Govert Flinck – Angels Announcing the Birth of Christ to the Shepherds

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Christmas Eve 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
December 24, 2025
 

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            When you were born, how did your parents let others know?  There was a time when birth announcements were put in the local newspaper by the hospital.  Your parents would clip it out and put it in your baby book next to a lock of your hair. Maybe your folks mailed birth announcements, or called relatives and friends on the telephone to let them know that you had arrived.  Perhaps your dad bought a box of cigars with blue or pink cigar bands to share with his buddies to celebrate your birth.  If you are bit younger your birth may have been announced by email or a text message.  This past August I announced the birth of my granddaughter with a Facebook post. 

            How was a birth announced in Israel 2,000 years ago? There were no newspapers, no telephones, no cigars, no Facebook.  It may be that most of the family all lived together in the same village so there was not too much need for announcing.  I would guess that unless you were royalty, a birth announcement would simply be made by word of mouth. 

            Word of mouth…well except for that one baby…that one baby boy born in Bethlehem to a young woman from Nazareth.  Why this baby?  From all appearances there is nothing exceptional about this baby.  Bethlehem is crowded with people who have come in for Caesar’s census and amidst all the crowds and busyness a baby is born.  There is no place in the guest room and no crib available so the baby is swaddled in cloth and laid in an animal feed trough. 

            Unbeknownst to His parents, the baby’s birth is announced nearby.  This is a birth announcement like none other in the history of the world.  Jesus’ birth is announced to shepherds in a field nearby by an angel of the Lord shining with the glory of God.  Luke 2:10–11 (ESV) 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

            The King of the Jews has arrived.  He is royalty…but His kingdom is not of this world… and His birth announcement is out of this world.

            Such contrasts.  A glowing angel from God announces the birth of Christ, but the announcement is made, not to religious leaders, or political figures, or wealthy, important people, the announcement is made to rough and tumble shepherds watching their sheep by night. And then there is the glaring contrast in the announcement itself.  Beyond just the announcement of a birth, this is good news of great joy — for all the nations.  A Savior is born, Christ the Lord.  “12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

            The shepherds are well familiar with mangers but a manger is not a place for a baby, let alone Christ, the Lord.  What kind of good news is this?  What kind of glory is this?  What kind of Savior is lying in a feed trough?  Suddenly the angel is joined by an army of angels praising God and saying, Luke 2:14 (ESV) 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  In Latin, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

            No other birth has ever been announced like this one because there is no other baby like this one.  God is with us.  Immanuel. God has taken on human flesh and is dwelling with man in order to be the Savior.  The arrival of any baby brings joy to the baby’s family.  The arrival of this baby brings — joy to the world — the Lord is come – let earth receive her king.  The announcement to the shepherds is that unto you is born this day the Savior…the Christ…the Lord. The King is here to conquer sin and death and the devil and bring peace between God and man.  After the angels depart, the Shepherds go immediately to Bethlehem to see the newborn Christ announced by the angels. 

            In the arrival of the Christ Child, there is an unexpected hiddenness and humility.  Veiled in flesh the Godhead see.  Hail incarnate Deity.  He does not even have a proper crib or nice baby clothes.  And yet… His birth is announced by angels from heaven.

            Mary and Joseph are instructed to call His name “Jesus” which means “YHWH saves.”  This baby is the Savior of the world and yet needs His mother and step-father to care for him.  As the angel promised, this ordinary-looking baby brings good news of great joy for all people.  What a strange way to save the world.

            John 1:5 (ESV) 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  Jesus is the light and yet baby Jesus does not glow in the dark.  Jesus is the light, but only shines with that light once on the Mount of Transfiguration.  Jesus is the light and He gives you the light. Colossians 1:13 (ESV) 13 He has delivered [you] from the domain of darkness and transferred [you] to the kingdom of his beloved Son…”  You are the light of the world and you will get to see the full glory of Jesus shining forth on the Last Day when Jesus returns to take you to live with Him forever in the Heavenly City.  Revelation 21:23 (ESV) 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”  It is a Merry Christmas because Jesus has come to forgive you all your sins and give you the gift of eternal life. 

For now, God’s glory is hidden.  There is a hiddenness of God in baby Jesus, and there is a hiddenness of God in you.  You are the light of the world, and yet you do not glow in the dark.  You are the light of the world and yet you still struggle with sin and temptation.  You are the light in your love for God and in your love for one another.

In just a little bit we will experience light spreading from one candle, to another, to another, to everyone here just as the light of Christ spread from the manger in Bethlehem to the shepherds and the magi and those in Judea and Samaria and Galilee and on to believers all around the world…even to you here tonight. The light still spreads today by the power of the Holy Spirit who has made your body His temple.  The Spirit gives you faith to know that Jesus is born for you. The Spirit gives you faith to believe that Jesus died for you and rose for you to redeem you from the darkness.

            There is hiddenness to God’s work in the world today.  He comes to you in the Words of Scripture, in the waters of Holy Baptism, and in the bread and wine of Holy Communion through which He delivers forgiveness from the cross to you.  Jesus uses the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. Jesus wants all people to be saved and Jesus’ birth announcement by the angel is for all people — of all times. And yet there is a grave temptation to think the announcement is not for you. 

            The world wants to remove Christ from Christmas.  The birth of the Savior, God in flesh, can be completely lost in seasonal festivities and celebrations.  As the Vicar noted in his first advent sermon, the true meaning of Christmas is lost in nearly all Christmas movies and television shows.  Oddly enough, they talk about the true meaning of Christmas, but then they change the true meaning to be overcoming greed and materialism, or finding love and connection, or just a sweet sense of family, belonging and meaning. 

            Why do people desire a Christ-less Christmas?  I think we can find the answer in the angel’s announcement to the shepherds,   Luke 2:11 (ESV) 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  The word, “Savior” is humbling and causes people to reject the Christ and look for a different reason for the season.  Because what kind of person needs a Savior?  Someone who is not good enough.  Someon who is by nature sinful and unclean.  Someone who is lowly.  Someone who is poor in spirit.  So many would rather just hear an inspirational story to motivate them to try harder, to make a fresh start, to do better in the new year, and to fix things themselves. The angels do not announce Jesus’ birth to the religious leaders in Jerusalem because the religious leaders believe they are good enough.  They announce to the shepherds because the shepherds know they are sinners who need a savior.

            The title “Christ the Lord” troubles many because “Christ” means the anointed one of God, “Lord” means the one in charge — the master — the king.  Our self-centered society encourages people to reject authority and believe that they have autonomy; that they make their own rules and are in charge of themselves. Folks reject Christ the King because they want to be their own Lord and Master and King.  They seek a Christmas without Christ.

            You have come here tonight because you know the truth.  You know that you are a sinner.  You know you are under constant attack from the devil, the world and your own sinful nature all trying to lure you away from Jesus and get you to trust in your own wisdom and ability.  You know you need to repent of the times you try to be your own savior and your own king.  You know you need the Savior.  You know you need the King.  You know the true meaning of Christmas.  Christ the Lord is born in Bethlehem.  The most incredible birth announcement in the history of the world is not just for the shepherds that night.  It is also for you.  Christ has come to save you.  Luke 2:11 (ESV) 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

Amen