“It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold; ‘Peace on the earth, good will to men, From Heav’n’s all-gracious King.’ The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing.”
The Scriptures report that it was night when the angels appeared to the shepherds that first Christmas. “In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.” [Luke 2:8 HCSB]
That first “Mid-night” those shepherds were probably resting, never expecting what was about to happen. Suddenly the sky grew bright as mid-day. Heavenly beings filled the sky and the angel brought God’s marvelous announcement of “peace on the earth, good will to men.”
And then I thought about another “Mid-night.” This time the bright mid-day became dark as midnight when God’s precious Son brought another of God’s marvelous announcements.
“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, because the sun’s light failed.” “[Jesus] said, ‘It is finished!’” [Luke 23:44, John 19:30 HCSB]
Finished. Finished forever. Sin and death have been dealt a fatal blow.
And because of those two midnights, we wait for the last announcement signaling the end of mid-night forever.
“Night will no longer exist, and people will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.” [Revelation 22:5 HCSB]
Amen & Amen