Amazement was everywhere…not only on the earth below, but in the heavens above, as well.
You know, there was not only “earthly responses” to the Good News of Christmas…there was also a “heavenly response.”
We know about the shepherds and the Magi or the three kings as they are sometimes called…along with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. “They” were the “earthly responses…”
But the gospel writer Luke informs us that there was a “heavenly response” as well.
According to Luke – “Heaven itself” could not contain its joy and its excitement. To say that it was overjoyed is insufficient; it was more like being jubilant, ecstatic, elated and euphoric all at the same time!
God has acted…and he has acted in an epic way!
The “angels of heaven” must have been amazed when they saw the “creator” being born as a “creature.”
They must have been completely stunned when they saw “the WORD made flesh” coming as a speechless little-cooing human child.
Imagine the “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords,” Very God of Very God, being born in “this of all places” and to “these parents!” Just what was God thinking? What was his plan? What was he “doing and saying” by all of this?
Just look at these “humble-pastoral- surroundings!” What kind of setting is this?
They must have been further amazed when they saw the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.
Not even a cradle, no crib for a bed…nothing but straw and a manger-bed.
Well, at least “it” was something…
Speaking about the “Good News of Jesus’ birth” – Peter tells us – that angels “long” to look into these things…
In other words, the heavenly messengers did not fully see or comprehend (themselves) just “what” was going on…what was happening…
They were inquisitive, questioning…
But what they did see on the first Christmas truly amazed them…
As Paul wrote to Timothy – “beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, and was taken up into glory.” Surreal.
It was a vast mystery. It is amazing. Even to the angels of God…
If you remember, Luke begins first with just one angel. This angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and initially announced the good news of Jesus’ birth. It was good news of “great joy” – “for all the people.”
Not just for some. But for “all the people.” A Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord. Amazing.
This first angel whoever he or she was – really truly was “the first evangelist” telling others about the birth of a savior…one who came to save them from their sins…
This news was too great to be contained and Luke records, suddenly…suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with that one angel, all of them praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth – peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Bigger than the whole Mormon Tabernacle Choir – they were…and I bet they sounded well, “heavenly…”
This was all about God. It was all about praising him, for what he was doing. It was marvelous and wonderful. It was huge. It was more than tremendous in their sight.
Doxa is the word. It comes from the Greek Lexicon and it can mean something like: magnificence, majesty, splendor, brightness or glory…
It was the glory of the Lord that was seen and being shown…an exterior brightness.
On that first Christmas day, the glory of the Lord God of Hosts was seen on earth…
As John put it in his gospel: The word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the father, full of grace and truth.
The lowly manger was filled with the Glory of God…
And all the angelic host could do was to look and to stare at the baby resting there…and to break into songs of praise and thanksgiving for what had just occurred. This was the heavenly response…
God had acted. And again, it was good!