December 19th, 2025
by Steve Marshall
by Steve Marshall
Church Family:
Christmas is the story of God’s joyful redeeming love in Christ Jesus—a love so beautiful that angels announce it, study it, and overflow with joy over it. From the fall to redemption, the angels saw humanity rebel against God, God promise a Savior, the Son of God humble Himself to become human, and then suffer and die, rise again, ascend in glory, and save sinners in a way that makes them glorify God’s wisdom and grace (Luke 2:10–14; 1 Peter 1:12; Revelation 5:11–12). Can you imagine watching this from heaven and even being involved as a heavenly being? Even though the angels never taste salvation the way redeemed sinners do, their joy becomes a great spotlight on the deeper joy believers have in the Son of God, our Savior who was “made lower than the angels” for us.
On the night of Jesus’ birth, the silence of the fields exploded with praise as an angel proclaimed to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people,” declaring that “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11). This is joy with a name and a face: the eternal Son of God stepping into history as the promised Davidic King and saving Lord, bringing true peace on earth to those on whom God’s gracious favor rests (Luke 2:14). Christmas joy rests not on feelings that come and go, but on the solid, joyful fact of the incarnation—God the Son gladly taking true human nature to redeem a people for His glory.
The Holy Spirit lets us peek into heaven and see that the angels are completely captivated by this story of redemption. Peter tells us these gospel realities are “things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:10–12). Like joyful spectators of grace, they eagerly stoop to examine the unfolding drama of salvation, marveling at God’s manifold wisdom displayed to the world throughout history (Ephesians 3:10).
At the glorious center of this joy-filled drama stands Jesus Himself, whom Hebrews describes as “made a little lower than the angels” so that “by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). In overflowing love, He did not take on the nature of angels but “the seed of Abraham,” sharing “flesh and blood” to destroy “the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,” and to set free those who were held in lifelong slavery by the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14–16).
All of this turns Christmas into a song of humble, joyful gratitude. Angels may be greater in power, but God’s children are greater in privilege because Christ is our Redeemer. Holy angels can rightly say, “God is our Creator and Lord,” but only redeemed sinners can sing, “God loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). No elect angel ever needed a cross, and no fallen angel was ever offered one; yet for the “offspring of Abraham” Christ joyfully shed His blood, so that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Hebrews 2:16; Romans 10:13).
And so, once again the angels call us to joyfully turn our eyes where their eyes have always been fixed since Creation. In heaven, their joyful gaze is locked on “Him who sits on the throne and on the Lamb,” as they join the never-ending chorus, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 4–5). If the host of heavenly angels who never needed forgiveness are thrilled with Christ’s redeeming work, how much greater is it for those bought with His blood to spend this Christmas season looking where they look—away from self and up to Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, whose birth, death, and resurrection are forever “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” As the angels explode in joy at the coming of Jesus Christ, let our hearts and voices do the same.
See you Sunday, rejoicing with the angels: Steve
Christmas is the story of God’s joyful redeeming love in Christ Jesus—a love so beautiful that angels announce it, study it, and overflow with joy over it. From the fall to redemption, the angels saw humanity rebel against God, God promise a Savior, the Son of God humble Himself to become human, and then suffer and die, rise again, ascend in glory, and save sinners in a way that makes them glorify God’s wisdom and grace (Luke 2:10–14; 1 Peter 1:12; Revelation 5:11–12). Can you imagine watching this from heaven and even being involved as a heavenly being? Even though the angels never taste salvation the way redeemed sinners do, their joy becomes a great spotlight on the deeper joy believers have in the Son of God, our Savior who was “made lower than the angels” for us.
On the night of Jesus’ birth, the silence of the fields exploded with praise as an angel proclaimed to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people,” declaring that “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11). This is joy with a name and a face: the eternal Son of God stepping into history as the promised Davidic King and saving Lord, bringing true peace on earth to those on whom God’s gracious favor rests (Luke 2:14). Christmas joy rests not on feelings that come and go, but on the solid, joyful fact of the incarnation—God the Son gladly taking true human nature to redeem a people for His glory.
The Holy Spirit lets us peek into heaven and see that the angels are completely captivated by this story of redemption. Peter tells us these gospel realities are “things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:10–12). Like joyful spectators of grace, they eagerly stoop to examine the unfolding drama of salvation, marveling at God’s manifold wisdom displayed to the world throughout history (Ephesians 3:10).
At the glorious center of this joy-filled drama stands Jesus Himself, whom Hebrews describes as “made a little lower than the angels” so that “by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). In overflowing love, He did not take on the nature of angels but “the seed of Abraham,” sharing “flesh and blood” to destroy “the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,” and to set free those who were held in lifelong slavery by the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14–16).
All of this turns Christmas into a song of humble, joyful gratitude. Angels may be greater in power, but God’s children are greater in privilege because Christ is our Redeemer. Holy angels can rightly say, “God is our Creator and Lord,” but only redeemed sinners can sing, “God loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). No elect angel ever needed a cross, and no fallen angel was ever offered one; yet for the “offspring of Abraham” Christ joyfully shed His blood, so that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Hebrews 2:16; Romans 10:13).
And so, once again the angels call us to joyfully turn our eyes where their eyes have always been fixed since Creation. In heaven, their joyful gaze is locked on “Him who sits on the throne and on the Lamb,” as they join the never-ending chorus, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 4–5). If the host of heavenly angels who never needed forgiveness are thrilled with Christ’s redeeming work, how much greater is it for those bought with His blood to spend this Christmas season looking where they look—away from self and up to Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, whose birth, death, and resurrection are forever “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” As the angels explode in joy at the coming of Jesus Christ, let our hearts and voices do the same.
See you Sunday, rejoicing with the angels: Steve
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