Bible Study Materials

GLORY TO GOD; PEACE TO MEN

by   11/30/2018  

Question


1. How was the baby born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger? (1-7) What does this tell us? 2. To whom did an angel of the Lord appear and what was his message to them? (8-12) Think about the angel’s message. 3. What did the heavenly chorus sing? (13-14) What is the meaning of this song? 4. What did the shepherds do? (15-20)


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Question


1. How was the effect of the decree of Caesar Augustus described? (1-3) What does Joseph have to do along with Mary? (4-5) Where was Jesus born? How did the author comment on this event? (6-7) What can we find in this event? 2. What happened to the shepherds in the field? (8-9) What message was delivered to them? (10-11) Why do all people need this message? What sign will they see? (12) Think about the significance of this sign. 3. What did the angels do? (13-14) What can you see in this angels’ song of praise? 4. What did the shepherds do? (15-20) What does this teach us?


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Message


Thank God that this year 2014 too, we can celebrate Christmas, the coming of the Son of God into this world. It is truly amazing that in history there was such a time when God’s Son was born in one specific place of the earth. In today’s passage Luke a historian describes the birth of Jesus the Son of God with the undeniable historical background and an angel’s message concerning who the baby Jesus is and angels’ song of the meaning of his birth. As we study this passage, we may go deeper into what Christmas means to us and to the world. First, the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem, in a manger (1-7). Look at verses 1-3. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Qurinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.” At that time the world was the Roman world, and Caesar Augustus known as Octavius in English world, was the Emperor, the first and presumably greatest emperor of Rome. At his command regarding a census, everyone went to his own town to register. His command was an absolute law. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. It was more than 120 km journey. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. The journey was an unexpected, costly and dangerous one. Look at verse 6. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.” Luke had written in chapter 1 that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and so would be called the Son of God. The Son of God was born in this way, while his parents were traveling in observance to the human law, and because of the unexpected troublesome travel the baby was born in Bethlehem, which was prophesied by Micah around 700 years before to be the birthplace of the Son of God, the Messiah promised to come. In this way the promise of God concerning the birthplace of the Messiah was fulfilled. The time was the perfect God’s time. In this description Caesar Augustus was the subject, and undeniably he was the central figure in world history at that time. Yet, in truth God is orchestrating all things to fulfill his promise in his redemptive work and history. We must believe that the world is in God’s hand and the history is moving according to God’s plan and purpose until the end of human history. This is true in each one’s life. Look at verse 7. “And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” We can say that Jesus was born in Bethlehem apparently through the political situation of that time. Now Mary the mother herself wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger. Humanly speaking, this could be one of the most sorrowful scenes in the world. Luke wrote, “because there was no room in the inn.” The social circumstance was so hard that no one could afford a room for the mother’s delivery and the baby just born. Yet, as Jesus was born in Bethlehem in God’s sovereign rule, so Jesus was laid in a manger in God’s sovereign reign. The Son of God, one in the highest place was laid in the lowest place. The most glorious one was put in the most inglorious and humble place, an animal’s trough. The riches one became the poorest one. This is God’s way. It is forever true that Christ Jesus can enter into a humble and poor heart, while sin entered into a proud and covetous heart. A humble heart has a room for Jesus, whereas a proud heart has no room for him. The humble birth of Jesus is an undeniable fact of Christianity. The humble birth in a manger sets the life of Christ to the humble rugged cross. Humble heart and humble manger-like lifestyle is a clear characteristic of Christian life. This is not a sorrowful and fatalistic lifestyle but a living and life-giving one. May we pursue it in our time. Second, he is a Saviour, Christ the Lord (8-12). While Jesus was born in Bethlehem laid in a manger, what was going on nearby place? There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. This is a supernatural event. The events around the birth of Jesus are both historical and supernatural. An angel of the Lord did not appear just to scare the shepherds, but deliver God’s message to them. The message is this: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” This message is the revelation of who the baby Jesus placed in a manger is. First of all, his birth is related to all people of the world with no exception, and it is good news of great joy, the gospel of great joy for the people of all nations. This joy is universal as well as person. The reason of this great joy is due to who he is. The angel said, “…a Saviour has been born to you.” Since man’s fall, all have been born as sinners. Yet, here is one exception. The baby Jesus was born as a Saviour. Luke made it clear in chapter 1 that the baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit and so sinless. It is obvious that a sinner cannot save another sinner, as a blind man cannot lead another blind man. Sinners are imprisoned and perishing in sin, and that is the situation of all mankind. At the very time man sinned and fell, God promised to send a Saviour, and according to his promise, a Saviour was born after about 4000 years later. The baby Jesus would grow and die for man’s sins and be raised from the dead. This would be the life path of the Savour. He saves sinful mankind through his death and resurrection. Yet, he himself is the salvation, as Simeon prophesied taking the baby Jesus in his arms and praising God, saying, “…my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people” (Lk 2:30-31). For the salvation, the message of repentance and the kingdom of God was proclaimed. John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah, came and preached the baptism of repentance in the hope prophesied in the words of Isaiah, “all mankind will see God’s salvation” (Lk 3:1-6). Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God from the beginning of his public life to the end of his life on earth. Those who repented and accepted the words of Jesus were saved and moved from death to life. This work of salvation has been done throughout history. I thank and praise God for his salvation work among us, in the hearts of several students through Bible study this year. The angel said, “He is Christ the Lord.” The literal meaning of “Christ”, in Hebrew “Messiah”, is “Anointed One” Jesus is God’s anointed one as Saviour and King, whom all mankind have been waiting. “Who is the Christ?” has been the endless inscrutable question to the people of the world. Yet, at the time of Jesus’ birth an angel of the Lord declared, “He is Christ the Lord.” And he proved himself to be the Christ through his death and resurrection. Saviour, Christ the Lord cannot be separated. Our Saviour Jesus is Christ the Lord. He is God’s promised and appointed Saviour King. He saves and he rules. Accepting Jesus means to accept him both as Saviour and Christ the Lord, King. Unless they accept Jesus as Lord and King, they are under Satan’s kingship. We have seen that the history of the world was in God’s hand, which led Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. Jesus once said, “All things have been committed to me by my Father” (Lk 10:22). The history of the world is in the hand of Christ the Lord. He is ruling and reigning. This is as the angel Gabriel said to Mary, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” (Lk 1:32b-33). I repent that there was a sorrow and fatalism in my heart seeing that the power of this world seemed to be very strong and the work of God, very weak. I must renew my faith that he is my Saviour and he is Christ the Lord. At the time of great persecution in the powerful kingdom of Rome, John saw a vision and heard a loud voice in heaven, “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev 11:15). They say that in the 20th century the war was an ideology war between communism and democracy. Now this war was gone, but in 21 century the war is a religious war between Islam and Christianity. Nowadays Muslim power is rapidly increasing in Europe and North America, through generating many children and some other reasons, while Christianity is becoming so weakened. Some predict and worry that England, Germany and France and other European countries will be Muslim countries. Yet, there are living Christians. It was good to hear that at the time of referendum in England 1000 devout Christians prayed earnestly and God protected the nation from the division for Scotland to be a separate independent nation. Actually many people were surprised by the result, 55:45 that kept the nation into one. It was also good to hear to me that Mohamed grew as a sincere boy, but one reason he made Islam religion was that no one preached the gospel to him although there were some priests around him. At this time I newly thank God for the timeless message that Jesus is the Saviour, and Christ the Lord. This good news of great joy must be spread to all people of the world including Muslims. Look at verse 12. “This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” This will be both a physical sign and a spiritual sign. By seeing a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger in Bethlehem at that moment they would be assured that the angel’s message about the baby was true. And spiritually speaking, the sign of Saviour and Christ the Lord is his humble birth born in the stable of an animal and lying in a manger. No human was born in such a humble state. No one would be too lowly or too fatalistic to be embraced. His humble heart cuddles all. He would die on the cross to save all sinners. No sinner would be an exception unless the person remains unrepentant and rejects this grace of salvation. The manger and the cross are the unique and unchangeable sign of Saviour and Christ the Lord until the end of the age. Third, Glory to God; Peace to men (13-20). Look at verses 13 and 14. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.’” At this point no human being on earth would praise God not knowing what was taking place. But both the good news of great joy and the choir of praising God came from heaven. The group of the heavenly choir was a great company of the heavenly host. The theme of the song is glory to God and peace to men. We remember that at the time of creation God’s glory was proclaimed throughout the universe. His glory was peak at the creation of men. The earth was full of his creatures, and so the whole earth was filled with God’s glory. But when men sinned, God’s heart was broken. Then as the whole world became corrupt with the image of God distorted in each man, God was so grieved that he had to destroy the earth through the flood. Instead of God’s glory, God’s wrath filled the earth. Now at the time of the birth of Jesus, Saviour and Christ the Lord, God’s glory was proclaimed anew by the heavenly angels in the chorus. This could be the expression of God’s utmost joy, for God’s redeeming love for mankind was displayed through his Son. Since man’s fall, nothing would make God happy but the redemption of mankind. The life of Jesus was full of God’s glory and so glorious, revealing God’s redeeming love to sinful mankind. He touched and cleansed a man with leprosy. He declared forgiveness of sins to a paralytic who came to him by his four friends, then the paralytic stood up, took his mat and went home praising God, and the people were filled with awe. Evil spirits obeyed him and came out of men. A sinful woman was forgiven of her sin and was made new pure and holy and truly loving. Jesus praised God that the gospel of the kingdom of God was revealed to the humble like little children although hidden to the wise and learned. Before the cross, he prayed, “Father…glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you” (Jn 17:1). On the cross he invited a fatalistic sinner to the kingdom of God. Jesus glorified God the Father most through his death on the cross. And his resurrection was the vivid demonstration of God’s power and glory. From the time of his birth to the end of his life Jesus was glory to God, particularly through the redemption of mankind. Now also in Christ Jesus our life purpose is renewed to glorify God, which is the original purpose of creating men. And Peace to Men. At the time of man’s fall, peace was gone from men in broken relationship with God. And as a consequence peace between men and men was also gone. There began an invisible war between God and men. Since then man longed for peace with God. There was no true peace among men, even in a family. All human effort and sacrifices were of no use. Now at the time of Jesus’ birth it is declared, “on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.” What an amazing grace! It was because the reconciliation between God and man was made through his Son Jesus, who would die as an atoning sacrifice for man’s sin. So this peace would be a result of salvation through faith in Jesus. This peace is through the baby Jesus. A carol song “Silent night! Holy night!” expresses this. This song was made by two humble church leaders (Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber) for their own mountain village parishioners in the region of Tyrol, high in the beautiful Alps, not realizing how universal its influence would eventually be: “Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace; Sleep in heavenly peace.” At the last Supper Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (Jn 14:27). The peace Jesus gives is different from the peace the world gives. Many people wish that they may be peace in the Middle East through the ceasing of the war. Even such peace is not possible, because nation rises against nation and kingdom against kingdom as a sign of the end of the age. True pace come only through Christ Jesus. The good news, the gospel, is called the gospel of peace. His people are to bring peace to the world through the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-20). When the angel left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds went to Bethlehem and saw the baby, who was lying in the manger. They spread the word concerning what they had been told about the child. And they returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. The shepherds were first Christians on earth and an example for all Christians, who would come. The saw the baby Jesus in a manger, spread the word and also heard and seen what God had been doing. They glorified and praised God. We thank and praise God for Jesus who was born in a manger. He is the Saviour and Christ the Lord. And his birth is glory to God and peace to men. May we live in this world with faith in him and live a life that glorifies God and brings peace to men.


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Message


Merry Christmas! Christmas is commercially the biggest event of the year. The Toronto Santa Clause parade is also a grand production, with the attendance of more than half-a-million people each year. First held in 1905, it is one of the largest parades in North America, and one of the oldest parade traditions in the world. Most people like the Christmas mood. However, many of people do not know or have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas and have lost the true Christmas spirit. In today’s passage, Luke 2:1-20, we learn of the first Christmas, the origin of Christmas. In this passage, we will see where and how Jesus was born and what happened on the day of his birth. May we newly and more deeply learn the core of the Christmas spirit – that is, the baby Jesus. First, the baby Jesus laid in a manger (1-7). Luke begins the story of Jesus’ birth with Caesar Augustus’ issuing a decree for a census to be taken of the entire Roman world. At this decree, everyone went to his own town to register. His decree was absolute. No one was exempt, not even a woman whose pregnancy was full-term. So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. The traveling distance was around 160 km, and the journey would take about three days in that time. It was a troublesome and very dangerous journey for the couple. This event displays the power of the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus that could force an expecting couple, as trivial subjects in a small, colonized country, to make such a trip. What an enforcement! How then does the story proceed? Look at verse 6. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.” Certainly, here the time was God’s time, not Caesar’s time. The census took place according to the Roman Emperor’s plan and policy, his calendar, his timetable in human history. But in fact, it was God’s timing planned long time ago in God’s redemptive history, the very time the Son of God had to be born. Also notable is that Jesus was born in Bethlehem because of Caesar’s decree. Without the decree Jesus would have not been born Bethlehem, but in Nazareth. Caesar Augustus was apparently in control, but God is the one who was actually in control, fulling his promise that the Son of God would be born in Bethlehem, prophesied by the prophet Micah around 500 years before this birth (Mic. 5:2). Unwittingly, Caesar Augustus was used by God in the history of God. We should know that God’s history overrides human history. In other words, human history supports God’s history. In human history, Caesar Augustus was the main figure at that time. However, from the perspective of God’s history, Caesar was an extra. Joseph and Mary, who looked so insignificant in the eyes of the people of the world, were the main actors, as they were acting and moving in line with God’s leading. We should have eyes to see the history of God and live according God’s time schedule. (Your coming to this Christmas worship service is according to God’s time). God’s history is the undercurrent of human history. Look at verse 7. “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” This is a description of the socio-economic situation of that time in Judea. In that society, ordinary people were poor and they had to take care of themselves amidst their hard lives. Subsequently, there was no room for the newborn baby in the inn. This shows the pathetic and sorrowful state of ordinary people of that time and in that land. In any case, in this way the Son of God was born and laid in a manger. However, in this event there is an unfathomable truth of God. All the mysteries of God seem to be hidden in this one shocking event. The Son of God came into this world as a helpless baby and was laid in a manger. The Son of God gave up glory, honour, power, wealth, and position in heaven and came into this world. He was not born in a palace like a worldly prince. After giving up his heavenly privilege, he was born in the lowest place and laid in the humblest spot, an animal’s food box. This humble birth of Jesus contains his humble and sacrificial life and his atoning death on the cross. Jesus the Son of God was born as a baby in such a lowly and humble way so that all people could approach him. It was to save all the helpless and fatalistic souls who come to him. The fundamental problem of mankind is the sin of pride. In prideful ambition to be like God, the first man disobeyed God’s holy command, took the forbidden fruit and ate it and thus fell. Even after the flood judgment mankind challenged God by attempting to build a tower that reaches to the heavens (Ge 11:4). Pride goes before destruction (Pro. 16:18). In this description, the author, Luke, sharply contrasts Caesar Augustus on the throne and the baby Jesus in a manger. Most people of the world want to climb the ladder of success up to the height of the throne of the Empire, even trampling on their fellow men in the process. We can say that human history is the history of one tragedy after another because of such selfish ambition. At that time, Caesar Augustus was considered to be the saviour of the world. In truth, however, Caesar on the throne, in his system, could never save even one person. Rather, he kills and destroys, one by one. But the baby Jesus in the manger saves. He would eventually die on the cross for the saving of souls from their sins. There are two kinds of way of living: Caesar on the throne and the baby Jesus in the manger. One is the way of destruction; the other is the way of life. Even many believers envy the throne of Caesar and his glamour and luxurious life style and despise the manger in which the baby Jesus was laid. They are greatly mistaken. However, God wants us to cherish the baby Jesus in the manger and go with him, following his way in our journey of life in this world. Manger lifestyle is not necessarily living poorly. One can become wealthy yet be thrifty towards themselves and serve God and others, abundantly. That’s an important part of a manger lifestyle. It is to be content in any and every situation, and rich toward God and others, whether in plenty or want. Manger spirit is that he became poor to make us rich (2 Cor. 8:9). In 2013 around Christmas time my first daughter Sara got burned while working in a restaurant. She slipped as she was carrying hot water and the lower part of her body got burned to the third degree. While everyone else was attending the GTA united Christmas worship service, she was alone in the hospital bed, not even able to go to the toilet. In that helpless situation the baby Jesus lying in a manger was of great comfort to her. She grew in the humbleness of Jesus and this Jesus led her to marry a man of God, last September. To some of you, your life journey this year may have been a very hard one with unexpected events leading you to a very low point of your life. I believe that while no one could be with you, this Jesus laid in a manger has been with you and guided you. Still he can be a great comfort to those who seek him in their unexpected difficult life situation. He can make us rich. He can lift us up. May we not lose sight of this Jesus laid in a manger in any life situation, whether prosperous or unprosperous, because he is the very image of the sovereign God and the exact representation of the God of grace and truth. Second, A Saviour, Christ the Lord (8-12). Now the scene changes. There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night (8). At that time, shepherds were lowly people with shift jobs. They were looked down upon in the society. Yet, these shepherds were faithful people, who kept watch over their flocks at night while all others were sleeping. The spirit of these shepherds aligns with that of baby Jesus in the manger. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The dark night suddenly became bright with the glory of the Lord. At this sight the shepherds were terrified. But a glorious and amazing message was given to them, message no person in the world had ever heard of before. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Let’s ponder on this message from heaven by the angel. This is the first Christmas message delivered to the shepherds. This message, first of all, is not only good news but also of great joy. And the message would be for all people of the world. No single person would be excluded from the sphere/realm of this heavenly blessing. The actual message is this: “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been to you; he is Christ the Lord.” “Today” was the very day God had been eagerly waiting for, ever since God promised to send a Saviour right after man’s fall. Not only God, but also all mankind and all of nature had been wearily waiting for that day. Therefore, “today” was the day of the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Saviour into this world. Subsequently “today” was the day of the Saviour’s birth, the Saviour’s birthday. This was a day in history, which divided human civilization into BC and AD. “Today in the town of David…” The town of David, Bethlehem was prophesied to be the very place the Son of God would be born. God’s sovereign control over Caesar Augustus, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. As each of us has a birthplace, so the Son of God had a birthplace, a little town in Bethlehem as per the hymn song, “A little town of Bethlehehm.” “A Saviour has been born to you.” Now there is a clear message that the baby Jesus in a manger is the Saviour for all mankind. The Saviour saves men from their sins and all the consequences of sin, including eternal punishment. For this he would suffer and die on the cross, taking upon himself all the sins of the world. The Saviour had to be born in order to die. Yes, we were all born to die. However, again, his death would not be a natural death, but an atoning death for man’s sin. He was born as a Saviour. He would live as a Saviour. He would die as a Saviour, offering himself as a ransom sacrifice. His birth includes all this. So, his birth is truly good news to mankind. “A Saviour has been born to you.” His birth becomes personal to those who accepts him in their hearts and lives. Praise God for the birth of our Saviour Jesus. The story of Jesus’ saving people is always beautiful. There were two criminals dying on the cross, as Jesus was there also on the cross, in the middle. One of them was hardhearted to the end, to his last breath, hurling insults at Jesus who was suffering and dying just like them. But the other criminal was repentant, in the fear of the righteous God. When he was repentant, he could see the Saviour in the dying Jesus who was innocent. He stood against the other fellow criminal and the power of Rome and all the religious authorities who despised the crucified Jesus. In truth, he stood against the whole world in his helpless human condition, close to death. At that moment, salvation came to him. Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:43). One young girl was growing well in a Christian family. She had shared the good news of Jesus with her classmates, joyfully and boldly. However, from a certain point, she felt peer pressure among her classmates and began to doubt God’s love in Christ Jesus. Her doubt grew to the point where her intellectual pride ruled her mind against God. In fact, her inner conflict was so great that she fell into deep depression. At that time, God had mercy on her to hear Jesus’ crying on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mk 15:34) at the 2009 EBC. She repented of her sin of pride and decided to put her faith in Jesus who died for her sins. Since then, her faith was restored and she has been growing in gospel faith. Now she has a direction to live as a lawyer-shepherd for Christ, leading young souls to his salvation. Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:18, 22-24). Jesus laid in a manger and crucified on the cross is truly the wisdom of God and the power of God for the salvation of mankind. “He is Christ the Lord.” It is very important to know that Jesus is not only our Saviour, but Christ the Lord. Christ means the promised Messiah, the Anointed. Apostle Peter said in Acts 2:36, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.” Our Saviour Jesus who died on the cross was raised from the dead and thus God made him both Lord and Christ. Apostle Paul also wrote in Romans 1:4 that Jesus was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” Paul wrote further in Philippians 2:8-11, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...” Apostle Peter and Paul wrote these after Jesus’ resurrection. However, notably, at the time of Jesus’ birth, the angel proclaimed, “He is Christ the Lord.” What an amazing message! Again, his birth includes the whole of his life. He is Christ the Lord, the only one who is worthy of our worship and devotion and obedience. He is our Saviour and Christ the Lord. When even the winds and waves of the sea obeyed him, his disciples were amazed, asking each other, “Who is this?” (Mk 4:41). Evil spirits trembled before his presence and fell down before him (Mk 3:11). Death could not keep its hold on him (Acts 2:24). He is above all. Jesus is both our Saviour and Lord; it cannot be separated. This is the full message. The baby Jesus, born and laid in a manger, is our Saviour and Christ the Lord. He holds our future. He is ruling the world and will come again. Praise God for this wonderful Christmas message. The angel continued to say in verse 12, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” The baby Jesus laid in a manger being our Saviour and Christ the Lord, is beyond human understanding. However, this is God’s way of working and, so, is God’s sign. This will be a physical sign and a spiritual sign. Third, Gory to God; Peace to Men (13-20). At the wonder of God in the time of Jesus’ birth no human could understand the amazing meaning of this event. But the angels in heaven knew it. Therefore, in verses 13 and 14, it is written, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.’” Glory has the meaning of revealing. At the time of Jesus’ birth God’s great love was revealed. Therefore, it was “Glory to God in the highest.” In this world, peace comes when war ends. In the spiritual world, too. Peace came when the war between God and man ended through the reconciliation of Christ Jesus’ death on the cross. This peace is peace with God. The enmity between God and man disappeared in Christ Jesus. This peace is inner peace, different from the peace the world offers. This is the eternal peace. It was very costly. It is written in Colossians 1:19-20, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things whether things on earth or things in heaven by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Peace comes from this Jesus, not from Pax Romana. If one rejects this Jesus, there is no peace. As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes” (Lk 19:41-42). Jesus lamented, when the people of Jerusalem could not see the peace Jesus would bring. When one repents of his sins and accepts Jesus as the Saviour, peace and fellowship with God begins in the heart. If I have peace with God and fellowship with him each day, what a wonderful life that is. “Glory to God” and “Peace to men.” Luke did not end the description of Jesus’ birth with the angel’s message. It goes up to the heavenly host’s praising God. It is important to know what the ultimate purpose of our life is. It is to praise and glorify God for his wonderful love in Christ Jesus. When Jesus made an entry into Jerusalem to die on the cross, a whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Lk 19:38). At this, some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” Jesus replied, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Lk 19:39-40). On the very night before the cross Jesus prayed, “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you” (Jn 17:1). May our life be glory to God and peace to men in Christ Jesus. What can be true praise and glory to God in this world? It is the birth of Jesus in each person’s heart. When one accepts Jesus as Saviour and Christ the Lord, that’s praise and glory to God. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds hurried off to go to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger just as they had been told. They spread the word of the angel’s message them about the child, and returned, glorifying and praising God. We thank and praise God for the humble birth of Jesus laid in a manger. It is the birth of a Saviour and he is Christ the Lord. This is glory to God and peace to men. May we have this Jesus in our hearts and lives and live a life that is glory to God and peace to men in Christ Jesus.


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