CHRISTMAS EVE - HERALDS OF CHRIST
In the Biblical context, a "herald" is an individual who proclaims or announces important news or messages, often on behalf of a king or authority figure. The role of a herald is significant in both the Old and New Testaments, serving as a messenger who communicates divine or royal decrees to the people. The herald is entrusted with a message of great importance, often involving life-changing or world-altering news. The birth of Christ came with great news: the Savior of the world and the promised King was born to us. It seems all of heaven and earth got in on this special occasion.
Prophets Herald Christ
Before Christ was born, prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi, and Micah were heralds of Christ, speaking to the world, specifically the people of Israel and Judah, so they would anticipate and look for the Messiah.
The prophet Micah heralds the birth of Christ. Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Creation Heralds Christ
Matthew 2:1-2;9-10 NLT About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” …And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!
Angels Herald Christ
Gabriel heralds good news to Mary
Luke 1:30-33 NLT “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
An angel heralds good news to Joseph
Matthew 1:20-21 NLT As he considered this (divorcing Mary quietly), an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Angels Herald Christ to the Shepherds
Luke 2:9-14 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
The Shepherds Herald Christ
Luke 2:15-18, 20 NLT When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished…The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
The Church Heralds Christ
Every believer is called to be a herald of the Gospel, by word and deed, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others. This calling emphasizes the responsibility we have as Christians to be active participants in God's redemptive plan for humanity.
But we can't and won't herald what we first don't receive and believe in ourselves.
The Angel herald to the shepherds in Luke 2:10 says, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people; for there is born to you this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
The Savior, Christ, has been born to you and all people, but we must believe and receive.
Martin Luther, the great reformer, once said, “See to it that you do not treat the gospel only as history, for that is only transient; neither regard it only as an example, for it is of no value without faith. Rather, see to it that you make this birth your own and that Christ be born in you. This will be the case if you believe…The Gospel does not merely teach about the history of Christ. No, it enables all who believe it to receive it as their own, which is the way the Gospel operates. Of what benefit would it be to me if Christ had been born a thousand times, and it would daily be sung into my ears in a most lovely manner, if I were never to hear that he was born for me and was to be my very own?” -Martin Luther
Hark, listen, but listen with an open heart to truly believe and receive.
The great herald of Christ, John the Baptist, pointed to Christ…John 1:4-14 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
When we hear and believe in the good news of Christ, He becomes Emmanuel, God with us. Christ is born into us spiritually through the Holy Spirit, and now we become beholders and heralds, messengers of the Gospel.
The prophets were moved to speak of Christ by the voice of God. The star was moved to shine by the hands of God. The angels moved by the will of God. The church is moved by the Son of God.
Beholding His glory is only half our job. In our souls, too, the mysteries must be brought forth; we are not really Christians till that has been done. The Eternal Birth must take place in you…The birth of Christ in our souls is for a purpose beyond ourselves: it is because his manifestation in the world must be through us. Every Christian is, as it were, part of the dust-laden air which shall radiate the glowing epiphany of God, catch and reflect his golden Light. Ye are the light of the world, but only because you are enkindled, made radiant by the one Light of the world. And being kindled, we have to get on with it and be useful. As Christ said in one of his ironical flashes, "Do not light a candle only to stick it under a basket!" When you don't see any startling marks of your own religious condition or your usefulness to God, think of the baby in the stable and the little Boy in the streets of Nazareth. The very life was there, which was to change the whole history of the human race. -Evelyn Underhill, Watch for the Light, p 172-173
Matthew 5:15-16 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Perhaps Romans 10 will help us capture the importance of heralds: Romans 10:13-15;17 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
As we hold Christ in our hearts, let us herald Christ in our world.
To put it plainly, my message is a call to celebrate Christmas. Put up lights, sing carols and songs, give and receive gifts, feast and fellowship, worship and rest. Because when we do, we herald the good news of Jesus Christ.
So let us…
Herald Christ in our gathering
Herald Christ in our speaking
Herald Christ in our listening
Herald Christ in our embracing
Herald Christ in our serving
Herald Christ in our baking
Herald Christ in our giving
Herald Christ in our laughing
Herald Christ in our shining
Herald Christ in our singing
While that night was silent at first…Joy burst through the heavens and through the hearts of the shepherds. Let joy break through our heralding of the Savior of the world.
Discussion
What is one thing from the message that resonated with you?
In Luke 1, Mary responds to the angel with humility and surrender. What stands out to you about her response: “I am the Lord’s servant”?
What does Joseph’s obedience teach us about faith when we don’t have all the answers?
Why do you think God chose ordinary settings (Nazareth, a manger, shepherds) to announce such extraordinary news?
The shepherds heard the message, went to see Jesus, and then told others. Why is experiencing Christ personally essential before sharing Him?
How can everyday actions (gathering, baking, giving, serving, laughing) become ways of heralding Christ rather than just seasonal traditions?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
How can we pray together for you today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!