Goodwill Towards Men

It is what Paul termed as the “unspeakable gift.” (II Corinthians 9:15) The word Paul used is not used anywhere else in the NT and means something that cannot be fully grasped! ( ἀνεκδιήγητος anekdiēgētos)

It is what caused the blessed disciples to rejoice as they marched into Jerusalem before the crucifixion exclaiming, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” (Luke 19:38)

I would invite us this morning, those that know Him, to treasure our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To marvel at that which cannot be fully comprehended.

To praise Him and perhaps for some I invite you to meet Him personally and receive Him for the first time!

Let us read Luke 2:8-18

Please take note of this descriptive phrase given to us by the heavenly host of the Lord, “Glory to God in the Highest, Peace on earth, good will toward men...”

Let’s Pray

At this point in Luke chapter 2 much already taken place.

Without giving you all the details I would like to summarize the events according to the Word of God.

There was a woman by the name of Mary, she was a young lady, a girl who was betrothed to a man by the name of Joseph.

For our understanding we might say that she was ‘engaged’, but in this culture and in this day the betrothal was really more than an engagement. It was a commitment, as if Mary was already married to Joseph. This is important to note because of what I am about to tell you. (Luke 1:26-27)

This young woman by the name of Mary who was commited to be married or i consummate their marriage with Jospeh was a virgin. That means simply that she had never been with a man.

And the Bible says that God Himself sent an angel whose name is given to us in Luke chapter 1:26 by the name of Gabriel. He delivered a message to Mary that she would conceive, thus becoming pregnant. Not because she had been with a man, but because God, the Holy Spirit would cause her to conceive. The Bible says that Gabriel announced that, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” There is nothing more described other than this child would be miraculously conceived in the womb of Mary and Mary would carry this child.

Of course this would be terribly misinterpreted being that Mary was betrothed to the man Joseph, just as in our days when a woman shows up pregnant and there is nothing particularly known as to why this woman was pregnant people would assume what took place. Perhaps they would begin to talk and discuss why this woman was pregnant.

Joseph in this culture and in this day would be brought to shame because of the seeming infidelity of Mary. And according to the customs and law of the day Joseph could have her stoned or “put her away”— -meaning he could absolve the commitment of the betrothal because of this seeming infidelity.

We are told further that as Joseph thought on these things and was minded to put her away privately that an angel appeared unto to Joseph and explained those things which were explained to Mary. How that Mary would carry this child conceived of the Holy Ghost and that child would be called Emmanuel God with us. Joseph thus continued to have Mary to be his wife.

But the Bible specifically tells us that Joseph did not “know” Mary in the marriage bed until after the birth of Jesus the Christ according to Matthew 1:25 . In other words as Mary carried this child she was still a virgin.

It was this angel that told Mary and Joseph what to name the child, his name would be called Jesus and according to the Bible shall be called “the Son of the Highest.” (Son of God)

As we fast forward in the story we are then told that Mary and Joseph, Mary being great with child were compelled to go to Joseph’s own city of record which was Bethlehem which was just south of Jerusalem being on the outskirts. They were by decree of Caesar Augustus to go to Bethlehem which was approx. five miles southwest of Jerusalem to be registered to be taxed. And so off they went traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem. And right before our very text here we are told that “while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.” (vs 6) And she had the child.

In just two short weeks we will be witnesses of the Christmas Musical Drama “Good will toward men.”

This musical drama seeks to describe aptly what that phrase means and to invite people to receive Jesus and the Salvation He provided that is available to all men.

The title of this drama was taken from the words that were exclaimed in such regal fashion by the Lord’s holy angels in our text..

The world will never experience again what is rightly determined as the center of all time: the birth, life, death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But here in our text is the sum of it all as it respects man and is spoken by these these eternal creatures, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

What is exactly is meant by this, what are we to know about the birth of the one called Jesus?

Notice with me first of all,

I. This Singing of the Holy Ones

I am amazed by what I see here in the text.

Just to try to imagine the scene:

There they are, a handful of men, clothed in shepherds garb. They have their staff. They have their scrip. They are carefully watching the flock. We are not told how many but there is certainly more than one shepherd.

Out in the low hill country breathing the fresh air.

The darkness of the sky extends only to be interrupted by the dazzling stars. The multitude of stars is breathtaking, but to the shepherds it had become common as they performed there normal repetitive duties. They are alert some for the entrance of predators, perhaps some are not. The shepherds are talking one with another of the days events, decided the best places to take the fold.

They are tending to their duty only companions one with another.

They are men of the lowly sort, servants, shepherds, not to be associated with the rest of society. They are of the poorer sort, some having wealthy clients others just working for the average owner of a flock.

They are tending animals being around all their uncleanliness. The smell of the animals does not bother them as they commonly walk among the sheep folds.

Then suddenly, the heavens open up and a single heavenly messenger bursts forth declaring the evangel. The Bible uses this language in verse 9, “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,...”

Can you imagine as the glory of the Lord “shone round about them...” and then sky bursts forth with the heavenly antiphonal chorus “Glory to God...”

I imagine if the heavens were opened for us this morning at this present hour and God’s Holy Angels, His holy messengers were seen we would be as all the rest found in the Word of God, men on our faces, in reverential fear because of our plight of being sinful creatures saved by grace.

The appearance this heavenly host is amazing in itself but it is the fitting ordained announcement for the King of glory has been fashioned or robed in flesh. This is His incarnation where God became man without ceasing to be God.

We see that:

- The earthly kings of this world are not present for this joyous announcement.

But a kingdom whose King is called ‘the Ancient of Days’ is announced by a Messaging host, His Angels, His powerful army.

One expositor said this concerning this holy song - “First heard above the plains of Bethlehem it is one day to be heard over all the world. Its sweet melody is to be woven into every language which men have learnt to speak. The angels are to hear it in all dialects and tongues. It is to be the choral response of a gladdened world to the birthday joy which was once poured forth upon the shepherd hearts at Bethlehem.”

Exell, J. S. (n.d.). The Biblical Illustrator: St. Luke (Vol. I, p. 170). London: James Nisbet & Co.”

No other worldly birth has ever been or ever will be announced by a song such as this.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

I want you to know about this singing of the Holy Ones that:

A. Their Purpose

The Bible says in Hebrews 1:14 that these Holy ones are ministering spirits. The serve the God of the universe.

The Bible describes them in that same book and chapter (verse 7) as flames of fire and swifter than the wind.

And their purpose is to serve the God of all creation. They are His host.

B. Their Power

Let me remind you this morning that these unseen holy angels excel in great power.

Thus the idea that is purported by the world that angels are soft unassuming created beings that are weak and frail prancing around with harps is contrary to the Scrptures

The Word of God tells us in Psalm 103:20, “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.”

The power that these Holy ones posses is nothing that you and I could appropriately describe but by the few hints we are given in the Word of God.

Their Power Exampled

It was only two holy angels that God sent to destroy those two wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19:13 tells us these angels announced to righteous Lot who vexed his soul with the filth of this fallen world their intention, “For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.”

Powerfully the city was reduced to nothing as the Bible tells us that Fire and Brimstone (combustable sulphur - stench) rained down from Heaven…

And the smoke of it went up and could only be aptly described as a fiery furnace... (Genesis 19:24 - 28)

We are told further in the Word of God in II Kings chapter 19:35, that only one angel slew 185000 men of war in the Assyrian Camp in one night.

In the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ it is the holy angels that effectually signal and execute the wrath of God during the tribulation period… “such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.”

The Bible describes this in II Thessalonians and again refers to their mighty power when it states, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

We would then not only understand the purpose of these holy ones, and their power but here in our text we see

C. Their Praise

These powerful creatures encircle the very throne of God and certain of their ranks are said to attend to crying night and day, Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty as we are shown in Isaiah chapter 6.

We find in the Scriptures the wonderful right and glory of these angels is to consistently resound their praise to God.

And we see mysteriously these angels delivering this announcement praising God.

Think of it on this very Sunday morning that the Angels above that heavenly host are praising God at this moment.

They were present and singing glory to God as the Lord Jesus fashioned the world.

For the Bible says in John chapter 1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

As He created and brought forth this universe the Bible tells us in the book of Job chapter 38:7 that these holy ones sang.

But of all the times that the angels have sung, this song of Joy was the greatest of all seeing that God Himself stooped and condescended to become man without ceasing to be God. Robed in flesh incarnate and they sing in highest accord “Glory to God in the highest”

And because of this how much more should we being creatures creatures lower than the angels according to Psalm 8:5, Hebrews 2:7 and 9, as fallen creatures found in a despicable state praise and give glory to God at the revelation of the birth of His marvelous Son.

Let us at once this morning as the redeemed of God, render praise and honor to our God, because He does reside in the highest.

We give reverence and honor to those on this earth who are of the highest office and authority.

But what reverence and praise do we offer to God?

You see this powerful host is praising God...

This teaches us that this is no normal birth, this is none other than the birth of Jesus the Christ the one that is the God man, the Savior of the world whom the Bible says in II Corinthians 8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Let me ask you this morning, what more would you need to convince you that this is the Savior of the World?

Not only do we see the Singing of the Holy Ones but secondly we take note of:

II. This Singing To The Lowly Ones

Who are the lowly ones?

Notice our text tells us in verse 8,9,

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them”

A. The Shepherds of the field.

God did not choose the rulers of this world to receive this message.

God did not send this message and this host to the rich of this world.

God did not send this message and this host to the religious the “have it all together.”

God delivered this blessed message by these powerful creatures to men of low degree. This is the wisdom of God to confound the wise of this world for the foolishness of God is wiser than men.

The Lord Jesus himself saying, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

These men were common men:

The common man is the one of everyday sorts that walks in this world like you and I.

The common man is one who recognizes that He is a man of frailty.

He is one who recognizes that he is subject to sickness and disease.

He is one that recognizes that he toils day in and day out just to make ends meet and at the end of the day often collapses in sleep because he is tired from the toil.

He is the one that has a common family. A husband, a wife, some children.

He is the one that is subject to all the laws of this world and finds that most things are out of his control.

Our Savior and our God against the pride of this world condescends to men of the common estate.

The Bibles tells us that the Lord Jesus, at who’s birth these angels by His command announced, condescended to common man. But he dined also with the common men that were publicans and sinners. They were men that were in need of a physician. In need of help to be made whole.

In Matthew chapter 9 the Bible says, “And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?”

You see it is a manifold blessing of grace that the common people heard him and tend today also to hear him gladly. Why? They are not the ones so choked up with pride that they see no need for the a Savior much less a God.

But the common people of Jesus’ day heard him gladly.

And so it is that God in His infinite wisdom announced His incarnation by His Holy Angels to lowly common men, Shepherds.

You see, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (I Corinthians 1:25)

But secondly I would like for you to note concerning this glorious song that it is intended to be told to:

B. The Men of this World

This message is given in the Holy Word of God and is not some veiled secret to the select few.

It was first delivered to these shepherds of the field, these common men but then it was heralded to the men of this world.

This message is not hidden from the men of this world.

The Bible says that these Shepherds went and saw this that was announced to them, starting in verse 15, “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”

This message is delivered to be heralded to all men everywhere.

The essence of the Gospel, the good news is established in this song, and it is meant to be delivered to all of man.

The later commission to the apostles and ultimately to the King’s church is found to be established here by this announcement. Had this message been intended for a select few perhaps we would read that it was communicated to the shepherds to tell no one.

So we see the Singing of the Holy Ones, the Song to the Lowly Ones but lastly as we tie all of this together,

I hope and pray you can say with me this is:

III. The Song For The Saved Ones

I wonder this morning really how many have this song upon there lips?

How many of us this morning unashamedly would say, “Glory to God in the Highest”

I would say that many of us this very morning need to do away with our stinky attitudes and furled brows and get back to exclaiming “Glory to God in the Highest”

How many of us this morning by messengers of the Angelic Host and being heralded by the Holy Word of God and the preacher need to submit themselves to Almighty God and live a life that exclaims Glory to God in the Highest!

A. Can you say this morning Glory to God in the highest?

Some May Say “Glory to God’” but not in the highest.

In other words, the Lord is not the preeminent One in our lives.

Are we found this morning as idolatrous; worshipping ourselves as reigning on high?

These powerful angels rendered their praise to God. These shepherds no doubt exclaimed Glory to God in the highest, but what about you and I?

Will we continue on drudgingly through this life living to self or in great submission come before the throne of the King and given Him praise.

Secondly, as we see this announcement and know the wonderful truth of it,

B. Can you say this morning there is peace in your heart?

Do you have peace with God and do you have the peace of God?

Perhaps you may say, I do not know God. Or I know I am separated from God.

Ive got good news for you today, you can have this song on your lips and be able to sing it in truth.

C. Lastly, Can you say that this birth announced in the passage concerning Jesus who is the Christ is good will?

You see there is only two ways that this announcement can be taken.

The Bible tells us to those that have received him personally by faith, this announcement of His birth, continuing with His Life, His sacrificial death, and His victorious resurrection is the savour of life unto life; it is certainly goodwill.

You see by turning to God by faith and receiving Jesus as Savior we enter into a state of everlasting life and in short order we will step into eternal life; it is life unto life.

In II Corinthians 2:15-16 the Bible says, “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things .

But conversely in the same passage those who reject this message, this announcement they are under condemnation already, and the Bible says, And this is the condementation that men loved darkness rather then light because the deeds were evil.

And because of this this message is not goodwill but rather the savour of death unto death. As the Bible says in the book of Genesis that dying we die.

I wonder is this good will for you this morning.

I began this message by stating in the introduction that the greatest knowledge anyone could ever posses is to know the God of Thier salvation. the Lord Jesus Christ and from this text we were introduced to Him by:

• The singing of the Holy ones

• This Song was to the lowly ones

• This is the song for the saved ones

As we close in a word of prayer I wonder if perhaps you need to come forward to this altar or by prayer in your seat render praise to the Lord Christ as we celebrate his birthday in his humanity stooping down from Heaven being robed in flesh to die for you and I.

Or perhaps today you realize that you have never received Jesus Christ as your Savior and you would like to know Him, this Savior that was announced by the angels, This Savior Jesus the Christ who died for your sin so that you can receive salvation and be brought into relationship and fellowship with God Himself Having your sins dealt with, why don’t come forward as soon as the pianist begins to play after we pray.

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