Unto you a Savior
“He
shall grow up before Him as a tender
plant.” Isaiah 53:2.
The King of glory stooped low to
take humanity. Rude and forbidding
were His earthly surroundings. His
glory was veiled, that the majesty of
his outward form might not become an
object of attraction. He shunned all
outward display. Riches, worldly
honor, and human greatness can never
save a soul from death; Jesus
purposed that no attraction of an
earthly nature should call men to His
side. Only the beauty of the heavenly
truth must draw those who would
follow Him. The character of the
Messiah had long been foretold in
prophecy, and He desired men to
accept Him upon the testimony of the
word of God.
The angels had wondered at the
glorious plan of redemption. They
watched to see how the people of God
would receive His Son, clothed in the
garb of humanity. Angels came to the
land of the chosen people. Other
nations were dealing in fables and
worshiping false gods. To the land
where the glory of God had been
revealed, and the light of prophecy
had shone, the angels came. They came
unseen to Jerusalem, to the appointed
expositors of the Sacred Oracles, and
the ministers of God’s house.
Already to Zacharias the priest, as
he ministered before the altar, the
nearness of Christ’s coming had
been announced. Already the
forerunner was born, his mission
attested by miracle and prophecy. The
tidings of his birth and the
wonderful significance of his mission
had been spread abroad. Yet,
Jerusalem was not preparing to
welcome her Redeemer.
With amazement, the heavenly
messengers beheld the indifference of
the people whom God had called to
communicate to the world the light of
sacred truth. The Jewish nation had
been preserved as a witness that
Christ was to be born of the seed of
Abraham and of David’s line;
yet, they knew not that His coming
was now at hand. In the temple, the
morning and evening sacrifice daily
pointed to the Lamb of God; yet, even
here was no preparation to receive
Him. The priests and teachers of the
nation knew not that the greatest
event of the ages was about to take
place. They rehearsed their
meaningless prayers, and performed
the rites of worship to be seen of
men, but in their strife for riches
and worldly honor, they were not
prepared for the revelation of the
Messiah. The same indifference
pervaded the land of Israel. Hearts
selfish and world-engrossed were
untouched by the joy that thrilled
all heaven. Only a few longing to
behold the Unseen. To these
heaven’s embassy was sent.
Angels attend Joseph and Mary as they
journey from their home in Nazareth
to the city of David. The decree of
imperial Rome for the enrollment of
the peoples of her vast dominion has
extended to the dwellers among the
hills of Galilee. As in the old time
Cyrus was called to the throne of the
world’s empire that he might set
free the captives of the Lord, so
Caesar Augustus is made the agent for
the fulfillment of God’s purpose
in bringing the mother of Jesus to
Bethlehem. She is of the linage of
David, and the son of David must be
born in David’s city. Out of
Bethlehem, said the prophet,
“shall He come forth… that
is to be ruler in Israel; whose
goings forth have been of old, from
the days of eternity.” Micah
5:2, margin. But in the city of their
royal line, Joseph and Mary are
unrecognized and unhonored. Weary and
homeless, they traverse the entire
length of the narrow street, from the
gate of the city to the eastern
extremity of the town, vainly seeking
a resting place for the night. There
is no room for them at the crowed
inn. In a rude building where the
beasts are sheltered, they at last
find refuge, and here the Redeemer of
the world is born.
Men knew it not; the tidings fill
heaven with rejoicing. With a deeper
and more tender interest, the holy
beings from the world of light are
drawn to the earth. The whole world
is brighter for His presence. Above
the hills of Bethlehem are gathered
an innumerable throng of angels. They
wait the signal to declare the glad
news to the world. Had the leaders in
Israel been true to their trust, they
might have shared the joy of
heralding the birth of Jesus. But now
they are passed by.
God declares, “I will pour water
upon him that is thirsty, and floods
upon the dry ground.” “Unto
the upright there ariseth light in
the darkness.” Isaiah 44:3;
Psalm 112:4. To those who are
seeking for light, and who accept it
with gladness, the bright rays from
the throne of God will shine.
In the field where the boy David had
led his flock, shepherds were still
keeping watch by night. Through the
silent hours, they talked together
about the promised Savior, and prayed
for the coming of the King to
David’s throne. “And lo,
the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them: and they were sore
afraid. And the Angels said unto
them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people. For unto you
is born this day in the city of David
a Savior, which is Christ the
Lord.”
At these words, visions of glory
fills the mind of the listening
shepherds. The Deliverer has come to
Israel! Powers, exaltation, triumph,
are associated with His coming. But
the angles must prepare them to
recognize their Savior in poverty and
humiliation. “this shall be a
sign unto you,” he says;
“Ye shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes lying in a
manger.”
The heavenly messenger had quieted
their fears. He had told them how to
find Jesus. With tender regard for
their human weakness, he had given
them time to become accustomed to the
divine radiance. Then the joy and
glory could no longer be hidden. The
whole plain was lighted up with the
bright shining of the hosts of God.
Earth was hushed, and heaven stooped
to listen to the song,
“Glory
to God in the highest,
And on
earth peace, good will toward
men.”
Oh that day the human family could
recognize that song! The declaration
then made, the note then struck, will
swell to the close of time, and
resound to the ends of the earth.
When the Sun of Righteousness shall
arise, with healing in his wings,
that song will be re-echoed by the
voice of a great multitude, as the
voice of many waters, saying,
“Alleluia: for the Lord God
omnipotent reigneth.” Revelation
19:6.
As the angels disappeared, the light
faded away, and the shadows of night
once more fell on the hills of
Bethlehem. But the brightest picture
ever beheld by human eyes remained in
the memory of the shepherds.
“And it came to pass, as the
angels were gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to
another, Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing which
is come to pass, which the Lord hath
made known unto us. And they came
with haste, and found Mary, and
Joseph, and the babe lying in the
manger.”
Departing with great joy, they made
known the things they had seen and
heard. “And all they that heard
it wondered at those things which
were told them by the shepherds. But
Mary kept all these things, and
pondered them in her heart. And the
shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God.”
Heaven and earth are no wider apart
today than when shepherds listened to
the angel’s song. Humanity is
still as much the object of
heaven’s solicitude as when
common men of common occupations met
angels at noonday, and talked with
the heavenly messengers in the
vineyards and the fields. To us in
the common walks of life, heaven may
be very near. Angels from the courts
above attend the steps of those who
come and go at God’s command.
The story of Bethlehem is an
exhaustless theme. In it is hidden
“the depth of the riches both of
the wisdom and knowledge of
God.” Romans 11:33. We marvel at
the Savior’s sacrifice in
exchanging the throne of heaven for
the manger, and the companionship of
adoring angels for the beasts of the
stall. Human pride and
self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His
presence. Yet, this was but the
beginning of His wonderful
condescension. It would have been an
almost infinite humiliation for the
Son of God to take on man’s
nature, even when Adam stood in his
innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted
humanity when the race had been
weakened by four thousand years of
sin. Like every child of Adam He
accepted the results of the working
of the great Law of heredity. What
these results were is shown in the
history of His earthy ancestors. He
came with such heredity to share our
sorrows and temptations, and to give
us the example of a sinless life.
Satan in heaven had hated Christ for
His position in the courts of God. He
hated Him more when he himself was
dethroned. He hated Him who pledged
Himself to redeem a race of sinners.
Yet, into the world where Satan
claimed dominion God permitted His
Son to come, a helpless babe, subject
to the weakness of humanity. He
permitted Him to meet life’s
peril in common with every human
soul, to fight the battle as every
child of humanity must fight it, at
the risk of failure and eternal loss.
The heart of the human father yearns
over his son. He looks into the face
of his little child, and trembles at
the thought of life’s peril. He
longs to shield his dear one from
Satan’s power, to hold him back
from temptation and conflict. To meet
a bitterer conflict and a more
fearful risk, God gave His
only-begotten Son that the path of
life might be made sure for our
little ones. “Herein is
love.” Wonder, O heavens! And be
astonished, O earth!
