Sharing Our Faith Together

Holiday Club 2022:  Monday -  Who is Jesus?

by Rev Jacky Quarmby 25 July 2022

Luke 1: 1 – 56 and Luke 2: 1 – 20

Do you believe in angels?  Luke does - and these birth stories from Luke’s Gospel are full of them.  The word "angel" comes from the Greek word "angelos" meaning messenger. And here we see the angels fulfilling their primary task of carrying messages from God to humankind.

First the angel Gabriel visits Zechariah in the temple and gives him the message that his aged wife Elizabeth is going to have a baby.  Zechariah, being a reasonable man, cannot believe this “impossible” message and says, “How can I be sure of this?  I am an old man and my wife is well on in years.”  The angel Gabriel is most affronted – how dare Zechariah doubt his message, “ I am Gabriel,” he says, “I stand in the presence of God and I have been sent to give you this good news – and now because you have doubted, you will not be able to speak until the baby is born.”  Hmm … note to self … never doubt the message of an angel, or there could be consequences.

Then the angel Gabriel goes to visit a young girl called Mary and delivers the second impossible message – “Mary you will be with child and give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the most High.”  Well, even Mary is confused, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” she asks.  And Gabriel says, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you – so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Who is Jesus? The angel Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and knows all things, tells us, “Jesus is the Son of God.”

But the angels are not finished yet.  The holy child, Jesus, is born in an outhouse in Bethlehem – and out in the fields around the city, another angel appears to a group of shepherds who are looking after their sheep.  “Do not be afraid,” says the angel, “I bring you good news - for today a Saviour has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord.”  And suddenly a host of angels appeared praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth.”  So much joy in the heavenly places at the birth of God’s Son.

Who is Jesus?  The angels tell the shepherds – he is your Saviour, God’s chosen one – come to bring God’s peace to the people on earth.  

Here is good news – news to share – news to celebrate.  And that’s what we are going to do
today at Holiday Club.  So let us pray that each of us may be messengers of the hope and joy that we find in Jesus – just as the angels were, so many years ago.

Song:  Great great, brill brill
 

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Loving God,
We thank you for your Son Jesus
We thank you that our relationship with Jesus brings us so much joy, 
so much hope and a peace beyond our understanding.
Lord, this morning, help the leaders through all they do
And all they say to be messengers of that hope and joy.
And Lord, we pray for the children at Holiday Club
Work in them through your Holy Spirit
That they may come to know for themselves
What it means to have a friend called Jesus.
For we ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen