We Have Good News at Christmas
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord, whose birth we see again and celebrate today,
What comes to mind when you hear this: “I have news for you.”? Maybe two things.
What kind is it? In other words, since the word “news” is really neutral, is the news good or bad?
What is it? That is, as far as the content.
What about the news of Christmas? We can cheat a little and let the angel clarify as he comes to some shepherds outside of Bethlehem. They had punched in that night to protect their sheep, not expecting any heavenly guests. (That was not a common occurrence.) And then this courier from God appeared with this communication from God:
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Lk 2:11). That takes care of the sort of news. It is good.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11). That covers the substance. It is about Jesus.
It is obvious how we react to good news. We rejoice. It is exciting. The prophet Isaiah helps us so that as we consider Jesus’ birth.
It would be hard when it happened. The Lord would send Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem and deport the people, trashing and torching the temple in the process. It was a judgment on their idolatry—the fact that they had turned their backs on God. But that forced captivity in a foreign country would come to an end. God would bring them back to their homeland.
Isaiah uses the picture of runners sprinting back to Jerusalem from the front lines where Israel’s armies were facing and fighting their enemies. They race ahead of the others who are returning. We might compare it to the child who jumps out of the car before it comes to a complete stop in grandma and grandpa’s driveway and heads into their house, “We are here. We are here.”
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news” (Is 52:7). The messenger’s feet are beautiful, even though there might have been a bit of dust and dirt from the paths, because the message they bring is beautiful. There was victory.
We can almost picture the one proclaiming the triumph panting as he relays three things.
“Peace” (Is 52:7). The relationship between us and God was not right. It was broken. But God did not leave it that way. He restored it by sending his Son, the “Prince of peace” (Is 9:7). But it would come at a price, a high one. Jesus would be crushed for our sins on the cross (Is 53:5). “The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Is 53:5). Since that is true, nothing now stands in the way. God and sinners reconciled (CW 61:1). No wonder the angel choir light up the night sky and burst out in song: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Lk 2:14). That also calls to mind Jesus’ words the night before his death: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (Jn 14:27).
“Good tidings” (Is 52:7). What comes from God is good because he is good (Ps 100:5; 106:1; Ja 1:17). At Christmas we see that he has brought about his promise of a Messiah to make us one with God. The release from Babylon foreshadowed a greater release—from our sin. It is like when you see the first streaks of the sun peak off in the distance you know that that fiery ball will blaze brightly at noon. The one freedom anticipated the greater one. It was John the Baptizer who was a witness of Jesus, the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14): “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world” (Jn 1:9).
“Salvation” (Is 52:7). God has delivered us from danger. Jesus has done what his name means. Remember how the angel stressed that as he stated to Joseph the reason for Mary’s pregnancy—conceived by the Holy Spirit: “You are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21).
Peace, good tidings, salvation—that is all good news at Christmas. But there is more: “Your God reigns!” (Is 52:7). That had always been the case. It is just more evident now. And that is true about Jesus. Jesus descended from David. But he sits, not on an earthly throne, but an eternal one. And he is in complete control. No one will be able to oust or overthrow him. And one day the King will reappear to take us into his kingdom (Mt 25:34).
And then Isaiah switches the scene to those standing on the city walls, scanning the horizon. “Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes” (Is 52:8). As they came face to face with the envoys from afar they erupt in happiness. We make our way to the manger again this day and we join the shepherds as they made their way from it: “[They] returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they were told” (Lk 2:20). Good news is to be shared. We speak about it too. Jesus is born.
And that is what Isaiah encourages: “Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem” (Is 52:9). We associate singing with Christmas. And with good reason. We sing when we are happy. And why not? “For he has done marvelous things his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” (Ps 98:1). We are his people, belonging to him because Jesus has paid the price to set us free from our guilt with his holy, precious blood, spilled and shed on the cross. It is not wrong to stand beneath that instrument of torture as we stand beside a trough for animals. That is why Jesus “became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Jn 1:14). He lived with us so that we could live with him.
That is how God displayed his might. It is like a weightlifter at the gym will wear a tank top instead of a long sleeve shirt—to show off his muscle as he works out. God wants all corners of the earth to see his power in Christ and what he has accomplished (Lk 2:30,31). “The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God” (Is 52:10). The Lord, whose love never changes, has rescued us from sin and released us from Satan. It commences at the makeshift crib, continues at the wooden cross, and culminates at the open tomb. The Father sent his Son—for us and for our salvation.
“I have news for you.” That may cause you to wonder. But not today. I have good news at Christmas. And so do you. We have good news at Christmas. Jesus is born. Merry Christmas.
We read from Isaiah 52:7-10:
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever! (Re 7:12). Amen.
December 25, 2016
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