The Announcement

Luke 2:9 – An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. (NIV)

Matthew 2:1b-2 – Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." (NIV)

The grandkids raced to my house, all excited and yelling about the big tree that their dad had just purchased. I discovered that it was a ten-foot-tall, cone-shaped Christmas tree completely encircled by white LED lights with a brilliantly lit star decking the top. I was informed that it was going to be placed at the end of the driveway for the Christmas season.

Wow! I thought. What a sight that will be. We live in the country with no streetlights or close neighbours, and it's normally pitch black at night. That brightly shining star and tree will stand out like a beacon for anyone driving by, announcing that Christmas is celebrated here.

On that first Christmas, God, too, announced the good news of His Son's birth with light. His initial announcement came to shepherds as they watched their flocks just outside Bethlehem. Angels appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. In Revelation 21:23, we discover that the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, "does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light." It would be this same light, the glory of the Lord, which the shepherds witnessed as the angelic host proclaimed, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14 NIV)

God's second announcement also came in the form of light: the light of an unusual star which the Magi recognized as the star of the One born King of the Jews. "The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed." (Matthew 2:9b-10 NIV)

God's light on that first Christmas announced good news. It proclaimed the birth of the Saviour Who later claimed, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12b NIV)

This year, as we view the Christmas lights shining brightly in our homes and neighbourhoods announcing the season, let us each remember the true light that Christmas is meant to celebrate: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)

Prayer: Father God, announce afresh in our hearts this year the glory of the light of Christ, in Whom we discover and receive eternal life and light, setting us free from the power and darkness of sin. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.