Luke 2:11-20
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them," Luke 2:11-20.
We have no idea how many babies have been born since Adam and Eve had Cain. About 350,000 babies are born around the world each day. This adds up to more than 140 million a year. About 4 million are born in the United States per year. That is a lot of babies. The number of babies that have been born from Cain to today would be uncountable. All of them have been born sinners and in need of the Saviour. Some of them have been born with much pomp and circumstance at their birth. Some hold records for being the heaviest baby (22lbs), the longest baby (28 inches), the smallest baby that lived (7.5 ounces), and a lady from Russia holds the record for the most babies at sixty nine. All babies were born from women, and all were born depraved, dead in sin.
Though there have been some amazing births, none had a heavenly choir, and none had an angel proclaim their birth. When Christ came into this world as a babe, all of heaven rejoiced. No one else has ever had nor will ever have a proclamation like this. Jesus Christ came into this world sinless, He remained sinless, He died sinless, He was buried sinless, He arose on the third day sinless, He ascended back to heaven sinless, and He will forever be sinless. No one else can claim this, nor will anyone be able to claim this. "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies," Psalm 58:3. "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me," Psalm 51:5. "Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb," Isaiah 48:8. "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one," Job 14:1-4. No person is able to produce that which is holy. Mary was pregnant with Jesus Christ, but no man was involved. The eternal Son of God became flesh in Mary's womb. He was sinless from conception, and will remain sinless for eternity. This is something only God can do. Christ was no ordinary babe.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord," Luke 2:11. "Christ" is the Greek word "Christos" and means the Messiah, anointed, "the Christ, the Saviour of the world." "The Lord" is the Greek word "Kurios" and means supremacy; supreme in authority. The Messiah. Jesus did not become the Messiah over time, no, He came forth from the womb as the Messiah. He came forth anointed, full of grace and truth; Immanuel, God with us. This is Who the angels testified of, and this is Who John and the other apostles testified of (I John 1:1-4). This is Who the shepherds would be going to see. How will they find the Christ?
“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger," Luke 2:12. What a humble way for the eternal Son of God to come into this world. "Wrapped in swaddling clothes" means to strap or wrap with strips, wrap an infant in swaddling clothes. This was the custom of that day. Some would rub salt over the baby and then wrap them snuggly with swaddling clothes. The shepherds were not going to see an ordinary babe, they were going to see the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, Who looked no different than any other babe. But, before they went.
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," Luke 2:13-14. "A multitude" speaks of fulness. All of the heavenly host were praising God. Notice they were not praising Mary of Joseph or the shepherds; they were praising God. "Glory ascribes glory and praise to God alone. He is the Supreme Divinity. God is the One Who orchestrated this in eternity's past, and He is the One that brings it to pass on His timing, His way; for His glory. God is glorified in heaven, and on earth.
God had every right to pour out His wrath on the earth, but instead He sent His eternal Son. On earth "peace" means health, welfare, prosperity, every kind of good. We really do not have an English word to explain how great this truth is. It is truly every kind of good. It is directed to those whom God delights in; those whom He shows kindness to, with purpose. The angels are praising God for Who He is, and for what He is doing. God is demonstrating His love through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). We see God's attributes all through the Old Testament, and how wonderful they are; but here we see God's good will with purpose. God does not take chances. Nor does God depend on luck. He did not send His Son into this world hoping someone would choose Him. Christ's first advent He came to seek and save that which was lost. He came to pay the sin debt for all who have and will believe. He came to redeem His people. The next time Christ comes it will not be peace on earth. He is coming in judgment (II Thessalonians 1:7-10). When Christ returns, it will be with purpose.
The shepherds went and found the babe, just as the angel had said (Luke 2:15-20). Their lives were radically changed, and they could not help but to tell others about the goodness and love of God. Can you imagine their conversations with each other as they watched their flocks? For Joseph and Mary this was more confirmation. Mary continually pondered these things in her heart. She would need these truths as she watched her Son die on the cross.
Our God is so good to us. He fulfills His promises. Christ was no ordinary babe. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
