The incarnation of Christ means that the Son of God took on himself our flesh so that he might clothe us with his glory. He came down among us that he might lift us up to where he is. His coming fulfilled the prophecy of the coming of Immanuel, “God with us.” God drew shepherds to worship the infant king who would reconcile sinners to their Creator. Luke chapter 2 gives us a divine sign of redemption, inviting celebration of comfort and joy over the love of God lying in a manger.
In verse 6 we read, “The time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger.” An angel identifies the child for us in verse 11: “He is Christ, the Lord.” Saying he is “Christ” refers to the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Saying he is the “Lord” means he existed before his birth in Bethlehem.
John makes this clear in his gospel. He begins his gospel with the words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The “Word” refers to Christ. John goes on to say, “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” The Old Testament begins with the words, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth.” John is saying that Christ was there with God, as God Himself, involved in the creation of the world. This is who the child lying in the manger is.
This is both wondrous and beyond our capacity to fully understand. Yet we must never forget who the Lord Jesus is. There was never a time he did not exist. He always has been and always will be. We drift away from him when we slight him and undervalue him. Before Jesus went to the cross, he prayed to the Father, “Glorify me with the glory we had before the world began.” He is the eternal Lord, nothing less.
Jesus is also the offspring of Mary. How can the eternal Son of God be found in a manger as a baby? He took to himself a human body and soul. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” He took to himself our nature (never to relinquish) in order to be a sacrifice for sin. Romans 8:3 says, “God sent his Son in the likeness of man to be a sin offering.” He was, and is, a true man. He had an umbilical cord. Mary felt him in her womb; she heard his first cry. He grew up like other children, yet without sin. He is our brother and our mediator with God.
The peace the angels sing of (verse 14) is because of who it is that has come. It is Christ, the Prince of Peace. He has taken up our case, pitied our plight. He came to make all things new for us, to destroy him who had the power of death (the devil) by his own death.
The angel says, “a Savior has been born to you.” John’s gospel harmonizes with this announcement and illuminates it further. In John 1:29, John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him and proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The lamb was the animal at the center of the Jewish sacrificial system. The sacrifice had to die. The person’s sin was symbolically transferred to the lamb, which was put to death for the guilt placed upon him.
How is Jesus a Savior? He is a sacrifice for sin. The sins of people are not symbolically but literally transferred to him. He “takes away” the sin of the world, John proclaims, meaning accepts possession of sin and carries it upon himself. To have Christ by faith, you must reach out and take hold of him in the same way you would take hold of a trustworthy brother who has promised you a great promise he is able to keep. Lord, save me from my sin; save me, Lord, from every sin.
What is the response of those who come to Christ? Luke tells us the shepherds left Christ “glorifying and praising God.” We are to exalt Christ, our Savior. Spurgeon tells the story of a lady weighed down by guilt, saying, “If Christ saves me he will never hear the end of it.” It was said of Johannes Milius that when someone merely mentioned the name of Christ his eyes would drop, so dear was Christ to him. Christ is the joy of a believer – the gift of salvation his consolation.
