What Does The Christmas Story Mean For You And For Me?

“And the angel 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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 (Read Luke 2:1-20)

We know the Christmas story. We know that, in fulfillment of ancient prophecies, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem and laid in a manger. But what does this historical event mean for us today? Is it just a quaint story to be repeated each year at Christmas time? Or, does it have meaning for us each and every day of our lives?

To answer these questions, I draw your attention to the announcement of the angel of the Lord to the shepherds in the field outside Bethlehem on that night of Jesus’ birth. What did the angel say? We consider his words, for he bore the very word of the LORD God to the shepherds.

The angel of the Lord first said: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” After quieting the shepherds’ fear — and who wouldn’t be afraid if suddenly, in the middle of the night, an angel appeared and the glory of the LORD God Himself shone around them? — the angel said to the shepherds that he brought them good news of great joy, which shall be to all people. The message wasn’t only for the shepherds, it is for all people. It is for you and me today! And, as the angel said, it is good news and brings great joy to those who hear and believe the angel’s announcement.

And what is that good news? “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” On that very day, in Bethlehem, the city of David, a Savior was born!

The long-awaited Messiah and Savior from sin and eternal death and damnation had been born. The Seed of the woman promised in Genesis 3: 15; the Seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who would be a blessing to all nations; the Son of David who would rule over an eternal kingdom; the Child promised in Isaiah 7 and 9; the Root of Jesse; the Ruler promised in Micah 5; the Redeemer of Israel promised in Psalm 130 — all this was fulfilled in this Child born in Bethlehem.

And who is this Savior? The angel says He is “Christ the Lord.” He is the LORD’s Anointed, the Messiah; He is the LORD God Himself come into this world a true man to fulfill God’s law in our stead and to bear the punishment for the sins of all and rise again in victory.

He is true man, born of Mary, that He might take our place under the law and fulfill it for us and that He might take our place under the judgment of God and bear our punishment. And, He is true God that His holy life and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross would be sufficient ransom for the sins of all the world. Cf. John 1:1-14, 29; Gal. 4:4-5; Col. 1:14-23; Rom. 5:12-21.

What does this mean to you and to me? Why is it good news to us? Why does Christ’s first coming give us reason to rejoice and be filled with joy? Because atonement has been made for our sins. The just punishment demanded by God’s law for the sins of fallen mankind was satisfied in Christ’s blood, shed on the cross!

— Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible. Devotion is by Randy Moll. He may be contacted by email at rmoll@nwadg.com. More of Moll’s devotional writings are freely available at https://goodshepherdonline.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.