Then the angel said to them, ‘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 the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’
Luke 2:10-12 (NKJV)
Remarkable King
Who is this baby? He is the Savior, the Christ, and the Lord of all creatures. Believe these three descriptions of Jesus. To not believe is to not have any true understanding of Christmas. Jesus is the Savior who can free us from our sins and save us to the uttermost. He is the Christ who begins to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Jewish Messiah. And He is deity. Not merely a human lord, He is Emmanuel—literally God with us.
Also, it is remarkable to see that this messenger from heaven brought the greatest news at first to humble shepherds of low estate on terraced fields outside of Bethlehem. Secondly, the sign is stunning as it is the birth of the greatest King in human history. His first throne room happened to be a feeding trough with smelly animals in an adjacent shelter outside of where humans dined and slept. How can this even be? Being typically caught up during the Christmas season with ornate decorations, rich foods, and extravagant parties, let us pause for a moment and think of those earthly surroundings of this baby so long ago.
We pray that you all have a Merry Christmas during this Advent season in the year 2020.
Pastor Todd Wood
Shepherd of the Falls Lutheran Church