THE YOUNG JESUS
by Charlene & Friedhelm Dohmann

The Message of the Angels

Luke writes that during the night of the birth, an angel of the Lord appeared to some shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem and "the glory of the Lord shined bright around them." "Fear not!" spoke the angel. "Behold, I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, which shall be for all people," and proclaimed the arrival of Jesus Christ in David's town. The angel commanded the shepherds to seek out the newborn. They would find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Forthwith, a shinning throng of angels appeared praising God with the words: "Honor to God in the highest, peace on earth and goodwill toward all!"

Once the angels left, the shepherds promptly hurried to Bethlehem in search of the child. They did not doubt what had been announced to them. When they found Mary, Joseph and the child in the manger, they spoke of what they had seen and heard. Luke writes that all which heard their story were filled with a feeling of wonderment.

The message of the shepherds only reinforced what Mary already knew, and "she was holding all that in her heart and thought again and again about it." It was not yet the time for all people to recognize Jesus as their savior. Therefore, this magnificent event went unnoticed by most inhabitants of the Holy Land.

In those days of a Roman controlled Palestine, many Jews were praying for salvation through a Messiah. Luke reports that a savior had come, Christ the Lord, and only a few knew about him. The birth of Jesus was an event that Israel's leaders missed. He would soon change their world forever.

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