There’s a practice of reading scripture called “Lectio Divina”. In a simple way, you read the scripture and just listen for what speaks to you—what stands out—maybe a word, or phrase, or image. Then you read it again and listen for what stands out the next time. And then again a third time. Sometimes you might have a guiding question you’re listening for, and sometimes you simply listen. This year as I read through and listened to the story of Jesus’ birth, I was continuously drawn to the angels. We hear them at each stage of the story—in the holy of holies with Zechariah, with Mary, with Joseph, with the Shepherds….but, normally we focus on the earthly
characters, not the heavenly ones.
But this year they just kept staying with me. I wondered about them and their perspective. The New Testament isn’t the first place we hear from the angels, we hear from them throughout the Old Testament as well….they are regularly God’s messengers. They bring news of what God is doing, what hope is to be found, reprimands for bad behavior, and the promises God has for the Israelites. We regularly find them with prominent figures in the stories of the Israelites.
We hear from the angels with Hagar when she conceives, and then with Abraham when he takes Isaac to the mountain, with Jacob, with Moses and the burning bush, with the Israelites leading them with a pillar of fire, with Balaam and his donkey, with the Israelites in the land of Canaan, with Gideon as he fought the Midianites, with Samson’s parents foretelling his birth, with Joshua—the high priest.
The angels have seen God at work throughout the whole story. They know the heart of God. They know the struggles, disobedience, and roadblocks for God’s people. They know what the trajectory should be based on God’s desires, and what it isn’t based on people’s desires…They’ve witnessed the greatest successes and the greatest failures. They’ve heard God speak to the prophets. They know the promises that have been made.
And then in this story, they come to announce the greatness of God in the flesh—Emmanuel—a tiny baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And as I heard about them singing praises for Jesus’ birth, I imagined them compelled by the promises and good news they had been sharing for centuries all pulled together and culminating in Jesus.
The analogy that came to mind is kids in December. Anyone with kids knows the anticipation of Christmas. I don’t know about at your house, but as soon as any present is wrapped or placed under the tree at mine, my kids start asking if they can open one. I think this year it started around December 1st. Can I open a present? Can I open a present? Constantly! Rick was inclined to cave and I had a fierce objection. It was December 5thand I was not about to encourage the asking and spend the next 20 days debating on whether they could open another present and another and another. The reality is, the anticipation is hard. We want to enjoy the best parts—our favorite foods, time with family, and opening presents! And it’s all glitzy and pretty and staring us in the face and it’s hard to wait. And then when Christmas finally arrives the adrenaline is almost palpable. It’s hard to fall asleep because of the excitement and then the morning comes all too early! Anyone have 5 am kids? IT’S CHRISTMAS!!!! Man, all that waiting and now it’s the day and they are SO excited and they run around the house telling everyone. It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas! It’s time to open presents! It’s Christmas!
I kind of sense that type of anticipation and excitement from the angels. Imagine it….thousands of years of build-up….God has promised, God is working, God is leveling up, God is going bigger this year. What does God have in store this year? How will God show love, or grace, or redemption? How will God convince the people that seeking a relationship with God really is life-changing? God is always up to something…throughout the Bible, God is constantly at work, but what will it be this time? And is this the year it will be THE thing that really works? Is it now? Is it time?
And then… it is time!!! It’s finally here! The day is here! God is here…on earth in the flesh….we have to tell everyone! And outcome the angel and the heavenly host!! Glory to God in the highest and peace on Earth!
God is here! In the flesh! With that couple over there and the baby lying in a manger! What are you doing standing here? Go there! Go see them! The day is here! Let’s get moving! God has done it!!
The Old Testament readings used during Advent tend to lean on the words of the prophets about one who would come as God’s Messiah—God’s anointed—to do a great saving work. We have to be mindful when we read them…they weren’t about Jesus specifically (fully human, fully divine was not an Old Testament concept), but they were about God’s chosen one, God’s messengers, often a Messiah (and Jesus isn’t the only Messiah we find in the scriptures…David was also known as a Messiah—he was God’s anointed one too), but once we know Jesus, once we see who he is as Savior and Redeemer we can see how these scriptures apply to him too.
Scriptures like this from Isaiah 9:
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
…
6 For to us a child is born,
to us, a son is given,
…
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
…
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
…
Or this one from Isaiah 61:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
[God] has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
…
Or Isaiah 7
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign: The virgin[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[e] will call him Immanuel.
Or Psalm 72:
For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.
God has been pointing to the powerful saving work God can do on earth for centuries and in Jesus God does it differently. He’s not just a messenger, not just a prophet, he’s God in the flesh, fully human and fully divine. And he comes after great anticipation. He’s the fulfillment of all God has been doing throughout the course of human history. And the angels are stoked! They’ve been waiting and watching. They heard God tell how God would do this amazing thing. They listened to the angels deliver the messages to Mary and Joseph and now, after all that waiting….he’s here!! And they are ready for the world to know! So they start with the shepherds (which is a sermon all its own) and can hardly contain themselves. One angel starts the message and then as soon as they’ve said it all the others appear and start singing and praising God! It’s a pretty powerful thing.
And we, tonight, and every night have the chance to join them! Let’s sing praise to God for the Good News of Jesus Christ—a tiny child lying in a manger, fully human and fully divine, the culmination of God’s saving work for all of us!