Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas Day
Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
HE SHALL BE CALLED: SAVIOR
Put yourself in the shepherds' place for a moment. Let's move past the unusual fact that an angel appeared to them, and consider the message that was announced: "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
I know, you are very familiar with these words because you have heard them over and over again. But imagine being one of those shepherds as they heard it for the first time -- from an angel of the LORD! "Good tidings . . . great joy . . . a Savior . . . Christ the Lord . . . a Babe . . . lying in a manger."
That had to be a lot to comprehend. What did it mean? "A Savior, who was Christ the Lord."
A Savior. In the Old Testament the LORD had foretold a time when all people would know that He alone was the Savior. Through the prophet Isaiah God proclaimed: "All flesh shall know That I, the LORD, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob" (Isaiah 49:26). That time had finally come, and the shepherds were privileged to hear it and see it on that very first night. Through the Child born in Bethlehem the whole world would learn of God's salvation.
Jesus was not just a Savior, but *the* Savior. The Savior who was Christ the Lord. Nearly a century later the apostle John wrote concerning that baby Jesus: "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14).
Thanks be to God for the gift of the Savior!
Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes, the Savior promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne and every voice a song.
Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, Thy welcome shall proclaim
And heaven's eternal arches ring, with Thy beloved name.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 66:1, 5)
