Christmas 2015; Angels announce Savior, Christ, and Lord, part 2; Luk 2:11.Title: Christmas 2015; Angels announce Savior, Christ, and Lord, part 2; Luk 2:11.
Announcements / opening prayer:
What is done for the sake of God’s great name identifies the character and nature of God, that which is Him. When the birth of the Lord was announced to the shepherds, the angels used three such names: Savior, Christ, and Lord.
Luk 2:8 And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;
Luk 2:11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."
Luk 2:13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
What the host of angels say is not “peace on earth and good will towards men.” The KJV has it wrong since it uses inferior manuscripts and has the noun eudokia (whom He is pleased) in the nominative when in the best manuscripts it is in the genitive case. Literally translated it would be “men of good pleasure.”
Luk 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom (men) He is pleased."
We are introduced to Him as Savior, then we learn of His chosen purpose in all things [Christos], and then we reckon Him as Master and Lord – giving our lives completely to Him.
John Newton was an English captain of slave ships during the mid 1700’s. After his conversion to Christianity he had then renounced his trade and became an evangelical Anglican cleric. He later wrote the lyrics to Amazing Grace and he also penned this short poem entitled “The Name of Jesus.”
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds In a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear!
It makes the wounded spirit whole And calms the troubled breast; ‘Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary, rest.
Dear Name! the rock on which I build, My shield and hiding-place, MY never-failing treasury, fill’d With boundless stores of grace,-
By Thee my prayers acceptance gain, Although with sin defiled; Satan accuses me in vain, And I am own’d a Child.
Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought; But, when I see Thee as Thou art, I’ll praise Thee as I ought.
Till then, I would Thy love proclaim With every fleeting breath; And may the music of Thy Name Refresh my soul in death. [John Newton]
"Savior" - swth,r [soter] = savior, deliverer, preserver.
"Christ" - cristo,j [christos] = anointed or the One chosen for the purpose of Messiah.
"Lord" – ku,rioj [kurios] = having power or authority. Lord, Master, Owner. LXX representative of Jehovah, Adonai, and Elohim.
This title is also used of others besides Jesus, owners, masters, those who have titles, kings, husband, father, and even idols.
When this title is used of our Lord it speaks of an authority that no other man could hope to possess. We all need healing and the Lord is the only One to give it.
Mat 8:2 And behold, a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
Mat 8:3 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
We all need deliverance, even in our fear, and the Lord is the only One to give it.
Mat 8:23 And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
Mat 8:24 And behold, there arose a great storm in the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves; but He Himself was asleep.
Mat 8:25 And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!"
Mat 8:26 And He said to them, "Why are you timid, you men of little faith?" Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and it became perfectly calm.
Mat 8:27 And the men marveled, saying, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
Christ came to the earth to heal us and to deliver us from all calamities. When we know Him as our only Lord, He will be the only one we look to for these things.
Peter after his first intimate meeting with Jesus knew Him to be Lord.
Luk 5:8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"
Peter now determined within himself that Jesus is Lord will not leave His command:
Joh 6:67-68 "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.
The same was true of the man possessed by many demons:
Mar 5:18 And as He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was entreating Him that he might accompany Him.
Mar 5:19 And He did not let him, but He said to him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you."
Mar 5:20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone marveled.
The command came from the Lord and the man obeyed Him as Lord. He would rather accompany the Lord, but the Lord had other plans for Him. What the man did is very similar to a passage from the Psalms.
What He is, understood in the heart of man, must be told:
Psa 66:15 Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.
In his ministry Peter would proclaim this name with vigor:
Act 10:36 "The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)
The transformation in Peter can be surmised in his own process of knowing Jesus as first Savior, then the Christ, and then his only Lord.
This Lord of the heavens and the earth became a man:
Deu 10:14 "Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.
The One Lord who owns the entire universe became a man and subjected Himself to its elements that He might save us who were slaves to those elements.
Jesus Himself used this title to prove His authority as God:
Mat 22:45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his son?"
Christ humbled Himself by taking the form of a bond servant but He never relinquished His title as Lord of all. Knowing Himself as Lord He became the servant of all. I don’t think there is anything more sacrificial or beautiful than that.
He may have what He wishes, which is always in perfect justice:
Luk 19:31 "And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' thus shall you speak, 'The Lord has need of it.'"
He could have procured anything at any time, but He did so only in accordance with the will of the Father. Can you imagine the joy in the man who once owned the colt on which the King rode into Jerusalem as prophesied centuries before?
Though Lord of all, He is kind, 1Pe 2:3.
1Pe 2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
1Pe 2:2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
1Pe 2:3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
The Lord can be anything He desires, but He is gracious and kind. This is a truth to which all in authority must hear. The greatest Leader is the greatest servant of all.
He took this right from a page of Isaiah.
Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
He is to be set apart as Lord in your heart, 1Pe 3:15.
1Pe 3:13 And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
1Pe 3:14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
1Pe 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,
Also taken from Isaiah:
Isa 8:13 "It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy.
Though He is Lord, He allowed Himself to be killed.
1Th 2:14 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets,
Without His spiritual death, physical death, and resurrection we remain condemned under the penalty of sin and death. He was born for this very purpose.
As Lord of all He has blessed us:
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
The One who owns everything has blessed us beyond our imaginations.
Savior, Deliverer, Preserver, Chosen One, and Lord of all was born in Bethlehem on that night and He became these very things to each and every man and woman who would believe in Him, whether they were young or old, rich or poor, loved or alone, sick or in health. Celebrate this day and season with a heart of joy.
“He was early at the office next morning. Oh he was early there. If he could only be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit coming late! That was the thing he had set his heart upon. And he did it; yes he did! The clock struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past. No Bob. He was full eighteen minutes and a half, behind his time. Scrooge sat with his door wide open, that he might see him come into the Tank. His hat was off, before he opened the door; his comforter too. He was on his stool in a jiffy; driving away with his pen, as if he were trying to overtake nine o’clock. “Hallo!” growled Scrooge, in his accustomed voice as near as he could feign it. “What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?” “I’m very sorry, sir,” said Bob. “I am behind my time.” “You are?” repeated Scrooge. “Yes. I think you are. Step this way if you please.” “It’s only once a year, sir,” pleaded Bob, appearing from the Tank. “It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir.” “Now, I’ll tell you what, my friend,” said Scrooge, “I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,” he continued, leaping from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in the waistcoat that he staggered back into the Tank again: “and therefore I am about to raise your salary!” Bob trembled, and got a little nearer to the ruler. He had a momentary idea of knocking Scrooge down with it; holding him; and calling to the people in the court for help and a strait-waistcoat. “A merry Christmas, Bob!” said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. “A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year! I’ll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!” [Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol]
The transformation that can occur in a person when he comes to know Jesus as Savior, Christ, and Lord is a miracle, just as much as the virgin birth that brought Him to us.
Merry Christmas to you all. |