READING: LUKE 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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 Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

REFLECTION

Hello and welcome to today’s podcast. My name is Anni and I’m part of the kids team here at STC.

Today, I have the privilege of looking at a wonderful piece of Scripture with you that tells the story of Jesus’ birth.

Just to remind you, the passage for this whole week is Luke 2:1-20, I would like to encourage you to find time to read the whole passage and ask God what he wants to say to you today.

In the next few minutes I am going to focus on verse 10 though. It says this: And the angel said to them,” Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people!”

Good news of great joy. I don’t know about you, but it struck me recently that most of the time when my phone beeps and BBC news sends me an update on what’s happening in the world, it is bad news.

I look at my phone and tend to immediately feel troubled, worried and unsettled.

The other day as I read an update I had just received I remembered the headline on one of the teaching plans we wrote for Kids Church this Advent: Jesus’ birth – good news of great joy!

I looked online for definitions of the word “joy” and one of them said, “Joy isn’t just a smile or a laugh. It is something within that doesn’t leave quickly. When we have the joy of the Lord, we’ll know it and so will others.”

The joy Jesus brought into this world is something we feel deep within and it’s also something that stays. When we receive that joy we can’t ignore it and, what struck me even more, neither can the people around us. I want that for my life. I want to be filled with long-lasting, deep, strong happiness – the joy of the Lord.  I want to be someone who carries that joy around for other people to see.

I want to be someone who brings good news of great joy. And is there a better time than Advent and Christmas to start doing so?!

The other thing that stood out to me in the verse we read earlier is that the good news will be of great joy “for all people”. The story of Jesus is a story of joy and it is to be shared with everyone!

So today, I would like to encourage you to put three reminders in your diary or the calendar on your phone. One for tomorrow, one for Christmas Day and one for New Year’s Day. All of them saying, "Here is good news of great joy: Jesus came into this world for us! That’s how much we are loved." When you see that reminder, remember that Jesus came for you. Then take the time to text one person – or maybe even two or three people – that you think could do with some good news and joy that day.

Let’s start being people that bring good news and that spread joy.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank you for Advent and Christmas. Thank you for the anticipation and joy we can experience as we remember your coming into this world.  We pray today, that you would give us your joy so that we can pass it on. Let us be messengers of good news, like the angel was to the shepherds. Thank you, Lord. Bless this day.

Amen.