Verses 13 and 14 from Luke 2:8-20 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.” Now the flames on the hillside and in the sky grew clearer and they were granted true sight: what looked like fire was thousands of angels glowing with the light of God; the angel army told in Joshua, in 2 Kings, in Psalms – and now witnessed by the poor rough men. That great army praised God in never-ending chants of praise, in the Great Song that…

Verse 12 from Luke 2:8-20 “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” The angel didn’t leave it at that. He gave them a sign: that a newborn is wrapped in the swaddling cloths of the newly born and is lying in an animal’s feeding trough. Every one of those poor men could picture this since their own poor children may well have been born so. Already they knew the Lord, the Messiah, the glory of God; had not been born into a palace but was like one of them! Put yourself in the story. If God is…

Verses 10-11 from Luke 2:8-20 But the angel said to them, “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. Then a great Voice sounded like a mighty bell. “Do not be afraid!” There was more than comfort in his words to break through their fear, for the power of God was with the great Angel and overlay the hillside. The men stopped shouting and stared, the sheep went quiet, the dogs sat down on their haunches and waited. And the Angel…