Good Will Toward Men!

When the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the poor shepherds that night, they were very afraid. How often the glory of God induced fear in the old testament, for it often was a sign of judgment.

But the angel exhorted them not to fear, because of the glad tidings of great joy he was bringing to them!

Notice that the joy would be to all people, and yet the angel announced that a Savior was born "unto you." Jesus was no mere private person, and His birth was no private matter, for He was sent to the whole world!

It is appropriate that the announcement of the birth of God's Lamb should have been announced to shepherds, who raised and tended lambs. Those lambs were raised for their wool for clothing, and for meat to eat.

But most sacred of all, the shepherds raised little lambs for sin offerings, for sacrifices. And now the angel was announcing to shepherds, particularly, the birth of God's Lamb to save the world!

One day years later, John the Baptist would cry out of that same Savior, "Behold, the Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world!"

But then the angelic host cried out, Glory to God in the Highest! It was to the great glory of God, the announcement of the birth of Jesus! Christ's birth and ministry and death for sinners is the great glory of God in heaven, more so than all the other grand and glorious works of God.

But on earth, Christ's birth is the peace of God to us. Christ purchases peace with God by His blood shedding at Calvary in the place of sinners. He takes away our crimes, so that we are reconciled to an holy God.

But Jesus' birth is also God's declaration of Good Will toward men. It displays His great benevolence to us!