Luke's gospel tells us of the arrival of the baby Jesus:
"At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed."
An angel choir to start things off. A bloody cross to end it. What a life.
And what did the angels offer? Peace to all men and women.
Mary and I visited the shepherd fields and the caves above Nazareth in which the shepherds could have stayed in winter. Though some believe this heavenly event happened in spring or even summer, they could have survived winters in Israel by staying in those caves.
No matter. The point is the shepherds were the first to know of this blessed even. Sooner than the in laws. Sooner than Mary's parents, who amazingly have no bearing on this story whatsoever.
Peace the angels offer. They come singing.
One wonders how long the angels had waited for this night. One wonders how often the heavenly choir got together to practice the song: Glory to God in the heavenly heights; Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
They sang for the glory of God. They sang for the earth child. They sang because their God had entered into his world as a baby, an innocent, helpless child. Surely they must have been shocked by that occurrence. Surely they must have been stunned into song that God would choose this manner in which to save his people.
So, they sang. And they praised. And they sang some more.
This is a little photo of what heaven will be like, friends. The angels will sing. Those persons who relied on grace, like the shepherds, to enter the heavenly heights will be rewarded by singing to God on the throne, and worshiping the Son on the throne, and the Holy Spirit will teach us the song.
This is preparation for that night, that glorious night, when we shall sing Holy, Holy, Holy before our King. That's what worship should be ever day: pent up emotion poured out onto the throne room floor.
Glory to God, indeed.
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