Pope of Rome. Immediately God said, “How is it I do not hear the voice of Theocrite singing at his work?”
The angel, knowing this, became a boy and took Theocrite’s place, but he could do everything except one thing – sing praises to God. God said wistfully, “I hear a voice of praise, but not the way Theocrite sang it. I miss my little human praise.”
The angel then took off his disguise, went to Rome, found Theocrite, the new Pope of Rome, and said to him: “I took you from your work and made you the Pope of Rome, but I was mistaken. You could be a great Pope, but no one could fill your shoes, match your spirit, and take your voice of praise. (The Moral Compass 717-78, William J. Bennett)
Christmas is a time and the occasion to praise, not to party. It might surprise readers to know that the verb “praise” (vv 13, 20) make its debut so late in the New Testament. Praise was first rendered by angels (v 13), to be replaced by men (v 20). It is to say thanks to Him and to worship Him and to receive His gift with open arms. Christmas presents are passing, but God’s gift is permanent. God’s biggest gift is His Son. Through His son we have peace with God. This gift is not found in a person and not an object. With God’s gift of a Savior, we have a gift that transforms, renews and reborn.
World peace, personal peace and or relational peace are precarious and are hanging by a thread today. God’s peace is different. If you notice, NIV does not use the phrase “goodwill to men” anymore. The word goodwill or “eu-dokia” in the Greek text is a combination of two words, “eu-” as in eulogy or saying good things and “dokia” or thinking. So goodwill means thinking good or having a good mindset. The whole translation means peace on earth and a good mindset to men. That’s the gift of Christmas – the gift of a peaceful mind.
The peace God offers is not found in a pact with nations make, but in the person of Jesus. God’s gift of peace of mind is not a feeling or a drug, a legislation of the court or a treaty of nations, a surplus of money or an absence of war. It is not an extra piece of cake, a set of formulas or a recitation of chants. It is a peaceful mindset knowing God’s unchanging gift of salvation; it is not tied to external factors or changing circumstances. Peace in the modern world is unreachable and suspicious. Personal peace can be easily shattered by an emergency call, a traffic accident, or a crime scene, but God’s perfect peace is secured by Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6). Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) This peace is promised by God, not provided by governments or gurus.
This Christmas, our nerves are frayed more than ever. We will not experience peace of mind until we receive and embrace the gift of peace in Christ Jesus, which is priceless. By our own efforts we fail. Others disappoint us. Only the most powerful - the Omnipotent God, only the most knowledgeable - the Omniscient God, and only the most attending - the Omnipresent God - can give us peace.
The message of Christmas is simple. When you look to the world for answers, you will find unending problems. Look to Christ for answers, and you will find unceasing peace.
Greet God’s Advent with Generous Proclamation
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.(Luke 2:15-20)
One of the most inspiring stories in China missions was the story of George Stott from the China Inland Mission then. He arrived in 1866 and remained there over 22 years (1866-1888). In 1887, the Stotts left a thriving school, three churches and almost three hundred members. Church leaders attributed much of the church’s numerical success decades later to Stott’s patient determination and the seeds planted in these early years. Wenzhou is known today for its thriving Christian population because 10% of the inhabitants are evangelical Protestants. My first knowledge of such a city was in 2005 when I trained a group of Wenzhou people in Rome.
Stott is unlike any ordinary missionary then because of his disability. When the Stott was about nineteen years of age he slipped and knocked his knee against a stone. His swollen left leg swelling did not go away for months. Two years later, his left leg had to be amputated. In his helpless state for nine months he accepted Christ. After recovering from amputation he taught for several years before he learned of China's needs through a friend.
Stott was thankful to Hudson Taylor for taking a chance on him when no society would have sent an amputee for pioneer work. His wife Grace was there longer for 38 years (1870-1908). He was one of two missionaries sent to China that year, bravely embarking for China with little preparation and no language training. When Taylor asked Stott why he, with only one leg, should think of going to China, Stott’s classic remark was, “I do not see those with two legs going, so I must.”
“Great joy” (v 10) is for oneself, “praise” is to God (vv 13, 20), but what about others ? How were “all people” to know? That depends on what the shepherds had in mind. What would or could the outcast shepherds do with the knowledge? They did not return immediately to their job of keeping sheep or to their post in the field. In verse 9, an angel of the Lord “appeared” to them, and the glory of the Lord “shone around” them (v 9). They have seen it, heard it and were told it (v 20). Heard repeats in verse 18 and 20, seen three times in verse 15, 17 and 20, and tell four times in verses 15, 17, 18 and 20. Heard and told are different. Heard could be inadvertent or accidental, but told is intentional and accountability. What did they see, hear, and handed? In verse 10, the shepherds were brought good news (Luke 2:10). In verse 17, they saw the baby lying in the manger.
What was their responsibility with the sights and sounds that night? The last unit hinges on and builds on the repetition of the verb “make known” in verse 15 and 17, from “the Lord has told/make known” (v 15) to “they spread/make known the word concerning what had been told them about this child” (v 17). The NIV inconsistently translates it as “told us” in verse 15 and “spread” in verse 17. What’s so outstanding about this verb? It appears for the first time in the Bible. Praise the Lord, the greatest event in history was shared with shepherds who passed the good news to others, although the angels did not request or require them to do so.
Further, the angel clearly evangelized everything to them in two short verses (2:10-11), or the 5 W’s and 1 H’s: what to announce - “great joy”; who it was for - “for all the people”; when the event happened - “today;” where it was located - “in the town of David”; why - “a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord;” and how -”you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” The angel’s revelation and accompanying remarks were complete for all people and ages.
When the shepherds finally saw the child for themselves, they returned to the country, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told to them. Previously the shepherds were poor, cold, tired and frightened, taking over the graveyard shift and working at night, but now they were rich, joyous, energized and inspired, taking over the angels’ evangelistic effort in spreading the word (v 15) and working non-stop to “spread/make known” (v 17) the word concerning what had been told them about the child. The Christmas angel who was joined by a host of angels in a slew of choruses to praise God had left, but the praises did not stop. The shepherds now shouted for joy, sang in unison, gave glory, honor and praise to God (v 20) because they had done their part of spreading the word and making Him known (v 17). As a result, all who heard it were amazed/marveled (v 18) and Mary treasured up/kept (suntereo) all these things and pondered (sunballo) them in her heart (v 19). KJV also translates “ponder” as confer 9Acts 4:15) and encounter (Acts 17:18).
The angels were the first evangelists and the shepherds were the first believers of the gospel. The shepherds decided to check out the baby by night. They believed the words of the Christmas angel, left the country for the city of Bethlehem, hurrying in the middle of the night to look for the baby in a manger. The word “tell” is an inescapable key word in this passage. The shepherds told one another “Let’s go,” the shepherd spread the word what was told them (2:17), all were amazed at what was told them (2:18) and the shepherds returned after doing justice to what was told them (2:20).
Conclusion: The birth of our Savior, Christ and Lord, transforms terror into triumph, doom to deliverance, gloom to gladness. The rotten world, with its bitter suffering and bleak future, was a thing of the past. God came down from His glory. The Word became flesh and dwelt among men (Jn 1:14) – full of grace and truth. The time had fully come for God to send his Son, born of a woman, born under the curse of the law (Gal 3:13), to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons (Gal 4:4-5). God's secret wisdom has been revealed, a wisdom that was hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began (1 Cor 2:7).
Do you have the peace of God, which transcends all understanding? Do you desire God’s peace to guard your hearts and your minds? (Phil 4:7) Do you have Jesus in your heart and the peace that the world can’t give and the world can’t take it away? Christmas does not mean eating, shopping, or traveling. Make haste and don’t hesitate. Pursue, discover and experience Christ for yourself. Are you a quiet, passive and ignorant observer, listener and believer? The Christmas angel appeared to make believers, eyewitnesses and evangelists out of unsuspecting shepherds. Do you tell others what you know and believe, and what you have seen and heard?
Victor Yap
Bible.ryl.hk (Grammar Bible)
Preachchrist.com (sermons)
