December 20, 1987
The angel’s message of good news of great joy, first heard by a group of lowly shepherds, still resonates with us today. Why is this? In this sermon, Alistair Begg reflects on the glorious announcement of Christ’s birth and the good news that salvation is for all people. What is your response to the angelic message?
8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord xappeared to them, and ythe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all zthe people. 11For aunto you is born this day in bthe city of David ca Savior, who is dChrist ethe Lord. 12And fthis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby gwrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel ha multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14i“Glory to God jin the highest,
jand on earth kpeace lamong those with whom he is pleased!”4
15When 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.” 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby mlying in a manger. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But nMary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, oglorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.