The Witnesses

Over the next several days, I'd like to take time to think about the pronouncements of that first Christmas.  What do we really know about those who were a part of this Christmas story?  My intent is to focus on the witnesses to this miracle (however, if God leads me elsewhere, I'll follow!) - the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men.

Have you ever thought about the angels who proclaimed Christ's birth to the shepherds.  Let's look at Luke chapter 2:  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
                                  "Glory to God in the highest,
                                                and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."  (verses 8 - 14)

I wonder . . . I don't know a lot about angels.  Here's what I do know.  The word "angel" means "messenger of Yahweh, or messenger of God.  Angels are not born or descended from a race of angels (see Luke 20:34-36).  However, they are not eternal, as the Bible talks about the creation of angels in Nehemiah 9:5-6:   "Blessed be your glorious name, exalted above all blessing and praise! You're the one, God, you alone; You made the heavens, the heavens of heavens, and all angels; The earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; You keep them all alive; heaven's angels worship you!" (See also Psalm 148:2,5 & Colossians 1:16-17).

Angels (or "heavenly hosts") are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament, and 165 times in the New Testament.  We also know from the scripture above that angels are heavenly, spiritual beings.

I tell you all this because . . . the conclusion that I draw is that angels had to have known Jesus before He was born as a man.  Since there is only one God, one Creator who is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, we can also reasonably conclude that God might not have shared with the hosts of heaven His complete plan for Jesus' earthly mission.  Angels might not have been foreseeing Christ's agony which was to come in 33 short years.  But even if they had known . . . These angels, messengers of God, had known Jesus Christ for thousands of years.

Today my son was in a Christmas show.  Yesterday at dress rehearsal the director chided them a bit as they (wearily) recited the scripture from Luke 2, above:  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."  She challenged them to think like angels, to proclaim like angels, to imagine how the angels would have really sounded. 

Can you imagine what that must have sounded like?  Let's use our imaginations and really dream about that for a bit.  I can almost see a light show in the sky of angels and shooting stars, dancing and racing through the sky as shared with common beings the best news of eternity.  I mean . . . can you imagine?  Maybe in our modern terminology, it would be something like:  "He's here!  He's finally here!!  God has done what He promised!  God loves you, and His promised one is here!  God is so awesome!  Praise you, God!"

I found this video on youtube.com.  Click on the link to watch it.  I imagine it as perhaps 1/100th of the magnificence of that night.  We'll talk more about the angels tomorrow, but for today . . . just watch.  Tell me what you think!    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVrK4fxbsiY (If the link doesn't work I believe you can just copy and paste the web address into your internet browser.)