Christmas Birth of the Savior From darkness to light　　　　

21 December 2021

Christmas is the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This year is 2021. It means that 2021 years have passed since the birth of Jesus Christ. The birth of Jesus Christ is the division between BC and AD. Jesus Christ is not the surname and first name. Jesus is the name, but Christ is the title. It means the savior. Therefore, Jesus Christ means that Jesus is the Savior.

Despite more than 2000 years since the first Christmas, it is now celebrated all over the world. It is unthinkable that one’s birthday is so timeless and celebrated across ethnic barriers. Today, more than 2 billion people believe that Jesus is Christ (Savior). Why do so many people believe in Jesus? Because Jesus Christ gives love, hope, healing and life to the lives of countless people. It’s ongoing, and many will continue to be blessed. Because Jesus Christ is still alive and will never change yesterday and today and forever.

Christmas is celebrated all over the world now, but how was the first Christmas? Let’s take a look at the first Christmas event.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  (Luke 2: 8-20)

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night (verse 8). The shepherd at that time seems to have been a poor profession. They had a night shift in the darkness of the field. I think it was a dark life. It is dark nowadays because of the coronavirus. The company goes bankrupt, loses a job. Students can’t enjoy school life. Isn’t it darkened by various worries? Isn’t darkness covering our heart?

An angel appeared there (verse 9). The light was illuminated the darkness. God also illuminates our hearts and gives us hope.

An angel, a messenger from God, gave the shepherds great news of joy (verse 10). The content is verse 11. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. “

The angel announced the birth of the Savior Jesus. Jesus Christ is the Savior from sin. The shepherds heard the praise of the angel coming from heaven. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (verse 14).

The shepherds go looking for the born Savior. “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Verse 15)

The shepherd also had knowledge of the Bible. The town of David (verse 11) is the town where King David was born. It is Bethlehem. They had great action. They believed in what the angel said.

Bethlehem is said to have been a small town with about 2,000 people at that time. I think it was not easy to find a baby.

The shepherds couldn’t find Jesus easily and could have given up on the way home. But they didn’t give up and continued to search, and finally they was able to find Jesus. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  (verse 16). Even if we don’t understand Jesus, it is important not to give up and to continue searching and seeking. Reading the Bible, which describes the life of Jesus, attending church, and praying are also very helpful. Even if you don’t understand Jesus at first, if you want to know more about Jesus Christ and keep searching, you should be able to find Jesus someday.

They were given a hint when searching. It means “sleeping in a manger”. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Verse 12)

The shepherds did not think that there could be no savior in the “manger” on their own, and that if they were the savior, they would be born in the royal palace. They just believed in the words of the angel sent by God. It is important to believe in the Words of the Bible. Then, like the shepherds, I believe that we can finally find Jesus.

There is a lot of information in modern times, some of which are correct and some of which are incorrect. The shepherds trusted the information from the angel, God’s messenger. Let us also trust the Word of the Bible, the Word of God. Then we can reach Jesus, the Savior who will save us.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (verse 20). They heard the praises of the angels, but this time they began to praise themselves.

At first, the shepherds may have been working in the dark. But an angel came and the glory of the Lord illuminated the surroundings. The light has just taken away the darkness. The shepherd heard the news of joy by an angel, met Jesus, and praised God. They should have been able to live with hope, even if there were some pains after this.

Even if the world is dark, Jesus is light. If we welcome Jesus, the light, to our hearts, our hearts will be brightened and our lives will shine. Jesus speaks like this today, knocking on the door of each of us. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.(Verse10, 11)

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