Jump Start # 1750

Luke 2:11 “for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

  Among all the festive events surrounding the Christmas holiday is a connection that some believe is tied to Jesus’ birth. You’ll see posts on Facebook that pleads, “Keep Christ in Christmas,” or, “He is the reason for the season.” Catchy expressions, but not necessarily very Biblical. The word “Christmas,” is not in the Bible. Jesus was born of Mary, but we are not told when, nor do we find any reference to anyone “celebrating” that birth. The shepherds were in the field and Caesar had called a census of the empire, which probably would not be in months which travel was difficult. Historically, sometime in the spring is the most likely time of Jesus’ birth. We simply do not know.

Our verse today, one that is often read during this holiday season, was spoken by the angels to the shepherds in the field. There are several specifics or declarative statements in these few words.

First, WHEN. TODAY. Not some day. Not sooner or later. Not wait and see. But Today. Not tomorrow.

Second, WHERE. In the city of David. That meant one place to Jewish shepherds. They didn’t have to Google a location. They knew.

Third, THE EVENT. There has been born. It’s already happened. A birth announcement from Heaven. Has been born, tells us what they were looking for. No one has ever seen an adult born. Even in the animal world, what is born is small and undeveloped. Colts are born to horses. Little elephants are born to big elephants. Cubs are born to bears. Babies are born to humans. The shepherds were looking for something that was born today. That tells them what they were looking for.

Fourth, WHY. What was born, was for them. A savior was born for the shepherds and for all the world. They may not have understood completely what was meant by the expression, Savior. For us, on this side of the cross, we understand it means a redeemer. One that would pay the cost for our sins. For the shepherds, they may have thought of a future king who would deliver Israel from the hands of the Romans. That was the most common thought of the day.

Fifth, WHO. Christ the Lord. Christ is the Greek word for Messiah. Those Jewish shepherds knew about the Messiah. “Lord,” implies authority and ruler. The ruling Messiah had been born. Generations had been waiting for that moment and now, it happened.

Interestingly, when news first broke from Heaven, it wasn’t rushed to the palaces, the Temple or the Sanhedrin. The first to be told were shepherds in the field. Common, plain, everyday, poor men who were simply doing their jobs. They were not powerful land barons. Had these men been rich, they would have had servants watching the sheep for them. They were common. They were everyday folks who get up each day and simply go about their jobs. It was that fiber of person that Jesus appealed to. The Gospel was for all. They seemed to understand the message from the angels. They were not agnostic nor atheistic. They were not pagans. They understood the expression, “Christ,” and “Lord.” They knew. Years later, when this same Christ is risen from the grave, the first to know it were a group of women. Had we written this story, we’d have reporters there, staff from the Roman palace on site and a crowd of the elite and powerful. We didn’t write this story. God did.

This time of year, we witness manger scenes in yards and a lot of interest in the baby Jesus. Songs on the radio play “Away in the manger,” and “Silent night.” It seems more attention is given to the baby Jesus, than the Savior who grew up. We’ve had babies born recently in our family. Within ten days we had two grandbabies born. They are about a month old. Cute. Adorable. And grandma loves to hold them. Everyone loves cute babies. Babies don’t demand much other than feed me and change me. Babies need us. You can’t leave a baby alone and dash off to the store. You’ll be jail if you do that these days. Something could happen. They need big people around them. They can’t talk. They can’t move on their own. They can’t dress themselves. Intake and outtake is about all they can do. But they are certainly cute.

The baby Jesus that everyone adores wasn’t any different than that. Helpless. Needing us. Dependent. It was Mary and Joseph who filled that role. But the pages of the Bible are slim when it comes to the details of the baby Jesus. We don’t have recorded, “He turned over today.” We don’t read, “He said his first word today.” All of that is bypassed. That baby grew. He learned obedience. He became a man. The emphasis of the Scriptures is upon Jesus the Savior.

A baby in the manger is cute. The bloody Savior on the Cross is horrific to look at.

A baby needs us. We need the Savior.

A baby has few demands. The Savior demands our obedience and commitment to Him.

A baby can’t do much for us. The Savior forgave us through His death.

A baby can’t speak. The Savior has left volumes of words for us to cling to.

A baby isn’t an example for us. The Savior is our example in all things.

Jesus in the manger is cute. We must remember that the baby grew and has become our Savior. He is the Lord. That is why He came. The world that loves the baby in the manger would like to keep Him there. He is not a threat to anyone as a baby. He can be controlled as a baby. We can live as we want as long as Jesus remains a baby. But as a Savior, Jesus will judge us one day. He wants to change you, save you, and help you.

The song of the season, and all seasons ought to be, “On a hill far away, stood the ole’ rugged cross…” It is because of the cross we have hope. It is because of the cross that Heaven is possible. It is because of the cross that we have forgiveness.

The babe in the manger is the opening lines of the story. It is the first paragraph of a powerful message. Move on to the rest of the story. Get past those first lines. Find out what happens. See the Savior as He became a Savior. That’s the story. That’s the picture God wants you to see.

Roger