WORSHIP CHRIST THE LORD

“For there is born to you THIS DAY in the city of David a SAVIOR, who is CHRIST the LORD” – Luke 2:11

Beloved, it’s another unique opportunity to join all of Creation to celebrate and WORSHIP CHRIST THE LORD: “For there is born to you THIS DAY in the city of David a SAVIOR, who is CHRIST the LORD” (Lk.2:11). A real Baby was born, whose Destiny was to be the SAVIOR, MESSIAH, and LORD. This momentous and real Event happened on a real Day and in a real City.

“For there is born to you THIS DAY…” JESUS was born on a day in history; not a day in some fabled, imaginary story. It was a day planned in Eternity before the creation of the world. Indeed, the whole universe – with ineffable light-years of space and billions of galaxies – was created and made glorious for this Day and what it denotes for human history. Paul the Apostle wrote concerning this day: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Col.1:16). This was the perfect day; the fullness of time – the perfect time appointed by God before the foundation of the world.

“For there is born to you this day IN the CITY of David…” The Babe was born in a city; not in Narnia or in a galaxy far away. It happened in a real city named Bethlehem, approximately six miles from Jerusalem: “…the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us” (v.15b). Bethlehem was the city where Jesse lived, the father of David – the great king of Israel. Bethlehem was the city that Micah prophesied over saying, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Mic. 5:2). The city still exists today!

Today we celebrate and worship our SAVIOUR that was born. In Matthew’s gospel, the angel said to Joseph, “You shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mt.1:21). Only God can forgive sins against God; hence God sent Jesus, His eternal Son into the world. Being God, Jesus could say: “The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” (Mt. 9:6).  

Today we celebrate and worship CHRIST – Messiah. Christ is the English for Christos, which means “Anointed One,” which is the meaning of “Messiah” (Jh.1:41; 4:25). This is the long-predicted, long-awaited, Anointed One: “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions” (Psa.45:7). He is the final Anointed King; the final Anointed Prophet; the final Anointed Priest. In Him all the promises of God are Yes (2 Cor.1:20).  

Today we celebrate and worship Christ the LORD – the Ruler, the Sovereign, the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Lord of the universe. The prophet Isaiah extolled Him like this: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa.9:6).

One angel could bring the news of the Saviour’s birth, cast out fear and release tidings of Great Joy (vv-9-10). But, one angel was insufficient to respond to the news, “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, goodwill toward men!” (vv.13-14). It’s an honour for us to join the multitude of the heavenly host to worship our Great SAVIOUR, CHRIST and LORD, born on a real day, in a real city, to save us from real sins. Even “the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen…” (v.20).