We very easily romanticise the shepherds of biblical times, but their lives were hard and dangerous, and they were often disreputable characters at the bottom of society. Yet it is to men like this that the Lord granted a great revelation of the coming of Christ into the world.
1. Saviour
Throughout the OT the Lord is shown to be a God who saves, e.g. in delivering Israel from Egypt, but especially in providing salvation from sin (Ezekiel 36:25). Salvation is God’s work. When the angels announce that the Saviour is present on earth in the form of a human baby, they are telling us that God himself is present. ‘Immanuel’ (Isaiah 7:14) means ‘God with us’. In this Saviour God is present in a new way, sharing our nature (John 1:14). He has come ‘to save sinners’ (1 Timothy 1:15). What is the nature of this salvation? The Gospels show that Jesus is concerned for the whole person – healing the sick and forgiving sin. He does both for the man in Mark 2:1ff. The miracles are signs of his identity and the work he came to do. The healings point to a day when sickness and death will be no more. He performs a work of re-creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The first step is the forgiveness of sin – Matthew 1:21. Unless our spiritual condition is addressed, the other aspects of our transformation are impossible. Our deepest need is salvation from sin. Jesus has come so that we may have life to the full (John 10:10).
2. Christ
‘Christ’ = ‘Messiah’ = ‘Anointed One’. Jews were looking forward eagerly to the coming of the Messiah and the angels bring the news that he has come, but not the kind of Messiah many hoped for. The OT speaks of 3 anointings that tell us about Christ’s work:
(i) Prophet. Prophets were (occasionally) anointed, e.g. Elisha (1 Kings 19:16). Prophets brought God’s word of revelation, a task accomplished fully and finally in Christ (Hebrews 1:2). Through him and his appointed apostles we have God’s final word to us.
(ii) Priest. All priests were anointed (Exodus 29). The priest’s main task was to offer sacrifices, especially the High Priest’s taking the blood of atonement into the Most Holy Place once a year (Hebrews 9:7). Jesus was both priest and offering (Hebrews 9:12). He actually accomplished what the animal sacrifices symbolised. He dealt with the sins of his people by taking the burden upon himself (2 Corinthians 5:21).
(iii) King. As anointed king he is ‘Lord’ –
3. Lord
Though often merely a polite form of address, on occasions ‘Lord’ has a deeper meaning, translating the OT covenant name of God, e.g. in Thomas’ confession in John 20:28. In Jesus the kingdom of God has come in a new way because the King himself is present (Mark 1:15; Luke 11:20). A royal Messiah has come to save his people. As eternal Son he was always Lord. Now, as incarnate Son, crucified and risen, he wields universal power (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22). He presently reigns and will return in royal glory to judge the world and complete the salvation of his people. All will confess ‘Jesus is Lord’ (Philippians 2:11).