The Savior Is Born

LUKE 2:1-16

THE title of today’s lesson is most appropriate, and very significant. Throughout many hundreds of years God’s prophets had been foretelling’ the coming of the Messiah, and outlining the blessings which would ultimately result from his redemptive and kingdom work. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,” wrote Isaiah, “and the government shall be upon his shoulder. … Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.”—Isa. 9:6,7

But now the plan of God, as centered in the Messiah, had progressed beyond the mere promise stage. Promises continued to be made by the New Testament servants of God, it is true, but for those whose hopes were centered in the messianic purpose, God’s promises had begun to be fulfilled—the Savior was born. This was the great difference between the declaratic of the angel to the shepherds and the many inspired utterances which previously had cheered the hearts of God’s people.

It was Christ, the Messiah, who was referred to as the “seed” of Abraham in the promise made to that faithful patriarch, and through that “seed,” he was assured, all the families of the earth were to be blessed. It was Christ, as the future King of earth, that David referred to in the assurance that he would rule “from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” (Psa. 72:8) In every reference to this One who was to come, the assurance was given that his blessings would extend world-wide. And the message of the angel was the same. The messianic blessings were still described as being global in scope—glad tidings of great joy which shall be unto “all” people. But the difference was that now the Savior was born. Promises were beginning to change into reality.

The Apostle John explains just what it was that occurred when Jesus was born—the “Word” was made flesh. (John 1:14) Due to an inaccurate translation of John’s explanation, many have been led to believe that it was God himself who was made flesh, but this was not the case. The “Word,” or “Logos,” as it is in the Greek language, is described by John as being “a” god, while Jehovah, the Creator, is identified as “the” God. The Logos, who was in the beginning with God, and who participated in the work of creation, is described as the Only Begotten of the Father, the Son of God; and it was the Son of God, not God himself who was made flesh.—John 1:1,2

The Apostle Paul explains that Jesus was made flesh “for the suffering of death”—or, in other words, that he might die as the Redeemer and Savior of the world. (Heb. 2:9) In his prehuman existence he was a spirit being, therefore could not be a corresponding price for Adam, and through Adam, for the race that lost life in him. It is this that explains why, when Jesus grew to manhood’s estate and entered upon his service for God, his ministry was such a short one, terminating in death, the cruel death of the cross. It was for this purpose of death that he had come into the world, and when that purpose was about to be consummated he cried, as he died upon the cross, “It is finished.”—John 19:30

But it was only this sacrificial phase of his ministry that was there finished. Much that had been implied in the angelic announcement of his birth remains yet to be fulfilled. His birth has not yet meant good tidings of great joy unto all people, nor has it resulted in peace on earth. This does not mean, however, that the divine purpose as centered in Jesus has in any measure failed, or even been delayed.

Many have mistakenly supposed that since the death and resurrection of Jesus the accomplishment of the remainder of the divine plan as centered in him has been left in the hands of his followers, and that it is because these have been measurably unfaithful to their trust that the world has not been converted, and that lasting peace has not come to the nations. But this viewpoint is wrong! True, God gave his people the opportunity of co-operating with him in the accomplishing of his purposes, but regardless of their faithfulness, his plan has steadily progressed toward a victorious completion.

God has not been trying to convert the world during this Gospel age. He has not been attempting to rule over the nations since the first advent. His work has been the gathering and selection of a people for his name, a people to be associated with Jesus during the time when his kingdom is actually ruling in the earth, and when peace will actually be established. This work of gathering and perfecting the church is now nearly accomplished, and soon the angelic song of peace on earth will become a glorious reality in the experience of all mankind.

Failing to realize just how the angelic announcement of the birth of Jesus is actually to be fulfilled in its entirety, some have mistranslated part of it in an effort to make it fit circumstances as they see them. For example, the expression, “On earth peace, good will toward men,” they have translated, “Peace on earth among men of good will.” And now, nineteen centuries after the birth of Jesus, there are so few people of good will in positions of governmental authority that there is very little peace on earth.

But this is not what the angelic host said, nor what they meant. They prophesied “peace on earth” because, through the birth of Jesus, God’s good will was being expressed toward men—his good will, or love for humanity, as reflected in his wise and loving plan to bless all the families of the earth through Jesus whom he sent into the world to be the Redeemer and King of mankind. When we understand and appreciate this great truth of the divine plan, the birth of Jesus and the angelic message of peace and good will should mean more than ever to us. It should, indeed, bring great peace into our own hearts even now, and we should give thanks to God that he has thus expressed his good will toward us and toward all mankind. Yes, thanks be to him for his “unspeakable gift.”—II Cor. 9:15

QUESTIONS

What was one of the essential differences between the angelic announcement of the birth of Jesus, and the many promises which previously had been given concerning his birth?

Who was Jesus in his prehuman existence, and why was it necessary for him to be made flesh?

Is the translation, “Peace on earth among men of good will” a true interpretation of what was meant by the angelic announcement of Jesus’ birth?

Whose good will is referred to in the expression, “Good will toward men”?

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