Read Luke 2:14, John 3:16-17, and 1 John 4:9-11
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” – Luke 2:14
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. – John 3:16-17
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:9-11 (emphasis mine)
Listen to King of Kings by Hillsong Worship
The Angels’ Impact
Throughout every account of the Christmas story, we see the good news of Christ’s birth being shared with people far and wide. The messengers of this joyous news were none other than angels—divine beings sent by God to deliver His message. From the angel Gabriel to the host of heavenly messengers, these celestial beings played a pivotal role in guiding, encouraging, and even warning God’s people during this extraordinary time.
The angels made lasting and significant impacts in the unfolding story of Jesus’ birth, carrying out their divine assignments with precision and grace:
- Announcing to Mary that she would bear the Savior of the world
- Instructing Mary to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist
- Comforting and reassuring Joseph, urging him to take Mary as his wife and protect the child
- Bringing the good news of Jesus’ birth to humble shepherds in the fields
- Warning Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to escape King Herod's wrath, and later guiding them back to Nazareth
- And countless other moments of divine intervention…
In the midst of all the uncertainty and potential for things to go awry, God’s hand was upon every moment of this sacred story. His timing was perfect, and through the guidance of the angels, each step of His plan was fulfilled. The heavenly messengers were not just deliverers of a message, but instruments of God’s glory, ensuring that everything came to pass just as it was meant to. The story of Christ’s birth is a testament to God's sovereign care and the unfailing guidance He provides, even in the most unexpected of ways.
The angels were the first to share the good news of the Savior’s arrival, heralding His birth to those who needed it most. Through Jesus, they began spreading the love of Christ, proclaiming His message of hope and redemption to a waiting world. While the angels were the first to deliver this divine message, Christ continues to call us to carry on that mission—to go into the world and love others as He has loved us.
As Candice Lucey, a writer for Christianity.com, puts it, “Christians are not angelic, powerful, formidable emissaries of heaven, yet believers are still commanded to follow the angels’ example.”
An Act of Love
Scripture tells us that Jesus entered the world as the ultimate act of love, a love so profound that it transcended all understanding. The world, lost and bound in the depths of sin, was desperate for salvation. As Christians, we gaze upon the Christmas story and recognize that it doesn't end with a baby lying in a manger—beautiful and miraculous as that moment was. No, this story points toward something far greater, something that would change the course of history forever: the cross. A cross upon which a man—one who loves without limits and without conditions—would lay down His life.
On the darkest day in history, all of creation seemed to groan in unison, as if the very earth itself cried out in anguish, letting out a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the heavens and earth. At His final breath, the world thought the fight was over; that He had been defeated. All those who followed Him mourned the day He was put to rest. His disciples even had doubts. But God knew the purpose behind sending His only Son into the world.
Three days later, the women went to visit the tomb of Jesus Christ only to find it empty. In their shock and confusion, they were suddenly confronted by the resurrected Jesus, alive and glorified. He had risen from the dead! This powerful moment marked the ultimate defeat of sin and death. Through His death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit was sent to dwell within each of us, offering comfort, guidance, and the promise of eternal life. But the most profound question remains: Why did He do all of this? The answer is simple—because of love. Jesus willingly endured the cross, not out of obligation, but out of His deep, sacrificial love for us. His love is the foundation of our faith, the reason for our hope, and the very reason we can now live in the freedom of His grace.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17
Jesus, the Son of God, whom the Father loved, chose to endure the agony of the cross not for His own sake, but because He wanted every single person, throughout all of time, to be free from the chains of sin and the death it brings. His death was not just a sacrifice; it was the gift of eternal freedom, offered to all who would receive it.
In Day 13 of our Christmas devotions, Amanda Brophy writes: “There is nothing that you can do to earn the love of the Lord. As sinners who fall short of the glory of God, it is true that we do not deserve His love. And yet, He gives it to us anyway. More than that: He sends Jesus to dwell among us, reveal His glory, and show us how to live a life that is honoring to Him. Overall, He sent His One and Only Son to be a sacrificial lamb for us. That is how much God loves you. There is nothing that can make Him love you more or love you less. He loves you perfectly, unconditionally, and perpetually for all of eternity.”
As we wrap up this Advent season, take time to be with God—through prayer, worship, or quiet reflection. Pause and remember the true meaning of the season. Nothing can separate us from God's love. Billy Graham once said, “Don’t leave Jesus in the manger; don’t remember Him only at Christmas. Instead, learn to walk with Him every day, through prayer, reading His Word, and asking for His guidance.”
Wishing you a Merry Christmas from our Sunnybrook family to yours.
Cover photo by Shay Johnson
© Copyright 2024. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New international Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.