Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God. Luke 2:13 NIV
"Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house…"
Imagining the scene in heaven on the night before Christ was born, one sees an explosion of anticipation. This great company of heavenly host was having to hold back its excitement for one more day.
There had been four hundred years of silence. Long, long days and nights without a Word from God to man. For those of us in the US, we cannot very well fathom 400 years as our nation is not that old.
We are impatient with 4 minutes, 4 hours, and tremble at the thought of 4 days. But, to have to wait a lifetime to hopefully hear from God? And then to not hear a word?
Devastating.
However, that all changed when God split the heavens, the silence, the quiet with the cry of a baby. His cry broke the silence – and it came from God to man. We could not bridge the gap – only God could, and did.
Now, the host was praising and exclaiming the Good News! To whom? A lowly, cast-off group of shepherds outside of Bethlehem. I am sure their hair curled, turned white and fell out when they not only saw, but heard this heavenly choir.
WOW.
We are not told if the shepherds were the only ones who saw this incredible scene – what a sight to behold. Any neighbors sitting outside in the middle of the night might have been able to capture this once-in-a-lifetime moment. A stolen moment as the host came specifically to these boys.
The ones who were tending the temple sacrifices. The lambs. They were about to find out the True sacrifice had been born. The Lamb of God was here, and He was in a manger.
The shepherds demonstrated their own excitement by:
1. Believing
2. Hurried off to find Mary, Joseph and the baby
3. After they had seen Him, the Saviour, Christ Jesus the Lord, they spread the word.
The silence from heaven was officially broken. Jesus began ministering to mankind, even as a newborn baby. He brought so much love, joy, and salvation. He came to be the Good News for all people.
No more separation from God, no more to just a nation, but to a world, desperate for love and forgiveness.
Jesus came in an explosion of joy – and the joy is even more thrilling as we await His Second Coming. He came so we might be set free. Free to worship, free to love, free to accept forgiveness from our loving heavenly Father.
That night, two thousand years ago, rocked the world in praise because heaven could not contain the news any longer! The King was born.
Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Oh Father! My heart contain nor express the fullness it feels when thinking of Your Son's Advent. What joy it must have brought You to know Your plan was being executed, by Your Son Jesus, the long-expected Messiah. All of heaven could not contain it. You split the skies with praise! You broke the silence. You made a way for sinful man to have a relationship with You. All for love. Yes. Love. And I am in awe that I do not have words. I am silent in adoration of You. Receive my worship from my heart. AMEN
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