Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

- from Luke 2:10

In today’s passage God delivers an amazing message through amazing messengers. Delivering messages from God to humans is one of the prime activities of angels.

The Message Part 1: Do not be afraid. When something beyond our control happens, fear is one knee-jerk reaction. We can’t do much “beholding” if we are cowering in fear.

The Message Part 2: Behold. Heads up! This message is being delivered in Light and Sound. Bring all your senses to attention. Take this in. This is IMPORTANT.

The Message Part 3: I bring you good tidings of great joy. We think our generation is skeptical of good news because advertising and politics have made us cynical, yet Scripture tells us all generations have had this inclination to disbelief. The angels were probably clamoring to be in on this proclamation, eager to get the message across that this was indeed something wonderfully believable. Dare we believe?

The Message Part 4: which will be to all people. Many of us can identify with the shepherds because many of us have a lot in common with them. They were just doing their jobs, going about their business. They were pretty ordinary people. These glad tidings of great joy are passed from the angel to the shepherds and on to all people.

The rest of the message contains the glorious specifics.

Then, as though waiting in the wings, a multitude of the heavenly host suddenly appeared with the message-delivering angel. They proceeded to fulfill one of their other God-serving activities: praise and worship.

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.