During our last Christmas expedition into literature we examined a carol. Today we will examine the “source document” for that song. Luke 2:10-12 King James Version (KJV)
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Please excuse a little artistic license as we name the angel, Harold. From other verses about interactions between men and angels we are aware that these are not benign encounters. The angels are not threatening, nor terrible, but their demeanor of unsullied purity, coupled with the authority given them from their Maker sent nearly every human subject to the prone position. Even John, when he saw the Risen Jesus about six decades after their last tete-a-tete, fell face down. John was the “beloved disciple.”
So our shepherd friends were very wary, to say the least, when they saw this magnificent apparition in the sky. “Don’t be afraid.” (That encouragement occurs over 350 times in the Bible.) Did you ever notice that when the angels said this, that the recipients were no longer fearful? Something to think about.)
Harold continues, “Look, I am bringing you notice of great joy which will be to everyone on earth.” This is not to some little, cloistered sect in Judea, but he announced this to the entire world. “Good news. Joy.”
And now, one of the shortest, yet most information filled phrases anywhere. “Today is born, in Bethlehem a Saviour (sic KJV) which is Christ the Lord.”
“Saviour.” The world is lost and heading for perdition–and worse. Literally volumes have been written about the Savior. And we have not scratched the surface. A quick summary of our need is in the Ten Commandments. They do not point us to the path to please God. They are an indictment that we have missed the path at least ten times. We failed every one. Right after Moses explained the law to the Jews in Exodus 20, God revealed the sacrificial process by which the Children of Israel could confess their sins and express their faith in Him
We needed a Savior and He had come. But the Savior was also Christ, Messiah. The promised one, that Moses referred to in Deuteronomy 18:15, would be the One Who would lead them. He was the Messiah. And He is the One Coming for us. (John 14:3; and Revelation 22:20) Revelation repeats the promise, “I am coming,” eight times, and the final verse in the Bible 22:20 confirms it one last time. “I am coming.” The Messiah of Deuteronomy has promised to return. Great news!
But that is not all. He is Savior: He is Christ, Messiah: and He is Lord. That is Jehovah, Yahweh, the I AM. God. All of the previous ideas pale in light of the One Who is Savior, Who is Messiah, for He is Lord.
I imagine that the shepherds were up and running. But in circles. “Where, where, where?” They already knew Bethlehem, but where? So the angel, who might have been Gabriel, told them the child would be swaddled. This is not too unusual, as many babies are “swaddled” today.
Aside: Some think that Mary brought the clothes in preparation as she knew that it was “about time.” Others equate the “swaddling clothes” with grave clothes, but this seems to be a weak association, at best. He was wrapped up.
But the real tell-tale was that the babe was in a manger, a feeding trough. Ever watch a cow eat? Slobber (saliva, but not as picturesque) drools out of their mouth as they munch the feed. Not an ideal place for a newborn.
“Find a stable. Any babies inside? If so, let us know.” This was probably their shouted instructions to each other as they ran to town.
“Thanks for letting us know, Harold, Gabriel, or whoever.” It did not matter who had told them. In this instance, Marshall McLuhan was wrong. The medium was not the message. Angels are irrelevant. The Savior, Christ the Lord is here.
What a Savior. What a message. Tell it.
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