Christmas Lights (Part II)
the light of the angels
It’s interesting the things you can learn when you spend time with people of a different generation. I learned from people who are younger than me, that it is apparently an “old person” thing to have a text tone turned on. Most people who were born in the 90s or later apparently have their phones on silent or vibrate at all times. A text tone is tacky or embarrassing…? How are they to be certain they don’t miss a text? Yet, when I spend time with people born in the 60s or 70s, I find many of them not only have text message alerts on (like I do) but they have their phones set up to flash the flashlight when they receive a text for a maximum text alert. While I haven’t gone that far with my notifications, it is important to note that while keeping your phone on silent makes you more likely to miss a text, having it light up and make sound all but ensures you won’t.
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.’” (Luke 2:8-10)
Much like the text message alerts of a certain generation, light is a great way to deliver a message. Back in the 16th century, many households would place lit candles in their windows during the winter to welcome travelers at night, offering a beacon of hope and a restful sanctuary. This is part of our tradition of decorating the outside of our houses with lights at Christmastime. When the Lord God delivered the most important message of all, He used the brightest light—the radiance of His own glory. Whenever we read of angels appearing to people, they usually begin with, “Don’t be afraid”—and if you’ve read descriptions of angels, you might understand why they give this command before they start speaking. Can you imagine being outside in the dark of night and suddenly an angel of the Lord appears before you and you are surrounded by the radiance of the Lord’s glory? The shepherds were terrified. My wife jumps when she gets a text alert if her phone is too loud, so I can imagine how surprising and scary it might be to suddenly have an angel and the glory of the Lord appear around you. But the angel assures them that he is there with good news and it’s good news that will bring great joy to all people.
“‘The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.’ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’” (Luke 2:11-14)
The Light of the World was resting in a manager and the radiance of God’s glory filled the night sky as the angel of the Lord announced His arrival. Once the announcement was made, Heaven’s army showed up and praised God. The army delivered a message we hear every year at Christmastime…well, we hear a shortened version of the message: peace on earth, goodwill to men. Our culture drops the first part of the army’s message—Glory to God in highest heaven—and it waters down the last part. The word translated in the King James Version as “Goodwill toward men” is εὐδοκίας (eudokias) which more accurately means “those with whom God is pleased.” It’s far more specific than just goodwill to all mankind. God offers us peace through Jesus Christ who had just entered the world, but apart from Christ this peace cannot be found. As the Christmas season begins to fill up your calendar with parties and obligations and as last minute present ideas and rising costs and bills begin to pile up, remember the peace you have in nothing else but Christ. Remember the message that was delivered with the radiance of the glory of God!
To the glory of the Lord God, whose I am, and whom I serve.
