When we think of news headlines, we picture events. Some of these events are tragic, and some of them are joyous. News headlines draw emotion, sometimes they make us cry, and other times they make us laugh. They only serve one purpose: to let us know something has happened that we need to know. Throughout history, we have seen many headlines:
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and then Declares War on US (Gettysburg Times)
U.S. Attacked: Hijacked Jets Destroy Twin Towers and Hit Pentagon in Day of Terror (New York Times)
These headlines bring out emotion in us. But perhaps no other headline has been as consequential and world changing as the one in Luke 2:
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
What a headline! Not only was this news given by an angel, but it was proclaiming the birth of Jesus Christ. What could be more life changing or significant than the birth of the Savior? The Messiah who was born for us was born to give us hope. When we see headlines that show us terror or death, we can remember the headline that gives us hope: Christ has been born! Its news that we not only want to hear, but need to hear. God loves us so much that he sent his Son to die for us. Its more than just a Christmas story; it really happened. And it should excite us to know that while there are thousands and thousand of headlines that bring us bad news, there is one all powerful headline that brings us news so powerful and so hopeful and so world changing that it can't be ignored. In fact, the Shepherds couldn't wait to go see what was happening:
When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.
If only they knew what was to come. Because the baby that lay before them would become a man, perfect and holy, who would heal and love and eventually die for the entire world. The Shepherds were looking at the Son of God. And they knew it. At this moment, I would imagine the angels were a thing of the past; when one stands in the presence of holiness, it must be felt. The greatest news ever told was this: Jesus Christ has come to earth to give us hope.
