LANSING – Perhaps one of the most unique gifts I have ever received was from one of my dad’s elder sisters.
She handed me an envelope about two and a half inches by three inches, addressed to my aunt and my uncle from my parents, who were stationed overseas in the military in the early 1970’s. I carefully opened the envelope, and saw what looked like a hand drawn card with bright pastel-colored flowers and butterfly on the front with the words, “We had a Happening…” in the center. I opened the card revealing a picture of a baby holding a flower with the words, “and this is who happened!”.
What I was given was my birth announcement! The card contained my name, my weight, my parent’s names, the date, and time that I was born.
In the lives of families in the 1970’s military and otherwise, when you had news to spread, you sent out announcements through the mail (air mail in this case) and then you waited, and waited, and waited for it to arrive then waited some more to receive a response!
This was a typical birth announcement for the time.
In Luke chapter 2 we see the birth announcement of the world’s Savior! It wasn’t sent by airmail but was fittingly sent by an angel, a messenger from God followed by a multitude of heavenly hosts singing, glory in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!
While they were in the peace of the night, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and announced,
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts appeared praising God and saying:“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” – Luke 2:11-14
We can all relate to the joy a person feels when they hear the news of someone welcoming a child into the world.
Can you imagine the joy that the shepherds must have felt when they heard the announcement of the birth of Jesus! He was the expected Savior of the world! He was the One that the prophet Isaiah prophesied about hundreds of years beforehand.
Isaiah wrote, "Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." – Isaiah 7:14
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." – Isaiah 9:6
The shepherds responded with immediate obedience to, “see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. They found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger, just like the angel had said. The shepherds then announced to others the message given to them about this Child”. Lk. 2:15-18
God sent into the world a Savior! One who would meet man’s greatest need, forgiveness of sin, and peace through this Savior, Jesus Christ! The angels announced the birth and the shepherds shared this news with everyone!
Will you allow Him to meet your greatest need? Will you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to make you a new creation, in Him?
Will you share with others what Jesus has done in your life?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joshua Diaz has served as Youth Leader, Worship Leader, Deacon, Sunday School teacher, Baseball Chaplain (of the Local Single A Team) and recently an Interim Pastor. Joshua and Annabel have served jointly leading VBS outreach. Joshua is a husband, father, and grandfather who has served in ministry at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, (El Buen Pastor) in Lansing, MI since 1991. Joshua and his lovely wife Annabel have recently celebrated 29 years of marriage.