The Lord of Christmas

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Luke 2:11 is the only place anywhere in the Bible where the three titles, “Savior,” “Messiah (Christ),” and “Lord,” are used together. Before Christ was born God used His earthly name, which is “Jesus.” He told Joseph to call Him “Jesus” because it is the Greek translation of the name, “Joshua,” which means, “God is our salvation.” But now that He has been born, God uses His heavenly titles, “Christ the Lord.” Some translations of the Bible translate the Greek word, “Christos,” – which gives us the word Christ - as Messiah. Either way it is translated, the word literally means, “The anointed one.” Anointing is the way that kings would begin their reign.

For thousands of years, the Jewish people had been looking for a Messiah. They had been looking for that Deliverer that God had promised from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15). They had been looking for the One that the prophets foretold. The light of faith that had burned brightly for many years had just about flickered out. The Jewish people, for the most part, had lost hope that there would be anyone who could bring them out from under the hand of the Roman Empire. They didn’t understand that this Messiah was far greater than a political Messiah; He was a spiritual Messiah.

Through that baby in the manger God looked at the world – particularly the Jewish people – and said, “I made a promise and I kept it.” One day, the entire nation of Israel will bow down at the feet of Jesus and realize He is the Messiah they have been waiting for. The Messiah has come. He has been born and He has been crucified. He has risen and is coming again. He is not just the Savior of the world and the Messiah of the Jewish people…He is the Lord of the universe.

The word “Lord” refers to someone who is in complete control, who has absolute authority and answers to no one. He is under nothing or nobody. He is over everything and everybody. Jesus Christ is the Lord of Christmas. At Christmas, you don’t leave the baby in the manger. That baby is the promised Messiah of the Jewish race. That baby is the Savior of the world; and that baby is Lord over all.

Dear Lord, I don't want to take your titles lightly. I want to feel the weight of what it means that you're my "Lord." Help me not to skim over that words without recognizing it's meaning and the comfort that is to be found in it. In Jesus' name, amen.