“And suddenly a great host of heavenly angels appeared with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another: ‘Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’” (Luke 2:13-15*).
When the angel of the Lord appears to the shepherds, he brings news of joy for all people: The long-awaited Savior has been born! After that, “suddenly a great host of heavenly angels appeared with the angel, praising God” (Luke 2:13*).
The message brought that day was not only about the birth of the Lord Jesus. It foretells His sinless life, which makes Him worthy of being God's sacrificial Lamb, His crucifixion and resurrection, which demonstrate that the Father accepts Christ’s atonement for our sins, His subsequent ascension into heaven, Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in believers, and the time of Christ's return as King. The angels rejoice because salvation has come (bold emphasis is ours).
The Lord Jesus speaks of joy because He wants us to experience the fulfillment that comes from a relationship with Him. Such deep satisfaction does not depend on external circumstances but is a fruit of the Spirit within us.
The angels in heaven rejoice at the birth of Christ, and the shepherds glorify God. Are you experiencing this joy that comes from a life filled with the Spirit?
Link to the original article: https://www.intouchuk.org/read/daily-devotions/good-news-of-great-joy
* Bible quotes are from The Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013