“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14 (KJV)
I’m sure you recognize that verse as what the angel said to the shepherds when he announced the birth of Jesus Christ, but I have come to realize the depth and the glory of that statement is far greater and grander than I’d ever imagined.
Ever since the Garden of Eden and that original sin when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit (See Genesis 3:1-6) and mankind rejected its perfect relationship with God the Father by disobeying Him, they and all their descendants would live in conflict with Him. Even though God in His sovereignty continued to reign over all, humanity was now subject to sin and to Satan who is the Great Deceiver.
But the proclamation of the angel that night to the lowly shepherds watching their flocks was the first step in God’s plan for the greatest example of conflict resolution the world would ever see. God stepped in and would call an end to the conflict, animosity, and war not with a show of power or the dictate of a Supreme Ruler, but by offering up His own Son for all the sins of the world –past, present, and future.
God had done nothing wrong in creating Adam and Eve. Nor is God to be blamed for putting a tree in that Garden from which they should not eat. Yes, Eve was deceived and Satan is most certainly not innocent in all that took place, but Adam chose conflict with God. Only a second, sinless Adam (Jesus) would be able to resolve and heal the relationship broken in the Garden.
What God announced that night outside of Bethlehem was a way out of that conflict based on the Good News. (Have you ever noticed the angel, speaking in Luke 2:10 uses the words, “good news?” In the original Greek, the word is εὐαγγελίζομαι and Strong’s Concordance says it means “to announce good news, especially the gospel.”)
God would give up His own Son so that we could be forgiven and free, but He would not and could not neglect justice. That’s why a cross and an empty grave comes into this story some 33 years or so after that night.
Peace.
To all the earth, God proclaimed peace –and although He filled the entire night sky with His angel armies singing His praises that night, there was no sword in His hand, no hint of coercion or force involved. All the earth had, and still has, the offer of the Good News and the working of the Holy Spirit.
It was, and still is, an offering of love. Humanity chose sin. Humanity chose conflict with God. We chose war, but that night, God showed His love for us by sending He who was and is the Prince of Peace.
Even today, He gives us the opportunity to choose to live, forgiven and free as new creations, born again with a restored relationship with Him.
Salvation comes to all who trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Him alone freedom from sin is found, and forgiveness is granted.
Forgiveness is a gift and it is just as precious to give as it is to receive. (See Matthew 6:12 and Luke 11:4)
Today’s Praise
Luke 4:18-19
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Amen Dan, Amen!
Thank you and God for his mercy.