Sand Mountain Sermonette 32
Luke 2:10
The Big Christmas Surprise
“And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people.” Luke 2:10
Since childhood I have found it very difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve! Even now, although I am much older, I still find it hard to sleep anticipating what I might find under the tree on Christmas morning! Let me share with you a particular Christmas of long ago that was one of the most special Christmas mornings I remember growing up in North Alabama. And, in doing so, I also want to share with you something special my parents did for my younger brother of five years, Tony, and for me every Christmas morning from the time we were kids and for as long as we lived at home.
I was about thirteen years old. My brother and I shared bunk beds located in the same room in the back bedroom of the home in which we were living in at the time. On Christmas Eve, we were in bed around 10:00 pm, and we knew we were to stay in bed because our dad had one rule: my brother and I were not to get out of bed until he and mom entered our room and told us it was time to rise and shine. Well, I had not been able to sleep a wink, but about three o’clock or so on Christmas morning my brother had woken up and asked me if I were awake, and we began to speculate in conversation as to what gifts we might find that morning that Santa has left under the tree. And then, after a little while, dad and mom entered the room and invited us to get up and did what they always did for all those years: mom would cover Tony’s eyes and dad mine, and then, they led us down the hallway to the main living room section of our home, and then at exactly the perfect moment, they shouted “Merry Christmas” as they quickly removed their hands from our eyes to reveal our packages under the tree! And that year a new ping pong table compete with net and paddles in place was right there before our eyes! Wow! What joy we felt as we beheld that gift!
Luke tells us that when the angel appeared before the common and humble shepherds, they were “terribly frightened” (verse nine). But the angel revealed the great message of Christmas: they were not to be afraid for the angel (literally) said, “I announce to you a great joy.” And what was that “great joy” God was announcing to the shepherds which was for all the people of the earth then and now? The good news was/is, “for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Have you personally beheld what the shadowy hands of the night sky revealed when they parted to give way to the glorious Christmas message-the glorious Christmas gift proclaimed by the angelic messenger overlooking shepherd’s field located next door to Bethlehem that evening? The good news of God’s joy had now manifested itself for all who would receive it by faith. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full (overflowing). The gift of JOY! Pastor Louie