Our Third Advent

I’m talking about that giddy, uncontrollable joy, where you want to run and jump and shout for joy?

Some of you may feel like this is an unfair question. That this year, 2020, has not been very joyful at all. However, there is one moment of giddy, uncontrollable joy that happened hundreds, if not thousands of times throughout 2020. And that’s when parents find out a baby’s on the way!

Specifically, for those first-time parents!

We’ve all seen those videos on social, where a mom plans a pregnancy reveal to her husband on camera. And what does he do? He goes crazy; crying or laughing, sometimes both at the same time.

He is overwhelmed with joy!

Then, an even better video-clip is when the couple tells the first-time grandparents. I especially love watching grandmas! She starts dancing around the kitchen or living room like a crazy lady! You can’t help but smile or laugh.

Now imagine for a moment, receiving that baby announcement after 400 years of waiting.

Of course, that’s not possible within the human lifespan, but that’s how long God’s people, Israel had been waiting for the Messiah, our coming Saviour, Jesus.

What kind of giddy, uncontrollable joy would that produce?

Today, as we move into our third Advent, we’re going to look at an unlikely crew who would receive the Messiah’s birth announcement from angels. An unlikely crew of shepherds; outcasts and misfits, whose joy was truly uncontainable. Who would end up running all over the countryside telling everyone they met!

“The Messiah had come!”

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:8-11

First, the shepherds were filled with fear. Maybe you’re wondering, why were they afraid? Where’s the joy you were talking about?

Depending on your church background and biblical literacy, you might think meeting an angel would be a very joyful experience. However, a true biblical concept of angels helps us understand why the shepherds were so fearful, to begin with.

Angelology: Part 1

If we look at the doctrine of Angelology, we see that there is often a disconnect between how Western art and culture might view angels and how the Bible describes angels, or more specifically, how people respond to seeing angels.

Both the Hebrew (mal`ach), and the Greek (angelos) “…mean ‘messenger’ and describe one who executes the purpose and will of the one whom they serve.”

Angelology: The Doctrine of Angels, Bible.org

We shouldn’t view these angels (messengers) like a postal worker or delivery truck driver. This type of messenger is a military messenger carrying vital information from his Commanding Officer; a soldier messenger in God’s army. (Which we will explore deeper in the next section of this post.)

Coming back to our shepherds, this angel was bringing a message of “good news” (what we as Christians might state as the Gospel) “of great joy”.

Why was this good news so joyful?

As the angel clarifies, the Christ has come! For these shepherds in the First Century, they would have known this to mean the Messiah, their Saviour!

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Luke 2:12-15

Now the angels give them a sign for them to look for, and to give evidence to the angel’s message from God. They will find a baby in a manger; or a cattle trough. (The cattle trough shook you a bit didn’t it?)

In our culture, and even in Christian culture, the manger (which was a feeding trough for animals) has become an apt place to place baby Jesus. However, if you were to visit a farm and saw a new-born baby lying in a cattle trough, you’d be shocked.

That’s the point! It’s not normal!

This “sign” first, show them which baby is the Messiah. Second, it would serve as a defence for themselves, that they’re not crazy, and they really did receive an angelic message from God. Lastly, it would be evidence for those whom they would tell later on, and likely for the rest of their lives.

We shouldn’t be shocked when God does something miraculous, that He also provides evidence as pointers, to help people along.

Angelology: Part 2

Then a “heavenly host” of Angels appear and sing. Once again, this is where Western art and culture fill in the mental blanks, instead of taking cues from biblical descriptions and understanding.

Looking at the doctrine of Angelology once again, we see a very different picture than one might find on an angelic Christmas card.

“‘Host’ is the Hebrew tsaba, ‘army, armies, hosts.’ It is a military term and carries the idea of warfare…”

“Heavenly Host” is often used to “describe God’s angels as the ‘armies of heaven’ who serve in the army of God engaged in spiritual warfare.”

Angelology: The Doctrine of Angels, Bible.org

Now it all begins to make sense!

Now we can start to understand how the joy of these shepherds sets in. This is where their giddy, uncontrollable joy starts to well up inside of them.

Consider what has happened to them:

• They received God’s invitation. (They would witness the Christ-Child.)
• They received God’s confirmation. (First, by an angel, then given a sign.)
• They received God’s protection. (The heavenly host, God’s army was with them.)

Imagine for a moment, this warrior choir, singing this battle song into the darkness, into the night sky. In the spiritual realm, Satan and his demons cowering, knowing that the King of Kings had come; that the beginning of their reign on earth would start to crumble.

Then the shepherds run; the search was on!

“Let’s get to Bethlehem ASAP!”

16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 2:16-20

They witness the Christ-Child, and they have their validation. This was Christ! And what do they do next? They spread the good news!

And it makes sense, doesn’t it? What does anyone do when they have good news? You tell everyone!

What is the Good News? (The Gospel)

The rest of the Good News would unfold in the years to come. He would grow into an adult, serving humanity while one earth, building into His eternal Kingdom. However, many of those who followed Him turned from Him, many hated Him, because He would not focus on the earthly kingdom that they all wanted.

They would crucify Him. And yet, this was all part of God’s plan, that began on that night, in the manger. Christ would die and be buried and remain in the grave for three days. But then, resurrection!

Christ rose from the dead, conquering sin and death!

Not long after that, He would ascend to heaven, to prepare a place for those who would be His followers then, and for the rest of time. For those who choose to follow Jesus, eternity with Him awaits.

That is very Good News, of very great joy!

The wonder for me is for us as Christians, who have this Good News, this Gospel of great joy? Why don’t we tell everyone? Why don’t we spread the news like the shepherds?

With that in mind, this Christmas, we should all ask ourselves,

“Will I choose to spread the Good News that produces great joy?”

We should ask ourselves,

• “Who will you invite?
• How will you invite them?
• Will I share a post?
• Create a watch party online?
• Will I attend a gathering, and bring a friend or family member along?”

“Will I keep this Good News to myself, or will I spread it?”

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

• What was the most joyful moment in your life? Why was it so good?
• Describe the moment you realized Jesus was the Christ. How was it good news?