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.

Luke 2:10-11

For YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT

He burst forth through the heavens and came down in human flesh. The creator of the universe, the King of glory, Israel’s Messiah, surprised the world when He chose a manger over all the palaces of the world as His first home on earth. No one expected Him in this way. Certainly not those “country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping their flock by night” (Lk. 2:8KJV). He came, not as the mighty warrior to push out the Roman tyranny they expected. He came as the Child Isaiah prophesied about – the Son who is given (Isa. 9:6). 

“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,” the angel said (Lk. 2:11).

And where do we find Him?

“You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (12).

His life was full of surprises. But the most startling one of them all was the morning of the third day at the graveyard. They came with their spices to embalm a dead body. But the stone was not there. 

“When they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (24:3).

Poor women! What would they do? Again, the angels’ surprise announcement to the world came.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (5-6).

That is the Good News we live for in Christ. It is the Gospel we proclaim.

“That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve” (1 Cor. 15:3-5).

His invitation still stands: 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16, Rm. 10:9-10, 13).

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

But wait! There is another surprise to come soon, the hope of glory – the day Jesus will come back for His church. Again, an angel will announce this surprise to the world. Jesus Christ has come for His church.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

 Please, don’t be left behind! Come to Jesus and live for eternity in Him.

May He surprise you today!