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Sermon preached on Luke 2:10 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Christmas Eve Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 12/24/2025 in Petaluma, CA.
Sermon Manuscript
Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
I was listening to Handel’s Messiah again this year when I decided what I wanted to preach about tonight. It was the song titled, “O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion” that caught my attention. I thought about those “good tidings”. Handels’ song is from Isaiah 40, the same passage we used in tonight’s call to worship. I immediately drew the connection between that song and this announcement by the angels here in verse 10. I grew up hearing this Christmas passage in the King James Version. That’s where the angel is described as saying, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Handle recognized that the good tidings from Isaiah 40 are essentially the same good tidings the angel declared to the shepherds. So, I said I wanted to preach this evening on these good tidings.
Now, I know that that word “tidings” is just an old-fashioned word for “news”. Christians speak all the time about the “good news”, the “gospel”. Well, that language comes from right here from the angel. The angel declared good tidings, i.e. good news, gospel. I declare to you that good news, those gospel tidings, right now as we reflect on this angelic announcement.
So then, let us think together what are the tidings, the news, that the angel here declares as good? The simple answer is right here in verse 11, Jesus has been born into the world as the promised Savior, the long-awaited Christ and Lord – this is good news for all who will receive him and follow him. But let’s reflect a little further. Let me walk you through the several aspects of what this news is and why it is so good. I hope you will hear the echo of our passages that we read tonight as we reflect on these good tidings.
First, these glad tidings are good news because they show God has remembered. He remembered his chosen people that he predestined for salvation from the foundations of the world. He remembered his covenant promises that he made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to make their seed into a people and give them a place. He remembered his covenant promises he made to David to bring forth a king and an everlasting kingdom from his seed. God remembered to show mercy to his people who had found themselves greatly afflicted. These glad tiding are good news because God remembered by sending forth Jesus.
Second, these glad tidings are good news because they show God bringing light to darkness. The darkness of sin and Satan had filled the world. It turned men’s hearts astray, so that humans lived raging in open rebellion against the LORD. The darkness threatened to undo even the church of God’s people. For even though they have been given so much, the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, the worship, and the promises, yet they had broken covenant with their God, they had been unfaithful in their many sins, God had exiled his people among the nations, and even having returned them to the old covenant Promised Land, yet darkness cast its shadow over them. But God shone the light of the Dayspring on High to a people dwelling in great darkness, on them a light had dawned with the birth of Jesus. These glad tiding are good news because Jesus would be the light of life shining into the world.
Third, these glad tidings are good news because God was bringing deliverance and salvation from the enemies of God’s people. At the time, they thought their enemies were the Romans who occupied them. But Jesus would show that they had greater enemies. Satan was a strong man who held them in the allure of sin. Their own sin stood as an enemy against them, condemning them as transgressors. But Jesus came as the horn of salvation to save his people from their enemies. Jesus would bind Satan and destroy his works through his death on the cross. Jesus would conquer our sin and turn our hearts to him. All those who deny him, will yet know his strength when he scatters the proud in the thoughts of their hearts even while he exalts those of humble estate. These glad tidings are good news because Jesus delivers and saves in the full all who call upon him.
Fourth, these glad tidings are good news because Jesus has come as the redeemer of his people. He recovers that which was lost. He ransomed his people with his own blood. Their debt of sin is cancelled through the atonement of Jesus. For Jesus came as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. These glad tidings are good news because Jesus came as the Redeemer.
Fifth, these glad tidings are good news because a king has come to lead God’s people. Jesus came in the line of King David and to sit on his throne. He would rule his people with righteousness and justice. He will protect them from the evil one. He will lead them as a shepherd in paths of righteousness. No one will subvert his rule. No raging of the nations can stop him. These glad tidings are good news because Jesus came as the King of King and Lord of Lords.
Sixth, these glad tidings are good news because King Jesus brings the kingdom of heaven with him. He would begin his ministry declaring that the kingdom was at hand. The very promise given to David had been that his seed would enjoy universal dominion in a kingdom that would have no end. This kingdom will be one where God is honored. This kingdom will be one of great glory. This kingdom will be one of great peace. This kingdom will be one of great blessedness. All the citizens of this kingdom will share in this glory and enjoy its peace and blessedness. This kingdom will endure even as Satan’s kingdom is destroyed and Babylon is fallen forever. These glad tidings are good news because this kingdom has come with its king.
Seventh, these glad tidings are good news because ultimately Jesus coming into this world is God himself coming into this world. Yes, Jesus came as the son of David, born as a human of the Virgin Mary. Yet, as foretold, Jesus was Immanuel, God with us. For, Jesus is not merely a human, but he is also the only begotten Son of God, second person of the Trinity, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father. The Son was the Word who became flesh, pitching his tent amongst us, so that we could behold in Jesus the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. These glad tidings are good news because God himself came in Jesus to save us, and that is only way we could have been saved.
This is, of course, what that Handle’s Messiah song acknowledged. That song announced good tidings to Zion. Then it declared what those good tidings were with these words, “Behold your God!” Isaiah 40:9 foretold the good tidings more than 700 years in advance. Today, many centuries after their fulfillment, we continue to announce this good news, “Behold your God.” The coming of Jesus, Son of David, and Son of God, is God remembering his covenant promises. Jesus, has come as King of an everlasting kingdom, where he delivers us and saves us from all his and our enemies. Jesus, our Redeemer, even redeems us from all our sins as the spotless sacrifice that he offered for us by his own blood. This is the light that has shone into the darkness of this world, and it has been a new day ever since.
I hope you have seen how wonderful these good tidings are. Now, you may have noticed in our readings and my reflections that a lot of these good tidings are explained in terms of Israel. In God’s providence, he worked his plan of salvation through the lineage of the Israelite people. It might be easy to mistakenly think these good tidings are only good news for Israelites. Yet, that wouldn’t do justice to all the revelation. Later in this chapter (2:32), it will say that Jesus is also a light for revelation to the Gentiles. Jesus is good news to anyone who receives him as Lord and Savior. That’s true whether you are an Israelite or a Gentile. God brought Jesus up from the line and history of Israel, but God’s plan was always for him to save all who would come to him. In fact, if someone is an Israelite, but rejects Jesus as Lord and Savior, then they will have no share in him. If an Israelite rejects their king, then this news is not good tidings for them. It will stand as evidence against them on the day of judgment. Indeed, that is also true for both Israelite and Gentile. Any who will not submit to Jesus as Lord and Savior will know his judgment at the end. For those who reject Jesus, these good tidings are bad tidings.
But this moment need not be for us a moment of judgment and condemnation. I stand here today heralding afresh the glad tidings of Jesus’ birth. A king from heaven came into the world on that Christmas night. He came to save his people from their sins by dying in their place. He rose from the dead on the third day in victory. Hail King Jesus and receive his salvation that he freely offers you. For us who have come to know his salvation, we gladly rejoice again today.
And so I ask you all to consider this question. Is the birth of Jesus good tidings to you or bad tidings to you? That is a question of eternal consequence. If you think these are good tidings, I would follow up and ask if you are living out that answer? Have you been baptized in the name of Christ, joined his church, and are now following him together with all the saints? If not, but you know these are good tidings, I urge you to not wait any longer. Follow Jesus and begin to personally know and enjoy why these tidings are so good.
For, indeed, we who are in Christ have come to recognize this. The birth of Jesus has truly brought good tidings of great joy! Glory to God in the highest!
Amen.
Copyright © 2025 Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
All Rights Reserved.
