Who Announced The Birth Of Jesus?

The birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity, was a pivotal moment in religious history. But who exactly delivered the news of his holy arrival? This article will provide a comprehensive look at the biblical figures credited with announcing Jesus’ birth.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: according to the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament, angels appeared to shepherds watching their flocks at night and announced the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem. The shepherds then went to see the infant Jesus for themselves.

Angels Herald Jesus’ Birth to Shepherds

Angels Appear to Shepherds on Night of Jesus’ Birth

On the extraordinary night that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, an angel of the Lord appeared out of heaven to a group of astonished shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks in nearby fields (Luke 2:8-9). This angelic proclamation must have come as quite a shock!

But there was an even greater surprise in store, as a whole host of angels joined the first and the glory of the Lord shone brightly around the shepherds—a magnificent sight that understandably evoked great fear in those present (Luke 2:9-10).

Angel’s Proclamation of ‘Good News’ and ‘Great Joy’

Putting their understandable terror aside, the angel who first appeared reassured the shepherds not to be afraid. God had sent these messengers with tidings of “good news” that would bring “great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10).

This joyful news was nothing less than the long-awaited arrival of Israel’s Messiah and the world’s Savior, who had just been born in the unlikely location of a Bethlehem stable. Truly, this was great and glorious news beyond compare!

The angel went on to give the awestruck shepherds a unique sign by which they could recognize and verify this newborn King—they would find the Christ-child wrapped snugly in cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:12).

With this revelatory angelic message concluded, the shepherds were further dazzled as the single angel was joined by a vast multitude of heavenly hosts praising and glorifying God (Luke 2:13-14).

Shepherds Verify the Angelic Announcement in Bethlehem

After the angels returned to heaven and the radiant glory faded away, the shepherds determined to go straight to Bethlehem and see the incredible sign for themselves (Luke 2:15). Sure enough, there in an animal stable they found the prophesied infant, lying contentedly in a feeding trough just as the angel had indicated.

Likely falling prostrate in awe and wonder, these humble shepherds then shared their amazing story of angelic visitations and pronouncements (Luke 2:16-17).

The remarkable events of that evening clearly had a profound effect, for the shepherds went out glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as the angelic armies had done (Luke 2:20). The news was just too good to keep to themselves!

No doubt they repeated this incredible story again and again of how angels revealed the birth of Jesus the Messiah to them.

The Prophetic Revelations to Mary and Joseph

Angel Gabriel Foretells Mary’s Divine Pregnancy

The angel Gabriel visited Mary and declared that she would conceive and bear a son by the power of the Holy Spirit, even though she was a virgin (Luke 1:26-38). This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that a virgin would conceive and bear a son, Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).

Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid because she had found favor with God. He said Jesus would be called the Son of the Most High and rule on David’s throne forever. Despite her confusion, Mary courageously trusted God and agreed to His plan with her famous words: “I am the Lord’s servant.

May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).

Joseph Informed in Dream to Accept Mary’s Pregnancy

When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant before their marriage, he decided to quietly divorce her since he knew the child was not his own (Matthew 1:18-19). However, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and assured him that Mary’s pregnancy was a miraculous work of God through the Holy Spirit.

The angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife and that she would give birth to a son who should be named Jesus. When Joseph woke up, he obeyed the angel’s instructions with courage and faith, taking Mary home as his wife (Matthew 1:20-24).

Angel Instructs Them to Name the Child ‘Jesus’

Around the time of Jesus’ birth, Gabriel appeared again – this time to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks near Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-15). The angel announced the birth of Jesus the Savior, directing them to find the baby lying in a manger.

Suddenly the skies were filled with angels praising God for this good news of great joy for all people. The shepherds hurried off to meet baby Jesus. Later, Joseph was instructed in another dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape King Herod’s massacre of baby boys in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13-15).

Sometime after, an angel told Joseph in a dream that it was safe to return with his family to Israel (Matthew 2:19-21). Throughout Mary and Joseph’s challenging journey of preparing for and raising Jesus, God graciously guided them every step of the way.

The Revelation to the Magi and King Herod

Magi Discern Signs of the Messiah’s Coming

The Magi were likely Zoroastrian astrologers and priests from Persia who discerned in the night sky a portentous event that signaled the birth of a new king in Judea. As the famous Bible story goes, they saw a special star rise in the east (Matthew 2:2) and realized it fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the coming of a Messiah, a great descendant of the ancient Jewish king David who would deliver the Jews.

The Magi or “wise men” as they are often called then went on a long journey of likely 800-900 miles from Persia or Babylon to Jerusalem, following the star. When they reached Jerusalem, they inquired of King Herod: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?

We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).

Herod Seeks Info on Rival ‘King of the Jews’

This news greatly unsettled the evil King Herod, who had been installed by the Romans as a puppet king over Judea. Herod, knowing the Jews awaited a Messiah as foretold in Scripture, feared a potential rival to his earthly throne and is said to have “been disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3).

Herod shrewdly plied the Magi for when the star had appeared to calculate the child’s age. Then he directed them to go to Bethlehem and report back about the location of the child, claiming he wanted to worship him also. However, Herod secretly plotted to kill any rival “King of the Jews”.

Magi Warned in Dream to Avoid Herod

Fortunately, God intervened to protect young Jesus. After the Magi found the divine infant Jesus and worshipped him, offering rich gifts, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. So they went home another way (Matthew 2:12).

Soon after, Joseph was likewise divinely warned in a dream to take Mary and Jesus into Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous wrath on the innocents of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13).

So thanks to these divine dreams and the Magi keeping their word, the toddler Jesus was kept safe from the jealous King Herod. And the Magi returned to the east having had the amazing privilege of being some of the very first people to worship the long-awaited Messiah and King of Kings who had finally arrived to deliver humanity.

Conclusion

As we have seen, angels played a primary role in revealing and proclaiming the monumental news of Jesus’ birth, both to common shepherds and key biblical figures like Mary and Joseph. Their angelic messages set in motion events that would shape the founding of Christianity and change the course of world history.