Welcome to Everyday Truth with Kurt Skelly.

We believe the Bible is true and relevant to everyone, everywhere, every day.

This Christmas season, we're revisiting a series called Advent,

where Kurt leads us through the Christmas story in a deeper, more meaningful way.

We hope it encourages you to see that Christmas is all about Jesus.

Now, here's today's episode. And lo, the angel of the We hope it encourages you to see that Christmas is all about Jesus.

Now, here's today's episode.

And lo, the angel of the Lord, the special messenger from God. Same term that's used back in Matthew 1 about the angelic messenger to Joseph.

We don't know if this angel was the same angel that appeared to Mary or to Zecharias,

the angel Gabriel. But be that as it may, the special liaison from God, the angel comes and stands

before these shepherds. See what it says? Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them.

And that's what that means. He came to stand in front of them. Came upon them. And the glory of the

Lord shone round about them, they were sore afraid. Okay. So in the Bible, when you read about the presence of God on earth,

especially in the Old Testament, which is all that these shepherds would have known,

would be the Old Testament, obviously.

The presence of God was associated with the chikina, the bright light, the glory of God, meeting man.

Remember even when Moses met with God, it was that light, the glory of God is often depicted

in a bright, almost overwhelming light.

And so here the shepherds are approached

by this angel of God and just his presence

coming from the presence of God

brings that glory of God with him, the glory of God shown. It's kind of like Moses,

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