Luke wrote his Gospel, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3.16), to his friend Theophilus. He wanted him to know with certainty about Jesus: His life, death, and resurrection. He said so in Luke 1.3-4— “It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.” What did he being with? His lineage. In that there are some interesting characters. Some of Jesus’ family tree had Gentiles, former prostitutes, kings, murders, and adulterers. In this Luke showed the certainty of Jesus’ humanity, being the Son of Man. Luke then immediately goes into something just as necessary to have certainty about… His birth. It is an important part of the Gospel, in that it shows Jesus’ divine nature as the Son of God. If it was necessary for Luke to point out, with certainty, these facts… then it is just as necessary we have some certainty as well.
By now I’m sure you have read the account given in Luke 2.1-20. For our purpose here, let’s focus our attention on verses 13 and 14— “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Look who’s talking in verse 13— “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,” The word “host” is a term used to describe an army encampment. Revelation chapter 5, verse 11, indicates that the angels are without number. Too many for the human mind to even comprehend. They are super-human in power that have the ability to exact God’s will without question or limitation. They are not stopped by walls. They have the ability to move literal mountains, and blind whole armies. They can appear and disappear when necessary. And let’s not forget that the book of Revelation says they move a faster than the speed of light. With modern science we have been able to demonstrate that as one-sixteenth of a nano-second. That is certainly fast! So it’s interesting that this innumerable, unmatched, powerful army… gave a proclamation of peace.
What did they say? Glad you asked. This is found in verse 14— “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” You may have already noticed that this is in two parts: “Glory to God” and “Peace on Earth”.
First let’s dissect: “glory to God in the highest”. This exact phrase reappears among the shouts of the multitude when Jesus entered Jerusalem, on what people call ‘Palm Sunday’ in Luke 19.38— “Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” These same ones turned on Him three days later by saying— “crucify him”. The word “glory” is the Greek word ‘doxa’. It means: ‘to exercise personal opinion which determines value’.It is transliterated from the Hebrew word ‘kabo’ which means: ‘to be heavy or weighty’.This conveys God’s infinite, intrinsic worth. So, doxa means then: ‘good opinion of something or someone that has inherent, intrinsic worth’. God doesn’t have to do anything to get glory, He is glorious. He is intrinsically good. He is magnificent, excellent, preeminent, divine, and full of Grace and Truth. He is the greatest and the highest. He is the supreme ruler of the universe. He is regal, sovereign, and love. He is absolutely perfect. His external appearance is a brilliant splendor. Revelation 1.9-18 states this precisely— “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” He is definitely glorious and deserving of all our glory! Revelation 5.11-12 says— “11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” It is imperative that a disciple of Jesus puts Him first and most, but in this season many do not. Sadly too many have put their own minds, esteem, and opinions on top shelf. They have placed more value on others, job, stress, and self. It is hard to give glory when your heart is in so many other places.
Next let’s focus on part two: “on earth peace, good will toward men”. At this juncture of time, the Roman empire was at peace with all the world, in a rare but very brief moment of profound peace. The kind of peace they were speaking of wasn’t that kind of peace though. The angel host was speaking of man and His separation from God. The separation began in Genesis, in the Garden, when God said— “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2.16-17). “Death” as in separation from God, and the eventual separation from your body (physical death). The phrase—“good will toward men” demonstrates the gift of the Savior as an expression of good-will or love-to all humans. He did this through Jesus. He provided eternal peace Romans 5.1 says— “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” If His intention was to war with man He could have done that with this heavenly host, but that wasn’t His intention at all. These messengers said— “peace, good will toward men”. And that is still God’s will. This message is to you, to your family, and to your neighbors. God chose to reveal Himself in the highest way, through a child. In John 1.14, John says— “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Of all the things He had at His infinite disposal, He chose the message of a mighty innumerable host, to be about a child!
Christ is the ultimate peace-maker, reconciling man and God. He bridged the gap that was set by our sin; making peace for me. His highest expression of love and mercy began in a manger, but apexed on a cross. Nowhere else could His love and mercy be more strikingly exhibited than in giving His only begotten Son to die for people who deserved death themselves. This baby was born to die—for you and me.
The Son was His demonstration of peace. This is why He sent a baby, or else He would have sent a general or warrior King. Not to worry, He will be the next time He comes.
He is worthy to be praised! He is to be glorified! He is to be magnified! So I say with the angel host— “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”