MESSAGE

OF

LOVE

JESUS IS THE MESSAGE Luke 2:8-12 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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.	REVIEW The meanest circumstances of Christ's humiliation were all along attended with some discoveries of his glory, to balance them. When we saw him wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, we were tempted to say, “Surely this cannot be the Son of God.” But see his birth attended with a choir of angels, and we shall say, “Surely it can be no other than the Son of God.” We had in Matthew an account of the notice given to the wise men, who were Gentiles, by a star; here we are told of the notice given of it to the shepherds who were Jews, by an angel: to each God chose to speak in the language they were most conversant with. 1. How the shepherds were employed: they were abiding in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night. v. 8. The angel was not sent to the chief priests or the elders, but to a company of poor shepherds. The patriarchs were shepherds and by his instance God would show that he had still a favour for those of that innocent employment. They were not sleeping in their beds, when this news was brought them, but abiding in the fields, and watching. They were broad awake, and therefore could not be deceived in what they saw and heard, so as those may be who are half asleep. They were employed now, not in acts of devotion, but in the business of their calling: they were keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of divine visits when we are sensibly employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. 2. How they were surprised with the appearance of an angel (v. 9): Behold, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord round about them; such as made the night as bright as day. This made them sore afraid. While we are gracious to ourselves of so much guilt, we have reason to fear lest every express from heaven should be a messenger of wrath. 3. What the message was which the angel had to deliver to the shepherds, v.10-12 “The Savior is born this day: and, since it is matter of great joy to all people. He is born in the place where it was foretold he should be born. “You will find him by this token: he is lying in a manger, where surely never any new-born infant was laid before. You will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.
THE MESSAGE IS AMAZING Luke 2:16-18 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.	REVIEW They immediately made the visit, v. 16. They lost no time, but came with haste to the place, and there they found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. The poverty and meanness in which they found Christ the Lord were no shock to their faith, who themselves knew what it was t o live a life of comfortable communion with God in very poor and mean circumstances. We have reason to think that the shepherds told Joseph and Mary of the vision of the angels they had seen and the song of the angels they had heard, which was a great encouragement to them. 1. The care which the shepherds took to spread the report of this (v. 17): When they had seen it they made known abroad the whole story of what was told them, both by the angels, and by Joseph and Mary, concerning this child, that he was the Saviour, even Christ the Lord, that in him there is peace on earth. This they told everybody, and agreed in their testimony concerning it. What impression did it make upon people? Why truly, All they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds, v. 18. They wondered, but never inquired any further about the Saviour.
THE MESSAGE IS FOR ALL PEOPLE Luke 2:25-32 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.	REVIEW Even when he humbles himself, still Christ has honour done him. Simeon and Anna now do him honour, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. A very honourable testimony is born to him by Simeon. Now observe here, the account that is given us concerning this Simeon. He dwelt now in Jerusalem and was eminent for his piety and communion with God. Some learned men, who have been conversant with the Jewish writers, find that there was at this time one Simeon, a man of great note in Jerusalem. The Jews say that he was endued with a prophetical spirit. One thing objected against this conjecture is that at this time his father Hillel was living, and that he himself lived many years after this; but, as to that, he is not here said to be old; and his saying Now let thy servant depart intimates that he was willing to die now, but does not conclude that therefore he did die quickly. Another thing objected is that the son of Simeon was Gamaliel, a Pharisee, and an enemy to Christianity; but, as to that, it is no new thing for a faithful lover of Christ to have a son a bigoted Pharisee. The account given to him here is (1) That he was just and devout, just towards men and devout towards God; these two must always go together, and each will befriend the other, but neither will atone for the defect of the other. (2) That he waited for the consolation of Israel, that is, for the coming of the Messiah. (3) That the Holy Ghost was upon him, not only as a Spirit of holiness, but as a Spirit of prophecy; he was filled with the Holy Ghost. (4) That he had a gracious promise made him, that before he died he should have a sight of the Messiah, v. 26. He received this oracle that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah, the Lord's Anointed. Those, and those only, can with courage see death, and look it in the face without terror, that have had by faith a sight of Christ. Those that would see Christ must go to his temple; for there the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to meet you, and there you must be ready to meet him. Simeon embraced him, laid him in his bosom, as near his heart as he could, which was as full of joy as it could hold. He took him up in his arms, to present him to the Lord. When we receive the record which the gospel gives us of Christ with a lively faith, and the offer it makes us of Christ with love and resignation, then we take Christ in our arms. It was promised him that he should have a sight of Christ; but more is performed than was promised: has him in his arms. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. It bespeaks a believing expectation of a happy state on the other side death, through this salvation he now had a sight of, which not only takes off the terror of death, but makes in gain, Phil. 1:21. This salvation shall be a blessing to the world. It is prepared before the face of all people, to be a light to lighten the Gentiles; for Christ came to be the light of the world, not a candle in the Jewish candlestick, but the Sun of righteousness; a blessing to the church: the glory of thy people Israel. When Christ ordered his apostles to preach the gospel to all nations, therein he made himself a light to lighten the Gentiles; and when he added, beginning at Jerusalem, he made himself the glory of his people Israel. Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Merry Christmas!