Our Great Joy

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

AND SUDDENLY, the sky was filled with angels.

I (Kendra) imagine what that must have been like. But I’m not thinking about the shepherds looking up at that sight, although their story is important. I’m imagining what it must have been like for the angels.

They were present from the beginning of creation. They knew Jesus as God, and now they were seeing him come to earth, in human form, to save humanity and set right all that had gone wrong in the world.

“What love must God have for these people?”

“Do they know it?”

“What joy will they feel when they realize what his actions mean for them?”

I imagine they discussed these questions and more. And yet, they waited with anticipation for the appointed time.

How long did they know what God’s ultimate plan would be? We’re not told. But they knew it was on the horizon, and they would have seen it playing out before them.

They would have known of the angel appearing to Mary and then Joseph. They would have waited expectantly as Mary began to grow heavy with child. They would have observed as Elizabeth, moved by the Holy Spirit, called Mary blessed among women. They would have watched as Mary and Joseph traveled from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem. For months, the excitement would have been brewing.

Until finally, one night in a stable in Bethlehem, Jesus arrived.

By that time, I’m sure they were more than ready to announce his birth as we read in Luke 2: “Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said” (verses 9-10).

What an experience for both shepherd and angel. Such a visit from the heavenly hosts has only happened (that we know of) a few times in history. Angels often work behind the scenes, but on this night, they were fully displayed for humans to see and hear. And I can almost feel their excitement.

The shepherds had almost certainly never seen an angel before. They must have looked at one another to ensure they were seeing the same thing. As the shock began to wear off, they surely would have wondered, Why are they coming to us here?

But before they could even ask, the angel brought an answer: “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:10-11).

And then, as if the heavens couldn’t hold back their excitement any longer, we read that “suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased’” (Luke 2:13-14).

Other versions of Scripture use the word “multitude” to describe the number of angels. But what exactly is a multitude?

Hebrews 1:6-7 gives us a clue: “When he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, ‘Let all of God’s angels worship him.’ Regarding the angels, he says, ‘He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.’”

This was no small event. All of the angels came to worship him. God didn’t send just a few. He sent them all. Some believe the number of angels would have been as countless as the stars in the sky.

And I imagine they all wanted to be there to witness the most significant event of all time throughout all of history—and to finally be able to announce to the world that Jesus, the Savior, the Lord, the God of all creation, had arrived. What a moment of celebration for them. “He’s here! Praise God! Glory to God!”

I can picture the celebration going on for quite some time on earth, just as it would have in heaven. The angels had been present at Creation, they were there for Jesus’ birth, and they will be there at the end of the age when a new heaven and a new earth are ushered in. Glory to God.

Jesus arrives, and the angels are told to go and tell the shepherds. Not kings or queens. Not the wealthy or privileged. Just ordinary folks working their ordinary jobs. If the angels questioned the significance of bringing this news to shepherds, we see no sign of it.

They did as they were told. Having known God throughout the ages, they had to know his plan was good. They knew his motives were pure and just. His love for people was beyond comprehension. So they showed up, announcing the coming of the King who would usher in a new Kingdom—a Kingdom for those who, rather than seeking status or standing, would simply say yes to him. A Kingdom for those who would acknowledge him as Savior and entrust their lives to him as Lord.

What a glorious moment it must have been to witness as an angel.

And more than two thousand years later, we still celebrate that moment when heaven and earth came together in a very real way, to be witnessed by human beings. We still remember with awe that first Advent. But unlike many at the time of Jesus’ birth, we now know the gravity of what Christ’s coming to earth meant, just as the angels did on that day.

For that reason, we certainly celebrate his birth, but even more so his life, death, and resurrection, because of which we now have a blessed hope. He came to save us and to show us how to live here and now.

Do we take the time to truly celebrate his birth? To reflect and give thanks for his coming? To rejoice in the miracle of all that happened that first Advent?

I believe that if they could, the angels would come to us again today to remind us of Jesus’ entry into the world as a babe. They would encourage us never to lose our awe over his arrival and never to stop announcing the coming of his Kingdom. Jesus’ arrival was just the beginning of what was and is still to come. He is worth celebrating every day.

Let’s proclaim on this Christmas Day, just as the angels did, Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth!

Yes, we know it now: his love, coming to us. His ways are shown to us, his life given so that we might live. So we celebrate, just as the angels did, what is now and has always been our great joy.

Lord, thank you for the angels who announced your birth. How wonderful to think that both heaven and earth celebrated your arrival. Thank you for coming. May we never lose our awe over your arrival. We will forever celebrate your birth and what it meant for us and continues to mean, even now. We love you, Jesus. Thank you for loving us enough to come, to live among us, and to show us how to love. Amen.