Sermon Direct Link
12/17/23
Rev. Clint Smith
The Good News was delivered specifically to and specifically in the City of David on a specific day. God through His prophets made His specific plans known Micah 4:8, 5:2. Immanuel specifically visited His people with His specific Kingdom purpose.
Joseph and his promised, pregnant wife Miriam traveled about 90 miles from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, to register for their government census, because he was a descendant of King David.
While in Bethlehem, Miriam gave birth to Jesus in a specific place. Scholars believe it was in the Migdal Eder the tower of the flock. She wrapped her first-born Son in specific strips of cloths and laid Him in a specific stone manger.
A specific angel assigned by God appeared to specific shepherds who were keeping watch over the specific flocks during a specific night with the specific good news.
The shepherds received the good news but experienced needless fear.
The angel instructed the shepherds not to be afraid and announced that the Joy which was promised from old had come.
The good news was that the Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, had been born in the City of David.
The angel told the shepherds they would find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a food trough.
After the announcement, the brightly lit skies exploded with praise from Heaven’s angelic army.
Angelic praise: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.”
The angels went back to Heaven. The shepherds knew this was a special God-message and went straight to Bethlehem to see this Jesus.
The shepherds found Joseph, Mary, and Jesus exactly as the angels foretold. This caused the shepherds to glorify and praise God for all they had heard and seen.