The waiting was over. This was the “good news of great joy” that the angel announced to the shepherds. The One God had promised had come! The descendant of King David. Born to a virgin, in Bethlehem. The Son of God. The Messiah. Emmanuel — God himself come to earth to be with the human beings he had created. The One who would save his people from their sins and give them light by which to live. This was very good news! And those who heard it recognized it as such:
The shepherds, the first to whom it was announced. They immediately went to Bethlehem to see for themselves (Luke 2:8-20) and then told others.
Simeon, a devout old man. God had promised Simeon that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Promised One and led him, by the Holy Spirit, directly to Joseph and Mary in the temple when they brought Jesus to be consecrated. Simeon took the baby in his arms and said, “My eyes have seen your salvation, . . . a light for revelation to the Gentiles” ((Luke 2:30, 32).
Anna, a very old prophetess, came up to Mary and Joseph at that very moment, and “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).
The Magi from the east, who saw “his” star “when it rose” and set out to find him (a long journey) and the star “went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:9). In Bethlehem, of which it was prophesied “out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” (Matthew 2:6). And when the magi saw Jesus “they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).
But what kind of king would Jesus be? And how would he save his people from their sin? How would this good news actually work out, then?
And how is it good news for us, today?
To be continued
