Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

There is no greater knowledge that a man can have than to know the God of their Salvation the Lord Jesus Christ.

Nothing in this life is more precious than having a relationship and fellowship with Him.

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