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The first Christmas broke the silence that had been in place for some 400 years. What the people on earth couldn’t see was “the other side.” Heaven was mounting a full scale rescue operation. God was sending forth a living word, in flesh, breaking the silence.
Luke 1 – Zechariah was chosen to go in and burn the incense on the alter. While he was there an angel appeared to him. Zechariah was startled, as one would be, but the angel went on to tell him that his prayers had been heard and he and his wife would have a son.
The angels words were the first to “break the silence” of 400 years… “Fear not.”
Six months later the angel made another appearance, this time to Mary. “Rejoice highly favored one, the Lord is with you.” This is another message of “don’t be afraid, rejoice because great things are coming.”
The angel then appeared to Joseph as well and told him to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, what was going on was of God.
These messages were messages of joy.
Luke 2:1-20 – The angel appeared to Zechariah, then Mary, then Joseph, then the shepherds. All of these were key players in the rescue mission that God was working on.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The angels had a unique perspective, not only did they see what what’s happening on earth, but also what was happening in heaven.
Jesus is our rescuer, he came to us as the light of the world to save those who understand their desperate need.
John 1:1-18 – You cannot see the sun when you are blind. Not every person on earth is saved by the rescuer, there is spiritual blindness that no one on earth is completely safe from.
It is interesting to see who God chose to use to affect with the Good news. Mary. Joseph. Zechariah. The Shepherds.
To be a part of the rescue story all we have to do is to be rescued, believe in the only son of God. We cannot save ourselves, instead we need to completely trust in our rescuer Jesus.
The light that Jesus came into the world with is to shine fort from our lives as we live and walk in the power of Christ and His life within us.