Luke 2:8­–20

Praise Jesus, Our Savior
Luke 2:8­–20

Praise Him for His Salvation (8–12)

After Jesus the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, the public relations department of heaven sets in motion. The angels appear to some shepherds in the field, and naturally, the shepherds are terrified. But the angel tells them specifically: “Do not be afraid.”

Someone wise once wrote, “The angel bypassed Jerusalem, the religious center of Israel. He didn’t go to the Herodium, Herod’s villa near Bethlehem. He appeared instead to a band of shepherds tending their flocks.

Back then no one thought God would be interested in shepherds, or that shepherds would be interested in God. Shepherds were notoriously irreligious, ranked by the rabbis with prostitutes and other ‘habitual sinners.’ They were outcasts, barred from the synagogue and polite society. They assumed that God would never accept them, and they feared Him. But God spoke to them.”

The angel tells the shepherds that instead of fear, he brings to them “good news of great joy.” Instead of fear, have joy. And this is “for all people.” Why should they be joyous, why should they be happy? Because they have a Savior; “He is Christ, the Lord.”

Jesus is not just a prophet, not just a healer, not just teacher, He is the Savior of the world. And that’s what they needed then, and that’s what our world needs today.

Charles Swindoll wrote, “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior!”

Praise Him for His Peace (13–14)

When prophesying about Jesus, the prophet Isaiah calls him “The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). One can do good deeds, one can lead a moral life, one can give to charity, one can volunteer at a homeless shelter, but that will not bring peace in anybody’s heart. Jesus is the only One who can bring peace.

“The Lord gives strength to His people, the Lord blesses His people with peace” (Ps. 29:11). “He [Jesus] will proclaim peace to the nations” (Zech. 9:10b). “For He himself is our peace, who has made the two one, and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph. 2:14).

A recent survey indicates that 54 percent fear that they will have a car accident, 53 percent fear that they will get cancer, 50 percent fear that they will not have enough money to retire, 36 percent fear that they will get food poisoning, 34 percent fear that they will get Alzheimer’s, and 25 percent fear that they will be victims of a natural disaster.

Jesus is the answer for the fears of humanity. Jesus is again the answer for all our problems. And He is still the Savior of the world. Let us go and tell a lost and fearful world that Jesus is the answer. Jesus’ presence dissipates the fear and He brings great joy and lasting peace.

Praise Him for His Coming (15–20)

Imagine the manger scene. Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus, the animals surrounding them, the star shining brightly in the background.

But if we look closely, beyond the manger, we have to see that beyond the manger, there is a cross. A cross? Yes, a cross. Because this baby will grow up, and one day He will die on that cross for my sins, for your sins and for the sins of the whole world.

That is the good news that we have to tell the whole world. That they too can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life, through Jesus Christ who was born in a manger, who died on the cross, rose again from the death, ascended to heaven, and who is coming again riding the wings of the wind. Praise Him for His first coming, and now wait for His second coming by telling others about His love that began with a baby born in a manger.