Our romanticized impressions of that historic moment of the angelic announcement to the shepherds often fails to take into account the tumultuous tyranny of Roman occupation in Israel. The reality of peace must have seemed elusive to shepherds who first heard the message of, “peace, goodwill toward men.”
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”
The angel’s message of “good tidings of great joy,” was rooted in the fulfillment of the plan of God’s gift of redemption made available to all men through the person of Jesus Christ. Not only is He the “reason for the season,” Jesus is the source of joy associated with Christmas.
Angelic beings are not governed by man’s desires, but rather by God’s supreme will as He carries out His sovereign purposes in the lives of men.
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