The Sylvr Pen

“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” (Micah 5:2, NKJV).

Another prophecy fulfilled. And how did that come about? Did the players contrive to make that happen? Hardly!

Caesar Augustus thought he was in charge when he sent out a decree requiring everyone to be counted and taxed, each in the town of his own family’s heritage. This forced Joseph and Mary, who was “great with child,” to make the rough journey to “the city of David,” which we can imagine was the last thing they wanted to do at that particular time.

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born” (Lk 2:6, NIV).

That’s how it came about. Which teaches me an important principle:

Man makes his plans, but God’s really in charge. Even “the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases” (Pro 21:1, NIV).

When things seem out of control—or rather in the control of even unscrupulous people with seemingly more power than they know how to use rightly—God is nevertheless in charge. He is relentlessly bringing about His purposes, just as He did in the workings of that long-ago, long-prophesied event. And what a purpose that was! Praise to God for the Savior Who was born in that little obscure town, just as the He had promised!

When those angels appeared before those shepherds, all those years ago, they erupted in praise most glorious to the God Who was making miracles happen (Luke 2:13-14). What form did their praise take: song, quiet collective murmurs, or cheers and shouts of praise? The text only tells us what they said while they did this praising–and that it was glorious!

Most people think of the angels as singing–and for good reason. Song, for so many humans, serves as the most expressive way to praise the living God. One way or the other, such a surprise chorus on a previously darkened hillside would have electrified the shepherd’s souls.

That was a once-in-a-double-millennium event. But even today surprise events of erupting praise to God do happen, even in America, even at malls like this one.

Enjoy! Maybe you’ll want to join in. As you listen or sing along, remember and rejoice that “Hallelujah!” means “Praise Jehovah! Praise God!”

Where’s the line to see Jesus?”a little boy asks in this song a friend of mine linked in an email.

It’s a question a boy might have asked two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, as well.

Angels appeared to shepherds, and those shepherds left their flocks to go see the phenomenon the heavenly messengers announced: a baby, wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger (not an ordinary sight)–a Savior born to them! Joy unspeakable!

But we don’t read of crowds following, or even gathering around with them in their worship–only of the crowds being astounded. Did the shepherds keep the good news to themseselves? Not so. Luke 2:17 says they made it known–and most texts say “widely.”

Meanwhile, somewhere in the East, a strange star appeared to some Magi, and they began trekking to see the King whose birth they knew it announced. Following the star’s leading, they arrived in Jerusalem, where they asked for more specifics on where to find “him who is born King of the Jews” (a lot like the little boy at the mall in the song). Even though they made the mistake of inquiring of the jealous king then reigning there, he did call the scripture scholars of the time, who indeed were able to point out where the holy scrolls prophesied this King would be born. But, again, did any of these scribes go to Bethlehem to see and worship Him themselves? The Bible gives no record of that happening.

As for Jerusalem’s general populace, instead of making a worshipful scramble to Bethlehem to see this wonder,”all of Jerusalem” was troubled, along with King Herod, over this news of a (competing) newborn king (Matthew 2:3). Whatever the reason, it doesn’t appear that any long line of people wove through Bethlehem, seeking to see and worship Jesus, back in the time of His fleshly appearance, any more than today.

Let’s just be sure we line ourselves up–especially our hearts–to “see Jesus” in the holiday, in the season, this year.

Why did He come, the Christ Child? One of the reasons is wrapped up in another of His names: the Lamb of God.

Already in these pre-Christmas posts several names have popped up referring to the same person:

The Word             Seed of the Woman

Immanuel             The coming King

Jesus                      Christ

Messiah                 (and I may be missing one or two more…)

Do these and other aliases give you a problem? We’ve already pondered “the Seed of the Woman” and “the coming King.” But does Matthew’s report that Mary named her baby Jesus seem to contradict Isaiah’s prophecy that she would call Him Immanuel?

It helps to know that these and other Bible names for Jesus wrap around an important concept: Names in the Bible had much more importance and wider use than in our time and culture. They often served as a means to convey qualities of a named person, sometimes even to advance a story or serve as a key point of it. Characters in the book of Ruth give a fascinating example of this. Many Bible prophecies also played on the meanings of people’s or places’ names, often sarcastically. Jesus Himself called people by new names with important connotations: Simon he renamed Peter, meaning rock or stone, James and John he labeled “the sons of thunder,” and Herod he called “that fox.” All these indicated personal characteristics. Likewise the many names of Jesus show us aspects of His essential nature.

Note what Matthew wrote in his account of the angel instructing Joseph not to be afraid to marry Mary: First he reported the angel’s words, “That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins.” then immediately afterward he proclaimed, “… all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying…’Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.'” Matthew obviously saw no contradiction in these two names. Immanuel expresses the idea of “God with us” (here, in incarnated form), and Jesus (according to Strong’s Concordance) comes from a compound of two words meaning “Jehovah” and “saved.” So the reason for this name is clear. “… for He will save His people from their sins.” This underlines the appropriateness of another name for Jesus: “Savior.” Jesus’ whole purpose in coming to be “God with us” was to save us from our sins.

We’ll consider the meanings of other names for Jesus as they come up in future posts. As we do, let’s revel in what they emphasize about the One who came to earth to take the form of a human baby two millennia ago. Praise be to Jesus the Savior, “God with us” long ago in His incarnation, and “God with us” now in the Holy Spirit and “even to the end of the age”–and thanks be to God the Father for His “indescribable gift”!