If you’ve ever watched pro-wrestling or attended any type of sports event, you know that when the players come out, they play music to hype up the crowd. In pro-wrestling and in baseball, each athlete has their own theme music as they make their way to the ring, or to the batter’s box.
And it doesn’t just happen in the pros either. In fact, while I was in college, and we would have a home game, they would play music for us as we headed to the batter’s box. Most of us, had regular songs, that we would pick out prior to the game, but for our shortstop Cody, who was basically the captain of the team, someone decided to change his music without him knowing it. As Cody emerged onto the field, the music started and as soon as those first words were sung the crowd started to crack up. His regular song wasn’t playing, instead it was “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” by Aerosmith. But instead of missing a beat, Cody just took it in stride and waved to the crowd. He got up and, if I’m remember right, hit the first pitch and got to second base.
Music can really add to an event, and that became a memorable day for our team.
It’s this idea of music adding to an event, that brings us to our Christmas series that we’re calling “That Night”. A lot happened on the night that Jesus was born. And we want to take a look at three specific moments that occurred as God came into this world.
Each of these three moments that we’ll be looking at, are all contained in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2. So if you would, open with me to Luke 2, where we’ll be beginning our Christmas series in verse 1.
Now as we open to Luke chapter 2 verse 1, Let’s talk about the background of the writing. Luke wasn’t one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus, but rather was a traveling companion of Paul, who’s writings make up the majority of the New Testament. Luke was a doctor, and would have been well educated for his day; this is reflected in the way in which he puts his gospel together. He very meticulously describes events to give us a robust understanding of the chronological events of Jesus’ life.
Luke gives the reason for his meticulous writing in his opening in chapter 1, verses 1-4. Luke writes, “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus (the-o-phil-us), 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”
Luke’s purpose in writing is to give an orderly account, so that people may be certain that the teachings being taught about Jesus are true and accurate. In fact, I heard once, that the Gospel of Luke may be the most accurate historical document of the ancient world, based on the geographical, cultural, and historical moments recorded.
So as we open up to Luke chapter 2 verse 1, we must take extra care in noticing the details that Luke provides us.
So let’s read through the passage and see what we can discover.
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius [ke-i-re-nee-us] was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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 guest room available for them. 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 that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’
“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.
There are four principle groups that are contained within this passage. The first group are the parents, the second are the angels, the third are the shepherds, and finally there is the baby. Since we only have three weeks, we are only going to focus on three of these groups. So, we’re going to have to say sorry to the parents, we’ll be leaving you behind this year; better luck next time.
Instead, this week, let’s focus, on the angels. The term angel is translated only about 290 times in the Bible. Out of those, the majority of the references deal with direct human interaction with a being called an angel, just like we see the angel here interacting with the shepherds. And other than the specific roles of the angels in the book of Revelation, there is only one other role the angels play throughout the Bible. That role is the praising of God.
In Job 38:6-7, it reads, “On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” This passage is referring to the time of creation and how the angels were singing for joy as God created.
In Psalm 103:20 we get this, “Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.” And later in Psalm 148:2 we get something similar, “Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.” Both of these are in reference to calling on the angles and all of creation to praise God for who he is.
In Hebrews 12:22, the author describes coming into God’s presence, when they write, “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly…”
And in the book of Revelation we get a great glimpse into the happenings of heaven. And twice in these glimpses, we get this first insight in chapter 5 verses 11 and 12, “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’”
Our second insight looks like this from two chapters over in Revelation 7:11-12, “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: ‘Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!’”
Do you see the momentous occasions that the angles break out in song? They sing when creation is being brought into existence. They sing as a chorus with all of creation. They sing to praise God for his work and wisdom and power in fulfilling the salvation work of bringing people out of their death and into his life. And it’s not a few voices joining in the singing, it’s thousands upon thousands upon tens of thousands.
The moments where we see the angels singing in the Bible, are times of great honor and glory being given back to God for the great things he has done.
And so, when we come to this moment where the angels are bringing the news of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, what do see?
Verse 13 and 14 of Luke chapter 2, “13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”
The first coming of Jesus to earth, which is called the incarnation, is a moment that parallels the creation of the universe, and the majesty of who God is. Why? Because it is God coming to his creation. It’s his entrance music. It’s an event that, with the angels singing, shows it to be a monumental moment in the world’s history.
As we are looking towards Christmas, after the year we have had, we must remember the monumental event that it was and is. We sing the carol, “Silent Night,” but in reality, the night was anything but silent. It was a theme music blaring on the speakers at the highest setting, as the God of Creation took on the flesh of humanity to walk with us.
Sometimes we can forget that the announcement of Jesus being born was anything less than praiseworthy. And when we forget the joy that the angels were sharing that night, the pain and problems of this world can rush in and take our eyes off of the God who is greater than any struggle we face.
Instead, God wants us to join in with the angels and their singing of praise. Because in the praise of God, peace is found, and triumph is achieved.
So my challenge for you this week, is to praise and thank God for at least 5 minutes a day specifically for Jesus’ birth. Praise him that with Jesus’ birth, we see that the sting of death would be destroyed. Praise him that with Jesus’ birth, we see our sin paid for in full. Praise him that with Jesus’ birth, no virus, no pain, no defeat of this world is greater than our God. Make up your own song, or sing a classic, either way, sing or shout your praise back to God for the glory of him coming down to earth to walk with us.
And let us find ourselves this Christmas season, being a part of that angel choir singing praises back to God who is deserving of all our celebration. Amen.
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