IN EXCELSIS DEO – WEEK 2
THE GLORY OF CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 8, 2024

LUKE 2:8-20 – And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was 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 those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

3 Things took place:

The glory of God revealed
Messiah’s birth announced
Declaration of glory and peace

THE GLORY OF GOD REVEALED

LUKE 2:8-9 – And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

Doxa (Δόξα) – majesty, splendor; weight.

“The glory of God is the infinite beauty and greatness of God’s manifold perfections.”
John Piper

“The glory of God is the sum of God’s magnificent attributes, and the eternal fame of his mysterious works.”
Louie Giglio

Kabod (כְּבֹדֶֽ) – Weight, heaviness.

MESSIAH’S BIRTH ANNOUNCED

LUKE 2:10-12 – And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

ROMANS 11:36 – For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

PSALM 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

ISAIAH 43:6-7 – I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

ROMANS 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

LUKE 2:10-12 – And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

DECLARATION OF GLORY AND PEACE

LUKE 2:13-14 – And suddenly there was 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 those with whom he is pleased!”

ROMANS 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

EPHESIANS 2:1 – And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.

ROMANS 6:23a – For the wages of sin is death…

ROMANS 6:23b – …but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ISAIAH 6:1-5 – In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

LUKE 2:13-14 – And suddenly there was 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 those with whom he is pleased!”

How do I live for the glory of God?