Saturday, December 5, 2008
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
CHRIST THE LORD!
The Child to whom the angel directs the shepherds will not look that different from any other new-born infant who might be beginning its life-journey in Bethlehem that night. It is for that reason that the heavenly messenger will make a point of calling attention to the Child's unusual resting place. A feed-trough in a stable is not usually a cradle even in rural areas of first century Judea.
But make no mistake about it, this is no ordinary Child. This is the CHRIST! This is the One God Himself has chosen to deliver all sinners everywhere from the death and hell which is the just punishment for their rebellions against the Lord. When kings, prophets, and priests in ancient Israel were publicly recognized as God's choice for the work to which they were called, they were anointed with scented olive oil. This pictured the fact that God would bless and equip these men for their tasks as His servants.
Jesus will not be symbolically anointed with oil. His very title will be THE ANOINTED ONE, that is, MESSIAH (Hebrew) or CHRIST (Greek). Furthermore, the Spirit of God will not simply gift Him for His work, He will descend upon Him and abide with Him throughout His life and ministry.
But still the herald angel is not done. The shepherds (and we) should not only stand in awe before this Child's manger-bed. This is a place to kneel and bow the head. For no human being could fully carry out the work of The Christ, if that is all He were, human. So this little child of lowly birth will be the eternal Son of the Father come into human flesh -- He will be Christ THE LORD!
The Father's Well-beloved came.
Of undefiled virgin mother An Infant all divine was born,
And God became your Brother.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 100:1)
