Glory is not the first word you think of when you think of Jesus’ birth. In the kingdom of God, humility precedes glory. We see this modeled for us right from the Savior’s birth. Yet in the announcement of the birth of God’s Son to the shepherds, God displayed his glory and the angels praised God saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven…” We learn that God’s mercy to men brings God’s highest glory in heaven. Let us treasure it and tell everyone about it.

The cry for mercy is as old as humanity’s fall in the garden. It has been uttered, whispered, and yelled in every generation among every people since sin entered the world. When we reach those limits, something in us looks for mercy. We learn that great mercy comes from a great God through His great Savior. God’s mercy means joy and praise for us.

From the beginning, God planned to carry out His plan to save the world by the birth of a child. Genesis 3:15 says the offspring of the woman would crush the serpents’ head. The angel of the Lord revealed this plan to Mary that she will conceive and give birth to a son, who will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary responded in faith to God’s grace and praised God even before the promise was fulfilled.

Luke does not begin his Gospel with a full-grown Jesus or even with an infant Jesus. Luke begins his Gospel in the wombs of two women. He illustrates how God in infinite wisdom placed the weight of his entire plan of redemption on the back of an unborn baby. As God miraculously opens the womb of an old woman named Elizabeth, we learn that God is faithful and powerful to keep His promises.