December 27 , 2000

Reading: Luke 2:8-20

 

“Then the angel said to them” (10)

 

Last week we considered how the angel of the Lord did the work of an evangelist by declaring the message of God to the shepherds. This week I would like to consider the message itself.

The message proclaimed. These words spoken by the angel could be counted as some of the most important ever uttered, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (10). This is the second time an angel has spoken, the first, howbeit in a dream, was to Joseph announcing the coming birth of Jesus (Matt: 1:20,21). The message to Joseph proclaimed the babe as Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins, but to the shepherds He was proclaimed as the Messiah, Christ the Lord.

The message perceived. Although lowly shepherds, they appear to have been aware of the Old Testament promise that God would send a Deliverer. It was as the looked for Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One, the mighty Deliverer that the angel proclaimed the birth of the Babe. It was this that excited the shepherds and caused them to leave their flock and seek out the Christ. They did not have to travel far for both they and the Babe were in the area of Bethlehem. They did not search for Jesus but rather for “this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us” (15). It was the occasion rather than the Person that attracted them from the field to the stable. There was no rejoicing until “they had seen Him” (17). It is not recorded how, but at some time the shepherds came to the understanding that this Babe was not just the promised King but was indeed the promised Savior. Perhaps Joseph shared with them his dream when the angel spoke to him and declared his baby as Jesus. The purpose for this baby was not to ride into Jerusalem on a large white stallion and destroy their enemies but to enter that great city on a donkey to “save His people from their sins” Matthew 1:21.

It is so important that people perceive the Son of God as their Savior. To understand the message as an occasion without perceiving the Person of the occasion as the Savior, will not bring rejoicing to their heart. How many millions attend church weekly and are impressed by the occasion. Some have to have their ceremonies and idols to temporarily appease their needs but it is only when they “see Him” and accept Him as their Savior that true rejoicing and satisfaction will ensue.

The message pondered. “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” (19). I wonder what it was she was pondering? Could it be that her baby was not only to “save His people from their sins” (Matt: 1:21) as was announced to her and Joseph, but also to be the promised Messiah, the King of Israel as declared by the angel to the shepherds? Was it at this time she first understood that her baby would not only be called Jesus, but Jesus Christ, the Lord?

As children of God we must accept Him as Jesus Christ our Lord, as our Savior and King. He is the Anointed One of God. He is both our Friend and our Master. He is our Savior from our sins and Deliverer from our enemies. The two messages combined complete the proclamation that the name of Mary’s Baby is “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), and that which the shepherds, along with Mary and Joseph, were witness to was God’s eternal plan.

Be amazed and rejoice for “the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” Isaiah 9:7.