Anticipating His Advent #16

We began Luke 2 with the lens zoomed out to picture the whole Roman Empire, with its leaders used of God to do something that would put Mary and Joseph in the precise position at the proper time for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. We then zoomed in to focus in on the family ad observe the humility of that moment. We now zoom out just a little to see what was going on within a few mile radius:

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Not only was God using this young woman of lowly means from a seemingly insignificant place; He now was entrusting this message of worldwide import to some lowly shepherds.  For centuries, civilized nations had viewed them as "less." But that's the way God works. The angel tells them three things about this baby: He is Savior, the Christ, and the Lord.  The first term, Savior, is a rare one used only one other time in the Gospels; it emphasizes His ability to save all peoples.  The second word means the Anointed one, the long-awaited King.  The term for Lord here is the one used for God in His covenant relationship with His people.  One sentence; three powerful statements about Who Jesus is. This is good, great news.