Greetings!
The Scripture says that in His incarnation the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8) “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and [was] made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7). All the adjectives and exclamations in language could never say enough about that reality. Yet, paradoxically, history’s most notable birth happened under the most obscure, nondescript, humble circumstances imaginable—Jesus was born in the place where the animals of those staying in a public shelter were kept. No one in the sleepy little village of Bethlehem realized the significance of what had happened, except, to a certain degree, the Child’s parents. But that was about to change; the silence regarding the Savior’s birth would be broken in a most supernaturally dramatic way.
I pray you will be challenged, convicted, encouraged, and blessed by today's devotional to the glory of God.
FOR TODAY, UNTO YOU IS BORN A SAVIOR
Part 4
The announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ heralds the greatest good news that the world has ever heard. From the narrative of that announcement and its aftermath, five truths about the good news emerge: (1) the proclamation of the good news, (2) the pervasiveness of the good news, (3) the person of the good news, (4) the purpose of the good news, and (5) the picture of the good news.
THE PERSON OF THE GOOD NEWS
Luke 2:11-12 (NASB)
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Having reassured the stunned and frightened shepherds that he came bearing good news, the angel then gave them the details of that good news. That very day, in the fullness of time (Gal. 4:4), history’s most significant birth had taken place. It had happened in the most unlikely of places—"in the city of David." The angel prefaced his threefold description of the newborn Child by telling the shepherds that the One of whom he spoke had "been born for" them. Collectively, as previously noted in part 2 of this devotional series, Jesus is the Savior of both Jews and Gentiles; individually, He is the Savior of everyone who believes in Him.
- John 3:16 (NASB)
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"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
The angel did not give the Child’s earthly name; Savior, Christ and Lord are all titles. But since the name “Jesus” means “the Lord is salvation,” its meaning is encompassed by the term Savior.
The description of Jesus as Savior is an apt one, since the reason He was born was to “save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21; cf. Luke 19:10). That obvious truth is often obscured in contemporary presentations of the gospel.
Too often Jesus is presented as the One who will rescue people from un-fulfillment in their marriages, families, or jobs; from a debilitating habit they cannot overcome on their own; or from a sense of purposelessness in life. But while relief in those areas may be a byproduct of salvation, it is not its primary intent. Mankind’s true problem, of which those issues are only symptoms, is sin. Everyone (Rom. 3:10, 23) is guilty of breaking God’s holy law and deserves eternal punishment in hell. The true gospel message is that Jesus Christ came into the world to rescue people from sin and guilt—not psychological, artificial guilt feelings, but true, God-imposed guilt that damns people to hell.
"Christ" is an exalted title for a baby born in such humble circumstances. The name and its Old Testament counterpart, Messiah (Dan. 9:25-26), both mean “anointed one;” one placed in a high office and worthy of exaltation and honor. Jesus was anointed first in the sense that He is God’s appointed King, the “King of kings” (Rev. 17:14; 19:16), who will sit on David’s throne and reign forever, as Gabriel told Mary (Luke 1:32-33). He was also anointed to be the great "High Priest" (Heb. 3:1) for His people; the mediator between them and God (1 Tim. 2:5) who makes intercession for them (Heb. 7:25). Finally, Jesus was anointed as a prophet, God’s final and greatest spokesman (Heb. 1:1-2).
"Lord" in a human sense is a term of respect and esteem, given to someone in a position of leadership and authority. Especially it was the title borne by slave owners; kurios (Lord) and doulos (slave) were connected. To call someone Lord was to acknowledge your subservience. In the New Testament Sarah called Abraham lord, acknowledging his authority over her as her husband (1 Peter 3:6).
But in this context "Lord" is no mere elevated human designation; it is a divine title. To say that this Child is Lord is to say that He is God. When used in reference to Jesus Christ, kurios ("Lord") conveys all that is implied by the tetragrammaton YHWH (“Yahweh,” which the Septuagint translates kurios)—the name of God (cf. Ex. 3:14-15). The most fundamental and basic confession of Christianity is, “Jesus is Lord” (1 Cor. 12:3). No one who does not affirm Christ’s full deity and equality with God the Father can be saved for, as He warned the Jews,
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John 8:24 (NASB)
- "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He [God], you will die in your sins."
Romans 10:9 declares that
- Romans 10:9 (NASB)
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that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
The angel then gave the shepherds a "sign" by which they could recognize this remarkable Child: they would find "find [the] baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12). That the "baby" would be "wrapped in cloths" would not single out Jesus for the shepherds, since that was done to all Jewish babies. To fail to properly care for a newborn baby, including wrapping it, was unthinkable (cf. Ezek. 16:1-5). But Jewish mothers did not usually put their newborn babies "in a manger," so that would narrow the shepherds’ search to the Child of whom the angel spoke. The stark contrast between Jesus’ exalted status as Savior, Messiah, and God and the humble circumstances of His birth emphasizes the magnitude of His emptying Himself.
- Philippians 2:7 (NASB)
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But emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for the good news of the gospel,
that You sent Your beloved Son,
the Savior of the world,
to redeem sinners.
Thank You Father,
For Your good news that produces great inexpressible and full joy
in us, joy that is reserved for those of us whose past, present,
and future sins have been forgiven, through our
believing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Savior of the world.
Amen.
Proverbs 22:19 (NASB)
So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you.
Amen.
