Glory to God and Peace to You

Glory to God!

(Luke 2:13-14, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, December 24, 2016)

[13] And suddenly there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

[14] “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

An angel

I have never seen even one angel, and so I was surprised when I was teaching a new members class to a handful of middle school kids a few years ago that one of them reported seeing an angel. Since then I have read other credible accounts of angel visitations. I am sure that I would be impressed with one experience like that, though I believe that a person can have such a remarkable experience and still reject the plain meaning of God's Word. The more amazing wonder from the standpoint of the Bible is when a person is brought from skepticism to faith. That has happened to me and to many people in this room.

The verses we are focusing on this Christmas Eve first mention an angel. An angel is a created being. They are in another realm that is normally not visible to us. Angels do not reproduce. There are as many today as there were 2000 years ago. They fall into two major categories: Elect angels and fallen angels. There is no Savior for angels. Their fall had something to do with pride and the plan of the Son of God to show His greatest power through His lowest humility. That fall is permanent, without any possibility of recovery. My favorite clarifying verse about angels: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)

People and angels were both created by God with the capacity to worship and serve Him. People do reproduce. There are many more of us on the earth today than there were 2000 years ago. All individuals are fallen, but some are chosen by God for rescue. There is a Savior for God's elect, and He is the topic of every true Christian sermon. He was also the One that an angel was talking about 2000 years ago to a group of shepherds when he said, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

A multitude of the heavenly host

This turning-point-of-history statement set off an amazing display in the heavens for that humble assembly of lowly people. If one angel visit would be impressive, what about the sudden appearance of “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God” in the air? Overwhelming.

That's what happened that night. Most unusual. This is not the Lord's normal way to accomplish His purposes. He most often works through very simple means (like talking and listening) rather than bringing about obvious spectacles that wow everyone for miles around. But for this amazing moment, He pulled back the veil late one evening between a dying world and a world of light inhabited by holy angels. Do not get lost in the special effects. What was the message that the army of heaven was proclaiming?

A message

First, “Glory to God in the highest.”

Then, “On earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.”

The world is full of spectacle. Last year's display is quickly unimpressive. It has to get bigger and better to attract our interest. How do we deal with a God who uses His power in such an understated way? How should we react on the rare occasion when He does the spectacular.

1. Listen to Him

The first thing we need to do is to pay attention. If He shows up by sending a multitude of heavenly angels singing His praise, He undoubtedly has something very important to announce. What is it?

2. Receive Him as the Highest One.

We need to resist the prevailing sin of emperors. Everyone is an emperor in a world that is trying to sell them innumerable products and services. If we can just have a moment of clarity, it should not surprise us that God is above us. He is the Creator. We are His creatures. We were not born to critique the Almighty, but to receive His Word, His gifts, and even Him. We cannot do that if we insist that we are the Highest One. That would be unseemly. Glory to God in the Highest. He is not only the highest in some super-spiritual space. He is the Emperor of Everything.

3. Embrace His terms for peace and favor through His Son.

Finally, the world-changing news from the Lord of Glory is very good news for a broken and guilty world. Though our sin was a declaration of war against God, He has responded with a singular offer of peace through His Son, Jesus the Messiah.

Let's look at Him as our Sin-Conqueror. For example, we all know this brief commandment: “You shall not steal.”

Who was this Jesus? Jesus and Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10)

Who is this Jesus? Jesus and the NYSE (Flash Boys by Michael Lewis, Eric Metaxas interview of Brad Katsuyama)

Who will this Jesus be? Jesus and a world that is entirely a gift—a world beyond scarcity... (Revelation 22:1-5). He is not only our provision for external scarcity but for all our poverty of soul. He is the fullness who fills all in all for those who are called his body. (Ephesians 1:23)

The Lord is well-pleased for you to receive this God-Over-All Jesus as your Savior and King tonight. He is your Redeemer through His life, death, and resurrection.

God performed the original Christmas miracle. He sent peace to us in person. The new world that began on that silent night in Bethlehem continues down to the present moment and beyond—even forever. May we live and breathe in heavenly peace. Merry Christmas!