Christmas.
We anticipate this day of celebration for months, yet when it gets here, it seems to come and go so quickly. The day brings with it all the feels. On a very human and celebratory level, Christmas focuses on children, family, giving, and time together. As we grow older, giving takes on much greater significance than getting. Time with family outshines all the other priorities. As a follower of Christ, Christmas means so much more. Santa, Frosty, and Rudolph pale in comparison to the real celebration of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, and Jesus.
The Christmas Story
On Christmas day, we often turn our attention toward the story of Jesus’ birth in the Gospel of Luke. He writes:
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 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. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:1-14)
“For There Is Born to You This Day… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”
The story of Christmas is the story of a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. In the angel’s birth announcement we learn so much about who Jesus is.
Savior ~ A Savior relates to rescue. The angel describes Jesus as our Savior. He is our divine Rescuer. From what? From ourselves. As sinners born with a broken relationship with God, Jesus came to make it possible to reconcile that relationship. When by faith we accept Jesus as our Savior, we ask God to forgive our sins based upon our Rescuer’s substitutionary death on the cross where God poured out His wrath for our sins onto Jesus. As such, He is our Rescuer, our Savior.
Christ ~ Jesus is the Messiah, the foretold one in the Old Testament. Israel looked for the Messiah as He was promised. The ultimate King of Kings Who will reign forever. Jesus.
Lord ~ Jesus came as the sovereign Lord. While on earth, He set aside His use of all the attributes of being God. He voluntarily humbled Himself to the limitations of humanity as He lived as the God-man. But from the beginning, Jesus anticipated the future day when all the world would recognize Him as Lord (cf. Phil 2:11).
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, Peace, goodwill toward men”
An entire host of angels join the one angel announcing the birth of Jesus. The night sky fills with representative angels from all over the kingdom of God. They bring glory to God and announce peace on earth, the goodwill of God toward all those who believe.
Glory to God ~ All of heaven joins in the chorus of ringing celebration to God for sending His Son, Jesus. In a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloths, Jesus lays there as a newborn baby. Only the angels realized the significance of this event this night. Yes, Mary and Joseph were both told by angels what what taking place, but they had no real idea. Not so with the angels. Since they did, they could only respond in one way, “Glory to God throughout all the heavens!”
Peace on Earth ~ Jesus came. On this night a baby has been born. Although only an infant when the angels sang out this praise, they understood what Jesus ultimately offered to all mankind on earth. Peace. Not peace from war, pestilence, and struggles; rather, Jesus offered eternal peace to all mankind. Real peace. Peace between God and man. But that is not all! Christ also offers peace with others and peace in the midst of life’s circumstances. Jesus offers peace on earth to all those who accept Him.
Christmas is here. As we focus our hearts today on Jesus and enjoy all the celebratory ways in which we do so, we thank God for His rich blessings to us. We have celebrated this December the real significance of the Christmas season. We have also prayed with those who suffer loss this Christmas season. The angelic birth announcement said it all — Good News which produces Great Joy for all people who accept Jesus as the Savior, who is Christ the Lord. In fact, the news of Jesus’ birth is one of three angelic pronouncements that give us hope this Christmas.
We join in the angelic chorus of the millennia — “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace, Goodwill toward men.”
Merry Christmas.
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