Speaker 1: Christ's incarnation. Glad Tidings to all by Charles Simeon. Behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people, for unto you is born this
day in the city of David, a savior, which is
Christ the Lord. It has pleased God on many occasions
to confer upon the poor some peculiar tokens of his regard.
He has even chosen them in preference to all others,
to be rich in faith and ears of his kingdom.
But as though He had designed to mark with special
approbation the exertions of honest industry, he has vouchsafed his
most distinguished favors to them at a time when they
have been employed in the duties of their respective callings. Gideon,
who was of a poor family of Manasseh and the
least in his father's house, was threshing his far wheat
when he was called the judge and to deliver Israel. Saul,
who also was of the least family, belonging to the
least of all the tribes, was seeking his father's asses
when he was anointed to be king over Israel. David,
also the least of Jesse's family, was brought from the sheepfold,
that from tending his father's sheep, he might be exalted
to the throne and be made the shepherd and king
of God's peculiar people. Thus, when God had sent his
dear son into the world, he commissioned an angel to
announce the tidings of his advent. But to whom did
he send the angel to Herod or the chief priests, No,
but to poor shepherds, who, for the security of their
sheep and their own mutual convenience, were keeping their watchers
in rotation through the night, to fix their attention and
to counteract the scandal which the tidings themselves would occasion.
For it must seem so strange, indeed, to hear of
the Savior of the world and the Lord of Glory
lying in a manger. The Angel appeared clothed in light,
such light as clearly indicated the dignity of the messenger
and the importance of the message. Having dispelled the fears
which his first appearance had excited in their minds, he
addressed them in the words which we have just read,
in elucidating which we shall consider one the tidings announced
the birth of Jesus is here declared, and the city
wherein he was born is specified in appropriate terms, in
order that the accomplishment of that prophecy which had foretold
the place of his birth might be distinctly seen and acknowledged.
The description here given of Jesus is worthy of our
deepest attention. The Angel describes him by first his office.
Many saviours had been sent to Israel in former ages,
but here was one infinitely superior to them all, one
who came to deliver not one people only, but a
whole world, not from temporal bondage or misery, but from
sin and satan, death and hell. Second, his right and
title to it. The name Christ as also the name Messiah,
signifies anointed, and it was the name by which the
Great Deliverer was expected both by the Jewish and gentile world.
Now this name denoted his divine commission, together with his
supereminent qualifications for the performance of his office. The kings
and priests, and in some instances the prophets, also were
set apart for their respective officers by a holy unction.
And he in whom all these officers were combined was
consecrated to them by a public and immeasurable effusion of
the Holy Ghost. He was no unauthorized obtruder, but a
savior duly sent and qualified third his sufficiency for it.
Had the person announced as a savior been a mere creature,
he never could have affected all that was necessary for
those whom he came to save. But he was the Lord,
even Jehovah himself. It had been said of him by
the prophet eight hundred years before, to us a child
is born, to us, a son is given, and his
name shall be called the Mighty God. And that prophecy
was declared to be now accomplished. Consequently, whatever he had
undertaken he was able to perform. His atonement would be
sufficient to expiate the sins of the whole world. His
righteousness would be sufficient to justify all that should trust
in it for acceptance, and his grace would be sufficient
to make them conquerors over all their enemies. Together with
the Tidings themselves, the Angel announced also two the importance
of them. The term behold is always used to mind
the importance of that to which it is prefixed, But
here the precise view in which the Tidings claim our
attention is distinctly specified. They are a matter first of
exceeding joy. To illustrate this, we need only observe by
whom the message was delivered, and to whom an angel
was the messenger. But he was not privileged to say
to us, is born a savior. No, there was no
savior provided for the fallen angels, but for man. When
he fell God became incarnate. He took not on him
the nature of angels, but he took on him the
seed of Abraham. Suppose then, that instead of being sent
to men, the Angel had been sent to his fallen brethren,
and that having opened the gates of Hell, he had
announced the tidings to the apostates spirits, to you is
sent a savior? Or what joy had been diffused through
those miserable regions? How would the vaults of hell have
rung with act clamations and hosannas. How would every spirit
instantly have forgotten his pains and pressed forward to hear
the full import of this astonishing message? Thus, then, ought
the tidings to be received amongst us, since the only
difference between them and us is that on them is
executed the sentence they deserve, and we are shut up
in prison waiting to have the same executed upon us,
as soon as the full measure of our iniquities shall
be completed. Second of universal joy. These tidings were equally
interesting to Jews and gentiles, to those of the Apostolic age,
and to us who live at such a distance, both
of time and place. Nor is there one among the
children of men who has not equal cause to value
the Savior that is here announced. Who is there that
does not need the merit of his atonement and the
efficacy of his grace, And who is there to whom
they are not freely offered. There is not one on
earth who can be saved without them, Nor is there one,
however abandoned, who may not, by a believing application to
the Savior, be interested in them. Well, therefore, may they
be called good tidings to all people, since they are
so to all of every age and of every description.
And well, may the Prophet call on the whole creation
to shout for joy. We conclude by inviting you all
to imitate the shepherds first inquire into the truth of
the tidings you have heard. The shepherds instantly went to
Bethlehem to see with their own eyes the truth of
what they had heard to you, Then we say, go
to Bethlehem, or rather go to the Bible, and search
whether these things be not as they have been represented.
What would you have thought of the shepherds if, when
they had such an opportunity of obtaining satisfaction on the point,
they had neglected it and had laid themselves down to sleep?
Oh be not, ye such yourselves you have in probably
better means of information than they had. You may see
the whole record concerning this Holy Child, his birth, his life,
his death, his resurrection, his ascension. Yea, you may see
the union of the god Head with his human nature,
and may read as facts as well as in declarations,
his ability to save you to the uttermost. Oh, arise
and inquire into these deep mysteries with all the humility
and attention they demand. Second, when convinced of the truth
of them, yourselves, communicate them diligently to others. The shepherds
would not hide within their own bosoms the things they
had heard and seen, but published them abroad for the
information of others also. And should you be silent when
you have so much clearer instruction to convey, should you
not impart it gladly to those around you. Remember that
if you have the knowledge of Christ as the only
and all sufficient Savior, you are on no account to
put that light under a bushel, but to make use
of it that you may guide others also into the
way of peace. Third, make them the theme of your
joyful praises in the midst of your earthly business. The
shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things
that they had heard and seen. They forsook not their duty,
but returned to it in a joyful and devout frame
of mind. A discovery of the deep things of God
is not intended to take us out of the situations
in life which we have been called to fill, but
to make us wholly and happy in them. Let this
effect be wrought on you. Neglect not your worldly occupations,
whatever they may be, but serve God in them, and
abound in praises and thanksgiving for that which has been
revealed unto you. However mean or toilsome your vocation, be
care not for it, but make it to appear that
the knowledge of this Savior can render any yoke easy
and afford a joy which the world can neither give
nor take. Away end of Christ's incarnation. Glad Tidings to
all by Charles Simeon