Reading through the Gospels 12
Luke 2:8-21
Luke 2:8-21 THE SHEPHERDS AND THE ANGELS
2-8-20 The shepherds were in the field near Bethlehem keeping watch over their flock to protect them from thieves or wild animals. These flocks were reserved for temple sacrifices. An angel of the Lord appeared and the glory of the Lord shone around them. I can imagine what a bright light that must have been surrounding them! Of course they were filled with fear. Just as the angel told Joseph, the angel tells the shepherds not to be afraid and continues with the good news of Jesus's birth. As if one angel were not enough to make such a statement, a multitude of heavenly hosts appear.
Verse 14 is now a hymn called Gloria in Excelsis Deo which is the Latin translation of the first words. The angels praise God in heaven and announcing the blessing of peace on earth among those with whom He is pleased. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! (verse 10) Hard! The herald angels sing (verse 14) We sing at Christmas "peace on earth and goodwill to men," but unless we pull out our Bibles we miss the part about the peace being for those whom God is pleased. I can only please God through my faith in Jesus Christ and that faith is a gift, so by myself I cannot please God. Isaiah 9:6 affirms where my peace comes from, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
This was a "silent night, holy night" (verse 8) until the angels came and made everyone alert! The shepherds were SO excited about what they had seen, they couldn't wait to run and tell everyone else. We should be and do the same. We can see all the little things that God does for us, even daily. Do we get SO excited about them? Are we anxious to tell other about them? Oh, come, all ye faithful! (verse 15)
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Listen while scrolling the text.
February 11, 2026 for our Joy in Spite of Stoopidity study
(Luke 2:10 ESV) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
How interesting that now we have holidays colliding again with these randomly chosen Bible verses about JOY. Here we have Christmas for Valentine's Day.
Please pray with me. God, thanks for the glimpse into the past of a collective pause and a reverent silence and how it connects to when You will come again. It is kind of awesome how all of Your Word connects. Amen.
Concordance G5479 chara: χαρά, Pronounced khar-ah' (khar-ah') Meaning joy, gladness, delight, greatly joyful, from the root word G5463 (χαίρω - rejoice); Found 59 times in the Greek New Testament.
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I don't know how many
tv and movie screen moments
are auto-memorable for me
But I tell you this
Every time I read Luke 2
I hear Linus reading it!
Charlie Brown is distressed
Oh, that disastrous little tree!
"I guess I don't really know
what Christmas is all about"
"Isn’t there anyone
who knows what
Christmas is all about?”
Queue up the silent
reverence
Linus drops
his security blanket
No need for it
as he remembers Jesus
His heart is moved
Lights please
Linus shares
the Good News
of Jesus
Sleepy shepherds are
minding their own business
Boom!
Angels light up the sky
Oh, the this-is-how-we-die energy
"And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings
of great JOY,
which shall be to all people"
A Savior is born
in a feeding trough
The whole choir
of angels sing
Great JOY! For all people!
Not small JOY
He's here! For me!
Downhearted
Charlie Brown
his expression softens
he listens
His heart is moved
Bossy Lucy pauses
her directing
and quietly listens
Her heart is moved
Schroeder's focus on
music gives way
as the piano keys stop
His heart is moved.
Dancing Snoopy
no longer decorating
is still and listening
His heart is moved.
Young Sally's eyes
are wide-eyed
and attentively
listening
Her heart is moved.
Pig-Pen is so still
his dust cloud
settles
His heart is moved
Frieda, Shermy,
and other children
stop their chatter
No more chaotic
play rehearsal
Their hearts are moved
I imagine this mirrors
when Jesus
comes again
A normally
noisy and busy
chaotic world
Every eye will see Him
No secret
no hiding
a collective pause
No movement
a reverent hush
as Jesus is
center stage
and all hearts
are moved