- The Connect360 Christmas lesson focuses on Luke 2:1-20.
The shepherds, these rough and tumble characters, were caught off guard by God’s radiance as reflected in these divine beings. That ordinary night on the prairie was interrupted by God’s uninvited and unexpected grace.
Frequently, God shows up as an interruption to our own busy lives. These sudden interruptions bring good news that change and transform ordinary, mundane moments into divine experiences. These experiences can terrify even the most unspiritual, hardened people.
“Don’t be afraid!” An appropriate phrase of good news when facing terrifying moments. All throughout Scripture, do not fear is a wonderful reminder God is in control even when facing unexpected interruptions. Angels realized their presence would scare humans. But the good news of peace that has come through the birth of the Messiah quickly turns fear into celebration.
In this beautiful picture depicted in verses 13–14, the Gospel writer offered a striking parallel for us. He contrasted glory and peace, highest heaven and earth, God and humans. This “heavenly host,” better translated “a heavenly army,” appeared to the shepherds in the fields at night, praising God.
The Christmas story in Luke 2 began with Caesar counting the people as a way of keeping the peace, but here we find God’s army praising the true king who brings real peace to the earth in a way no other can. These heavenly warriors raise their voices, not their fists, to sing about a mediator who has brought all these contrasting things together. The Messiah overcame the separation, providing a way, that all people can now draw close to God. Finding peace, finding acceptance, finding a home came in the most unlikely place, through the most unlikely person.
The angels proclaimed to the shepherds that the one had come who would provide community, a home even for the outcast. A sign announced to these hardened, unspiritual souls they were not a statistic to be counted but persons of immense value, created for far more than they had ever imagined. Those far from home, those without a home, those who can’t go home, can find a home in the presence of the Christ-child.
The shepherds obediently hurried off to witness this sign situated in a lowly manger, in a lowly town. There they found the greatest gift this world has ever experienced. The Messiah’s coming had been promised throughout biblical history. The words of prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah of one to come and fill an empty throne finally had come true. But this fulfillment seemed impossible, even forgotten, until the carol of this celestial army rang over the fields that night, leading ordinary shepherds to drop everything and share the good news.
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