The normalcy of that evening was shattered when the shepherds saw the angel of the Lord standing before them, and the glory of the Lord shining around them. What was going through their mind I wonder. We know that the Bible says – “they were greatly afraid” (Luke 2:9). Think about that for a moment. They were seized with great fear. They are terrified. Wouldn’t you be also? Imagine being who they were (lowly shepherds) and seeing what they saw (magnificant glory), then hearing the angel said (2:10-12). The message the angel brought from God spoke to their most immediate need. That message from Heaven is that God is interested in the individual He cares about you. When the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world He came as the Savior of the world, but He also came to be your Savior. Praise the LORD! Shout for joy if you have eternal life that comes only through Jesus Christ. To think that He died for us (me) in order to diliver us (me) from the wrath of God coming upon an unbelieving and unthankful world is wonderous, to say the least, a gift I know I am not worthy of.
The announcement they received was Powerful in that the angel speaks to them about a baby, not just any baby, but a baby that is identified by three special names…..
- He is called “Savior”
He is the One Who would give His life for the sins of His people. He came to set the sinner free – (Luke 19:10) (Mark 2:17).
He is the One Who robed His deity in humanity and came into this world to die (Philippians 2:5-8) (Mark 10:45).
He is the One who came to do what all the sacrifices and blood that was shed in the tabernacle and the temple could never do (Hebrews 10:11-14).
As Savior – Jesus provided 3 essential services to the sinner…….
- We are accepted in Him (Ephesians 1:6).
- We are delivered in Him (Ephesians 1:7) (Galatians 1:4).
- We are preserved in Him (John 6:37) (1 Peter 1:4-5).
He is the Savior of all who will believe the Gospel (1 Timothy 4:10). Thank God that Jesus did not come the first time as Judge – but as Savior (John 3:17).
- He is called “Christ”
His word tells us that He is the “Anointed One, the Messiah.” He is the One prefigured in all the sacrifices and all the Old Testament prophecies. He is the One God said would come. He is the One the Jews anticipated every time they offered a sacrifice and kept a feast. This child came to do more than provide simple salvation, He came to allow us access into the very presence of Almighty God. The name “Christ” refers to Jesus as the “Anointed High Priest,” He addresses the Father on our behalf as that High Priest, and He does this in two ways…….
- He talks to the Father on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25).
- He pleads our case before the throne of God (1 John 2:1).
So now, through Jesus, the only means of access to God, we can now approach the Father (Hebrews 4:16) (1 Timothy 2:5).
- He is called “Lord”
This title identifies Him as Sovereign God. That little baby in the manger that the shepherds were told about was the One Who spoke the universe into existence. He is the One Who formed man out of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils life. He is the One Who controls the paths of the planets and the galaxies. He is the One Who permits the movement of the most minute piece of dust. He is the Lord of all! He is also the Sovereign of all things. Let me ask you on this cold day in December, 2020; “Who do you confess Him to be? Read: (Romans 10:9-10) (Philippians 2:9-11).
What a person does with the message of the Gospel determines how they will live out the remainder of the earthly lives, and where they will go when this earthly life is over, (John 8:24)…..“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” What have you done with Jesus Who was born in that manger so long ago?