THE DAY THE ANGELS WEPT
Luke 2:8-14
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. A teacher decided to ask her students what their Christmas traditions were. “What traditions does your family do at Christmas?”
2. The first student was a Catholic girl; “On Christmas Eve we go to Church, say our prayers with the rosary, and take the Mass and sing a hymn.”
3. The second student was a protestant boy; “We open presents early on Christmas morning and then go to church and hear a sermon on Christ’s birth.”
4. The third student was a Jew, so the teacher hesitated, but finally said, “And what do you do on Christmas morning?” The Jewish boy said, “We all get in our Mercedes-Benz and drive to my dad’s toy factory. We go into the big empty warehouse, get in a circle and sing, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus!’”
B. TEXT
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.” Lk. 2:8-14.
C. THESIS & TITLE
1. Tonight we’re looking at what the angels must have thought when Jesus became a human.
2. The title of this message is “The Day the Angel’s Wept.”
I. THE ANGELS ARE EVERYWHERE IN THE CHRISTMAS STORY!
A. EXAMPLES OF ANGELIC INVOLVEMENT
1. APPEARED TO ZACHARIAH, John the Baptist’s father in Luke 1:11-19. The angel Gabriel, God’s #1 messenger angel appeared to Zachariah in the Temple in Jerusalem to tell him of the future birth of his son, John.
2. TO MARY. Gabriel was again dispatched to tell the Virgin Mary that she would become pregnant and become the mother of the Messiah, Savior of the world, whom she should name Jesus, which means “Savior.”
3. TO JOSEPH. Matt. 1:20. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to direct him to go ahead and marry Mary. Vs. 24 tells us Joseph obeyed.
4. TO SHEPHERDS NEAR BETHLEHEM, Luke 2:9-10, informing them of the news of Jesus’ birth and instructing them to go see the Child.
5. TO JOSEPH, Matt. 2:13-15. An angel appeared in a dream to tell him to take Jesus and escape from Herod by going to Egypt. Years later, the angel came in a dream again telling Joseph to take Christ back to the land of Israel.
B. WHEN THE ARCHANGEL TREMBLED
1. Frederick Buechner, in his book, Peculiar Treasures, imagines the angel Gabriel as he encountered Mary: "She struck him as hardly old enough to have a child at all, let alone this child.
2. “But he had been entrusted with a message to give her, and he gave it. He told her what the child was to be named, who he was to be, and something about the mystery that was to come upon her.
3. “‘You mustn’t be afraid, Mary,’ he said. As he said it, he only hoped she wouldn’t notice that beneath the great golden wings, he himself was trembling with fear to think that the whole future of Creation hung on the answer of a girl.”
II. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ANGELS?
A. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. There are a lot of them—millions, in fact. Rev. 5:11 says 10K X 10K = 100 million, in one place.
2. They are very powerful— they can stand in sun; execute 185,000 at once (2 Kgs. 19:35).
3. Some are mighty warriors—like Michael.
4. They were created by God.
5. They sometimes take on human form.
6. Their perception of God leads them to worship Him.
7. They deliver messages—in fact, the word “angel” means—a “messenger.”
8. Some angels rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven—we call them evil spirits or demons or fallen angels.
9. Some have a ministry to protect and deliver believers; they also encamp around God’s people (Ps. 34:7). They can be agents of judgment on the disobedient.
B. DO ANGELS FEEL EMOTION? YES!
1. THE ANGELS GET HAPPY/ “REJOICE” WHEN A SINNER IS CONVERTED; “...there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” Lk. 15:10.
2. IT’S LOGICAL TO ASSUME THAT IF GOD IS SAD, THEN THEY GET SAD; “The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.” Gen. 6:6.
C. DID THE ANGELS KNOW JESUS BEFORE THE FIRST CHRISTMAS? YES!
1. Jesus is “God-Visible.” No angel has ever seen or experienced the raw Deity of God the Father (1 Cor. 8:6). That Deity is so holy, lofty, and powerful that, like our Sun, if any object tried to approach it, the object would disintegrate.
2. Jesus Christ is the “Image of the Invisible God” (Col. 1:15); He is the visible representation of God. Jesus is the Light that shined in the darkness; He’s the Word of God. He’s the Creator of the Universe (Heb. 1:2), of heaven itself, and the angels (Col. 1:16).
3. He’s God’s Son, who has no “beginning of life nor end of days” (Heb. 7:3), living from everlasting to everlasting (Mic. 5:2). The angels worship Him (Heb. 1:6). He’s one with the Father and in Him dwells all the deity of God, bodily (Col. 2:9).
III. WHAT MUST THE ANGELS HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT JESUS BECOMING A LOWLY CREATED BEING?
I’m going to use my imagination for a few moments to consider what the angels might have thought.
A. AMAZEMENT AT THE INCARNATION
1. A rumor was spreading throughout Heaven that the Lord Himself was going down to earth to live among humans. This heaven-rocking thought was confirmed by Gabriel.
2. “The Master is going to leave the Ivory Palaces and the Rainbow Throne and take up residence on that rebellious planet.”
3. Confused angels must have asked the question - “What will He do down there?” The answer was incredible, “He’s going to be born.” The angels asked, “Born? What’s born?” Gabriel: “I don’t know; it’s something that happens to earth creatures.”
4. There was a great commotion in the celestial city. Angels had massed from the four corners of heaven. Row upon row, rank upon rank---angels and archangels were there before the Great Throne of God Almighty.
5. Then they saw it. Something that made their hearts sink---the seat at the right of the throne was empty! The Bright and Morning Star was gone!
6. Gabriel raised his hand and there was complete silence. Then in clear tones as sweet as the sound of many waters, he spoke: “You’ve been called together to hear the most wonderful pronouncement ever made in the eternal ages. Our beloved Lord, the only begotten of the Father, has left us!”
7. The voice of the great angel trembled and sobs burst from the lips of the gathered host. In a moment, Gabriel continued: “Our Lord has gone to earth to be born as a baby so that He might redeem the humans. This is the only way that the humans can see that the Father loves them. He will take away the sin of all earth creatures who receive His offer of salvation.”
8. A gasp of astonishment rose from the angels. They couldn’t imagine the Lord of Glory living in a place of such darkness. In a moment, Gabriel continued: “On earth tonight in a little town called Bethlehem, His incarnation will be accomplished.”
B. THE VISIT TO THE SHEPHERDS
1. Several of the best singing angels were selected to accompany Gabriel as he made the announcement. By the thousands and tens of thousands they swept through the heavens.
2. Down through the belt of Orion, on past the Milky Way---down, down, they went through the still night air, leaving the stars twinkling far behind them.
3. At a signal from Gabriel they stopped, poised above the earth. Below them, by the light of a camp fire, they could see shepherds keeping watch over their flocks. Suddenly, Gabriel broke through the clouds and stood before the men.
4. They gazed at him and the attending hosts in awe and then fell in terror to the ground. Then Gabriel spoke: “Fear not! I bring you good tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
5. As Gabriel finished these words, the light of the glory of God fell from heaven and the hosts began to sing, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to men of good will.”
6. The song floated out upon the night air. It enraptured the shepherds who heard it. Heavenly voices echoed over the fields of Bethlehem. Then, at a signal from Gabriel, the heavenly host moved upward.
CONCLUSION
A. EPILOG
1. 33 years passed and again Heaven was rocked with news of the Lord Jesus. “I can’t believe it. They killed our Lord! He went to love them and to show them the way to the Father and they ridiculed, mocked Him, and finally nailed Him to a cross.”
2. “Why doesn’t the Father punish them? Why doesn’t He destroy that sick and wretched planet?” Then one of the other angels said, “I guess it’s because He loves them.”
3. “In fact, I heard one of the archangel’s say that the Master knew all along that they would do all of these terrible things to Him, but He willingly laid down His life to redeem them.”
4. Again the angels wept. Then there was stirring in the heavenly city. The Master had returned! All heaven rejoiced. His glory filled the city—with one difference—that glory shone through an earth-creature’s body—a body with scars on the hands and feet.
5. After 2000 years, the glorious moment came when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords mounted His white horse and led the hosts of heaven to bring judgment on the Christ-rejecting world.
6. Rev. 19:11, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses...15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against [Him] and his army. 20 But [they were defeated &] …were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Rev. 19:11-20.
B. THE CALL
1. Do we have room for Jesus? Do we love Him? Have we accepted His salvation? Jesus says to us, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20). Prayer for Christ to come in.
2. Is there anyone you know who needs Jesus? Can you invite them to church next Sunday? Prayer.
[This is a rewrite of Bruce Howell’s message of the same name.]
