Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
THIS DAY
As long as we live in a world where sin-generated death brings an end to every life, we will note the passage of time, marking days and years. Of course, distinguishing one day from another is also helpful when making appointments or scheduling events. "Let's do church" would not often result in people meeting together for worship. It helps to know exactly when to come.
All of this marking of time is part of our real world, and that's the world that the Son of God was born into when Mary of Nazareth gave birth to her firstborn in Bethlehem of Judea. The angel made that very clear when he told the shepherds, "Unto you is born THIS DAY . . . a Saviour."
The Bible account of our salvation is no "once-upon-a-time" story, no fairy tale. It is history. It is God breaking into human history to bring about our redemption from sin and death. We may not know for sure exactly what day of the year Jesus was born. It may not have been December 25th. However, it was definitely a particular day of a particular month in a particular year. You have the word of the angel on that -- a word brought directly from the throne of the Almighty.
To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
This little child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 85:2)
