Luke 2:8-14 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” KJV

Good news—The Savior, the Messiah has come!

Cause great joy—A joy that changes narrative for not only the now, but into the future.

All people—The promises of God making peace with mankind was going to happen through Abraham’s family.  From the beginning this blessing through Abraham was going to be for all people.

Peace from Israel to the rest of the world? 

Peace by and through Israel to the rest of the world!

Genesis 12:2-3 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

This blessing will be fulfilled in the Messiah, the Christ.

Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

For all People!

Ephesians 2:11-16 “ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”

• God began His redemptive work through Abraham’s family—physical/biological. (11)
  
  
• All of the rest of us were in wait for this to unfold.
  
  
• The anticipation of a messiah was not us, for we did not know the promises and prophecies given to Israel. (12)
  
  
• Christ came and brought those of us on the outside in to the promise. (13)
  
  
• Christ tore down the barrier that God set up at Babel that separated people from each other. (14)
  
  
• He made peace between people and between us and God through the Cross. (15b-16)

That is why Jesus the Messiah had to come, less the world continues without peace.  This peace comes to each of us by faith alone in Jesus.

Who can you bring joy to this night or tomorrow that could use some good news?  A timely word!

Jesus is the light that brings news of hope that causes joy!