Newsletter December 2022 Part 2

The Sign of His coming

 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  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 Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)

     When the angel of the Lord announced the sign of Messiah’s birth to these shepherds they would have understood.  Being responsible for tending the flocks in the country surrounding Jerusalem that were raised to meet the constant demand for animal sacrifice, this announcement of a child in a manger would have reminded them of the choice lambs they would separate from the flock and wrap in cloth.  This was to prevent them from incurring any injury that might lead to their rejection by the priests upon inspection.  Hearing the words of the angel, these shepherds realised the connection: the birth of the promised heir to David’s throne was, at the same time, to fulfil prophecy in the book of Isaiah of the one who would give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of God’s people. (Isaiah 53 and Acts 8:32-33).  This child, born like King David in the ‘Daughter of Zion’ Bethlehem (Micah 4:8 and 5:2) yet unnoticed by the religious elite who were anticipating Messiah’s coming, would grow up to fulfil all that was written in the holy scriptures (Luke 24:44-46).  Dying as a sacrifice for sin before rising from the grave, He would finally ascend and be seated at the right hand of His divine Father in majesty until His return to rule on earth, visible to all the world. (Acts 1:11)

     Having seen the child in the stable with His parents, the shepherds went about sharing the good news with everyone they met and glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen. (Luke 2:18-20) Mary, meanwhile, kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  As she recalled the words the angel Gabriel had spoken to her (Luke 1:31-33), she now had to reconcile the joy of giving birth to the promised Messiah, of whose kingdom there would be no end, with the notion that one day she would see her son suffer and die. 

     Later, when Mary and Joseph took the child to the temple to offer the sacrifice required for the birth of their firstborn, the prophet Simeon blessed Him and, referring to His future rejection and crucifixion, said to Mary “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35) We then read on how, at the age of twelve, Jesus sat in the temple with the teachers, discussing the scriptures with them so that all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. (v. 36)   As the family return home to Nazareth, we again read, Mary kept all these things in her heart. (v. 51)  

     Later still, after Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension to the heavenly Father, the Apostle Peter wrote (1 Peter1:18-31) you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.  Jesus was examined by the religious leaders, Herod and finally Pilate, but no blemish could be found in Him.  Yet He was falsely accused and unjustly judged as a sinner, so He could become our perfect sacrifice for sin. 

     When you consider in your heart the child in the manger, what do you see?  When you reflect on His birth, on His life and teaching, and on His death and resurrection, who is He to you?  Do you recognise and confess Him as your sacrifice for sin and Lord of your life?  Will you take up your cross daily and follow Him, no matter what others may think? Will you share with them the hope that is found only in Jesus?  Or will you be ashamed of Him and His words and find that He too will be ashamed of you on that day when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23)