December 24 Christmas Devotion
Christmas Eve!
The Christmas story is filled with angelic encounters.
Gabriel announced John the Baptist's birth, assuring Zechariah of what was to come. Gabriel then told Mary (Luke 1:26-31) she would bear the Son of God. Mary responded in faith, and her song (Luke 1:45-55) reminds us of God's faithfulness. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream (Matthew 1:20-21), encouraging him to take Mary as his wife. Joseph trusted God and embraced his role. Angels (Luke 2:8-14) announced Christ's birth to shepherds: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” The shepherds first shared the Good News. God's message is for all.
The angels' message of "peace on earth, goodwill toward men" is specifically directed to "those on whom God's favor rests" (Luke 2:14), indicating that the peace they announce is peace with God, not simply peace among all people. The angels proclaimed that this peace with God is available through faith in Jesus, the Messiah.
Studying the context and original language of Luke 2:14 shows the peace offered is with God, available to those who respond in faith and receive divine favor. Luke begins Jesus’ birth narrative with Caesar Augustus (31/27 BC–AD 14), who ushered in the Roman “Golden Age” and Pax Romana. During this time, Jesus was born. Isaiah’s prophecy calls Jesus the “Prince of peace,” in stark contrast to Caesar Augustus. This is a fundamentally different peace (cf. Isa 9:6; see John 14:27). Jesus’ peace was with God.
The census ordered by Caesar Augustus brought Joseph and Mary, Jesus' mother, from Nazareth, where they lived, to Joseph’s ancestral home of Bethlehem, the town of David. Micah’s prophecy informs us that this was the city where the Messiah was to be born (cf. Mic 5:2 cited in Matt. 2:6). It was in Bethlehem that Mary gave birth to Jesus. Local shepherds became recipients of an angelic visitation pronouncing good news: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12 NIV).
At this announcement, a contingent of angels appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (NIV). Grammatically speaking, the subject of the first clause is translated “Glory” and the subject of the second clause is translated “peace”. The contrasting locations are “in the highest” and “on earth”, and the respective recipients’ “God” and “those [the men/people] on whom his favor rests”. Most modern English translations render the noun translated “of good pleasure”, indicating an attribute of the recipients of peace rather than as a second subject on par with “peace.”
The traditional English translation “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” pronounces peace and goodwill toward all people, that is, humanity at large. The angels’ pronouncement is almost certainly restricted more specifically to “those on whom God’s favor rests,” that is, “the people of God’s good pleasure.” One becomes the recipient of God’s good pleasure by putting their faith in Jesus the Messiah.
Through Jesus’ human birth and ultimately through his sacrificial death on a cross, peace with God is available to those who become recipients of divine favor through faith in God’s beloved Son. This is the “good news” the angels proclaimed at Christ’s birth, and this is the gospel we are called to proclaim to others in our day. The angels rejoice and praise God for working out his salvation in and through the birth of the Messiah.
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord, had been born. This joy is shared by those who receive the gift of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”