THE GLORIA IN
ALTISSIMUS
We have been looking at the Songs of the Incarnation from
the Gospel of Luke. These are songs that revolve around the birth of the Savior
and they point to God’s grace and mercy in His redemptive plan.
So far we have looked at the...
- The Magnificat of Mary – Luke 1:46-56 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
- The Benedictus of Zechariah – Luke 1:67-79 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel for He has visited and redeemed His people.”
Luke 2:1-5 “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar
Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the
first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on
his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up
from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which
is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in
order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.”
The song is set in the context of Mary and Joseph traveling
to Bethlehem in order to register there for a Census. The census is important
because it was the vehicle that God used to move Mary and Joseph from Nazareth
to Bethlehem. Little did Caesar Augustus know that the Sovereign God of the
universe was going to use his (Caesar’s) imperial edict to fulfill His (God’s) word.
Paul says in Titus 1:2-3a - “In hope of eternal life, which
God who cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times
(proper times) manifested His word.” Also, in Galatians 4:4 - “And when the fullness
of time was come, God sent forth His Son - made of a woman.”
At this moment in time, God was bringing together people,
places and circumstances to fulfill His prophetic word.
In Genesis 49:10, God had promised that the messiah would
come from the tribe of Judah - Both Mary and Joseph were from the tribe of
Judah. In 2 Samuel 7 He narrowed it down even more indicating that the Messiah would
come from the family of David. Both Mary and Joseph were from the family of
David, Joseph through Solomon and Mary through Nathan. Through Micah He
intimated that He would be born in the town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4).
The name “Bethlehem” means “house of bread” an ideal place for THE Bread of
Life to be born. Through Isaiah He made it clear that the Messiah would be born
of a virgin. While Joseph and Mary had been married (betrothed), they had not
yet consummated the union (cf. Isaiah 7:14).
President James A Garfield once said: “History is the
unrolled scroll of prophecy.” How right He was! History is HIS story. It was no
coincidence then that this Couple ended up in Bethlehem for it was all a part
of God’s plan. Caesar may have been ruling, but God was in control!
Luke 2:6-7 “6 While they were there, the days were completed
for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she
wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for
them in the inn.”
As Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem they find that there
is no place for them to stay, this is especially disturbing because Mary is ready
to give birth to her child. With all the census workers and other travelers
staying in Bethlehem there was simply no room anywhere for them to stay. The
only place for them to stay would seem to be some nearby stable. Alone and
weary Mary gives birth to the Christ child and lies Him in a manger.
G. Cambell Morgan writes concerning this scene: “Think of
the pathos of it; SHE brought forth; SHE wrapped Him in swaddling cloth; [SHE
laid Him in the manger] It is very beautiful, but oh the pity of it; the loneliness
of it. That in the hour of hours, where womanhood should be surrounded by the
tenderest of care. Mary was all alone.”
Certainly, if we would have planned the birth of the Christ
child we would have set it in the ornate chambers of a royal palace or the
sumptuous homes of the heads of state or even the sheltered residences of the
religious leaders...but a manger? Instead of the palaces, estates and sheltered
homes God chose a stable. WHY? Because through the humble circumstances of His
birth, the Messiah would be able to identify with the human condition. Throughout
His ministry on earth Jesus most identified with the hurting, helpless, humble
and hungry of society.
Luke 4:117b-19 “And He opened the book and found the place
where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
Luke 19:10 “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save
that which is lost”
The Gospel is for those who know they need Jesus. It is the
poor, the sick, the hurting and the lowly who most easily recognize their need.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For consider your calling, brethren,
that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many
noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are
strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen,
the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that
no man may boast before God.
Be thankful for the letter “M,” and that Paul says “not Many,”
otherwise none of us would have a chance.
So we see that the Savior was born at the right time, to the
right parents, in the right place, under the right circumstances. Now, having
set the context we need to move on to the events leading up to the Song of the
Angelic Hosts. There are three events that lead to and culminate with the
Gloria in Altissimus.
Event #1 - The Appearance of the Angel to the Shepherds -
v.8-9
“8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out
in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of
the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them; and they were terribly frightened.”
It would seem that at the same time that Mary was giving
birth, an Angel of the Lord was appearing to some shepherds who were watching
their flocks in nearby fields. This is interesting because the first people to
learn of the birth of the savior were not the religious elite, but anonymous
shepherds.
Shepherds were the social outcasts of the day. They had a
reputation for being untrustworthy and dishonest and were generally despised as
a group. That the angel first appears to shepherds is once again a reminder of
God’s grace.
That the Shepherds were greatly afraid because of this
supernatural appearance seems only natural.
Literally, “they feared with great fear.” “The glory of the
Lord” here speaks of the visible manifestation of God’s presence and power. The
shepherds fear was a natural response to a supernatural revelation.
It is also very possible that these particular shepherds
were the ones who cared for flocks that would be used in the Temple sacrifices,
especially at Passover. Since Jesus would not only be the “Good Shepherd” but
also the “Lamb of God” it seems fitting that the good news of the Saviors birth
would first be announced to Shepherds.
Event #2 - The Announcement of the Savior’s Birth - v.10-12
“10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for
behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ
the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in
cloths and lying in a manger.”
Immediately, the Angel calms their fears by announcing that
he brings to them “good news of great joy which will be for all the people.”
The phrase “good news” is euangelizomai –in the Greek. We get our English word
“evangelical” from it. The noun form of the word is translated “gospel” in the
New Testament. The angel tells them that this good news will bring them great
joy and it will be for all people. It will bring them great joy because God is
now responding to man’s greatest need. This has been the theme in all of the
songs of the incarnation…see the Joy of Elizabeth and Mary (the Magnificat), Zechariah
(the Benedictus), and Simeon and Anna (the Nunc Dimittis).
Regardless of nationality, age, social position, fame,
gender or education, the good news is to all people.
What is the good news? Verse 11 tells us… “there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
The Angel uses three important titles for the new born babe
that we need to take a few minutes to address.
The first title is “Savior.” This title points to His future
work of deliverance and redemption. Great Greek and Roman military leaders were
given the title of Savior. As Savior,
Jesus would accomplish redemption for us on the cross and deliver us from the
power of sin and death (cf. Luke 1:68-71).
The second title is “Christ.” This title points to His role
as Messiah. He is CHRIST (there is no article preceding it), the anointed one. Both
the Hebrew “Messiah” and Greek “Christ” mean anointed.
Anointing was given to those set apart for special service,
like that of prophet, priest or King.
This babe in the manger would be the anointed one…
• THE
great Prophet
• THE
faithful and merciful High Priest
• THE
eternal King
The third title is “Lord.” This title points to His essence
or nature as God. The Greek word translated here as Lord is “kyrios.” It is the
New Testament equivalent of the Old Testament word “Yahweh,” the one who is. By
using this title the angel is making His deity clear. In the incarnation the
babe though 100% human, was also 100% divine. He was/is God in the flesh (cf.
Jn.1:1-14).
One of the hardest things for us to comprehend is the nature
of the incarnation. In his book “Music through the Eyes of Faith,” Harold M Best
helps us to understand it. He likens Christ BEFORE the incarnation to:
“a symphony, in all of its complexity and power --magnificence carried over a grand expanse. But when He became human He became a folk tune, simple, and shortened. In this He lost nothing of His Godhead, His eternal character, His attributes, absolute purity and changeless excellence....”
Jesus, the Son was still the symphony (deity) but as a folk
tune (humanity), He fully entered the human experience in a way that WE could
understand.
As with all human analogies about divine truths it is not
perfect, but it does help. The important point here is that the Angel was
announcing to these lowly shepherds that this newborn babe was
Savior/Messiah/God.
In verse 12, the Angel tells them how to find the babe in Bethlehem.
Event #3 - The Angelic Song - v.13-14 (The Gloria in
Altissimus)
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of
the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Joined by a multitude of heavenly hosts the Angels broke out
into song saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men
with whom He is pleased.”
The phrase, a “multitude of the heavenly host” refers to an
innumerable amount...an amount beyond count. Some have suggested that because
of the significance of the event every one of God’s angels were there on that
night of nights. Can you imagine the awe the shepherds experienced as the
angelic choir sang it’s anthem of praise in cosmic stereo? Job 38:7 tells us
that the angels sang and shouted for joy at the creation of the world. Now they
sang and shouted for joy as they announced the coming redemption of the world.
The focus of this heavenly anthem is twofold…Heaven and
Earth
Notice the Heavenly Focus:
“Glory to God in the Highest” is glory to God who is in the
highest heaven not to glory to God in the highest degree. It is not the glory
that is the highest, but God who is the highest. It is not the highest
adoration but the highest one who is adored.
Notice the Earthly Focus:
- The King James says “and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”
- The NASB says “on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased”
- NIV says “on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests”
The peace spoken of here is not the result of men displaying
good will toward one another, but is a peace that is the result of experiencing
God’s goodwill, God’s gracious favor. Only those who have experienced God’s
grace through the Savior/Christ/Lord can experience real peace.
This peace is both objective and subjective.
Objectively it is a peace of reconciliation (Romans 5:1). Subjectively
it is a peace of rest and refreshment (Philippians 4:7). It is a peace of that
comes from experiencing the fullness of salvation (well-being, assurance,
security, soundness and wholeness).
If the birth of Jesus happened at the right time, to the
right parents, in the right place, under the right circumstances, then the
angelic announcement of that birth went to the right people (shepherds), it
included the right message (glad tidings - the savior is born), and had the
right emphasis (Glory to God for the peace that comes from His grace).
My friends, salvation is all about God. He is the initiator,
He is the deliverer, He is the great God of grace and peace!
What a great song of Glory and grace! “Glory to God in the
Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
How then should we respond to such a song? How did the
shepherds respond?
They Found Jesus - v.15-16
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the
shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then,
and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16
So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as
He lay in the manger.
“they came in a hurry”…and found Jesus! This should be the
response of all those who understand the message of Jesus’ birth.
They Told others about Jesus - v.17-18
17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement
which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at
the things which were told them by the shepherds.
The shepherds became the first evangelists. They had
received by faith the message God sent them, then they responded immediately by
telling others what they had experienced. After finding the baby they reported
the good news to others! Notice the response of those who heard the report of
the shepherds...“they wondered (marveled).” Sadly today we have lost our sense
of wonder at the Christmas story because we have lost sight of what it’s all
about. We need to reclaim the glory of the gospel message by emphasizing it
clearly. Jesus IS the reason for the season.
They continued on living a life that glorified God - v.20
19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in
her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that
they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
Their encounter with God changed their lives.
Romans 12:1-2
In the days ahead others would have opportunities to respond
to the Jesus. Mary would respond by pondering these events in her heart. Simeon
and Anna would respond with Joyful songs of praise. The Magi would respond with
worship and gifts of acknowledgement. John the Baptist would respond with the
words “Behold the lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.” The
Pharisees would respond with hatred and ultimately murder. A Roman Soldier
seeing Him die on the Cross would respond by saying...“truly this man was the
Son of God.”
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