Angels had a lot to say about Christmas! If it wasn’t for the accounts of the angels speaking to Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherd, we would be missing key information about the birth of Jesus. You can tell how important angels are to the Christmas story by recognizing how many Christmas carols focus on them – Angels from the Realms of Glory, It Came upon a Midnight Clear, Angels We Have Heard on High, The First Noel, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and the list goes on! In Joy to the World, the angels are responsible for the singing in Heaven when the hymn says, “Let Heaven and nature sing!”
Did you ever wonder why the angels were so focused on joy? I bring you good news that will cause great joy (Luke 2:10). The birth of Jesus meant nothing for the salvation of the angels. The angels are already in Heaven. They don’t need to be saved. The angels were joyful and communicated the joy of our salvation through Jesus’ birth.
The angels were there when God created the earth. The angels were there when Adam and Eve were created and placed in the Garden of Eden. The angels were there when one of their own, a cherub named Lucifer, rebelled against God and tempted Adam and Eve to sin. The angels witnessed the effects of sin on the whole world. The angels were there when the Tabernacle and temple were built, their likenesses woven into the furnishings. The angels were there in Bethlehem, speaking to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. The angels witnessed the birth of Jesus and they felt joy because they knew Jesus would conquer sin.
Do angels still exist today? Do they still speak to us today? Most people have not experienced a physical angel appearing to them and giving them direction. But then again, most people haven’t given birth to Jesus. The angels spoke so many times and so directly because of how important both of Jesus were to history. Even though we don’t often encounter angels like Mary and Joseph did, angels are still guiding us and guarding us by the direction of God.
We don’t become angels when we die, angels and people are two different types of beings God created. Angels work on behalf of God. Hebrews 13:2 reminds us,
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
The same joy the angels communicated at the birth of Jesus is available to us today. This Christmas season, remember to tap into the joy of your salvation. Joy comes from remembering sins that God has forgiven. Joy comes from looking forward to the hope of Heaven that’s only available to us because of Jesus’ birth on Christmas.