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"Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"
(Luke 2:10-11)
In Luke 2:11, the angel continues his announcement of great news: he tells them that there is born to them a Savior. This Babe, this Messiah, was born to them. They were simple, poor, common shepherds, but on this day, their lives and the lives of all would change. The angel tells them the specific place where this Child is born: the city of David, Bethlehem (for that is where David was from).
He is called the Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Matthew 1:21 explains what this Savior will save us from: "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
Robert Stein, in commenting on this verse, states, "Although the realization of the authority of the titles 'Christ' and 'Lord' would await the resurrection (Acts 2:36), Jesus at his birth was already both Christ and Lord, for the one born to Mary in Bethlehem is the same person who is raised in glory and given the authority to be Lord and Christ." (Stein, R. H. (1992). Luke (Vol. 24, p. 109). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
"Joy to the world, the Lord has come; Let earth receive her King." Isaac Watts put it so simply and yet so powerfully. Jesus is the Joy of the world, and He was born in Bethlehem nearly 2,000 years ago to die on the cross for the sins of the world, your sins and mine. He arose from the dead and stands at the human heart ready to come in and live, if only invited.
During this Christmas Season, let me encourage you to be bold in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Most people will be far more receptive than you realize to you sharing your story of salvation or a simple invitation to join you at church. I saw this again just recently when Ashley and I were eating breakfast with our daughter Hannah and her two children Claire and Riley. Since we were about to pray for our meal, I asked our waitress if there was anything for which we could pray for her. She smiled, paused, and then said, "Yes. Please pray for my one-year-old sister who is starting chemotherapy treatments." I told her we would be sure and pray for her sister, and then I asked for her sister's first name. Our waitress literally began to cry, told us she was sorry, and walked away. Later, she returned, and we were able to minister to her and pray for her sister.
There are people that you will encounter this Christmas Season who do not have the joy of knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior... and that is where you and I come in! We are God's messengers of hope and salvation. Like the angel who spoke to the shepherds, we have the privilege and responsibility of sharing the greatest news ever: Jesus has come!
Thanks for reading these devotions this week on Christmas Joy. We now have over 11,000 people receiving these daily devotions and our weekly podcast episodes through the Danny Forshee Evangelistic Association (DFEA). Our team is grateful for you for all your prayers and support! May God richly bless you this wonderful time of the year!
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