Note that this message was preached at a Christmas service ... so is shorter than the rest in the series.
Message
Luke 2:11
Name Above All Names - Christ the Lord
Today on this Christmas day we are continuing to look at the names of Jesus in the early.
We have been looking at these names through advent.
Thinking about names gets you to think about all sorts of names … and on this Christmas Day a name that is commonly used is “Santa”.
But when you start to think about it Santa can be just a little bit creepy.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you’re sleeping … how does he do that?
He knows … he knows … when you're awake … is he following me?
Is he looking in the window.
He knows if you've been bad or good … has he been looking at my Google search history?
Santa Claus.
He breaks into your house.
Leaves all his stuff behind.
Steals your milk and cookies.
Then disappears without a trace.
Isn’t that just a little creepy?
Yet, at this time of year his is the name on everyone’s lips.
Which is such a shame. Especially when we have such a powerful name that we can hold onto at this time of the year.
Let’s read the true story about the birth of Jesus … the one who is the reason for the season.
Luke 2:1-20
What is the name we want to focus on? The name in Luke 2:11.
Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Christ the Lord is the name.
That is a powerful name.
A name with a really long and really important history.
The connection starts way back in history with the Old Testament figure known as the Messiah or the Christ.
In the Old Testament the Messiah is known as “the anointed one”.
Anointing means to put oil onto someone and to set them apart for a specific task.
That is what Messiah means. That is what Christ means. It means “Anointed.”
Those who are anointed are people who are in special relationship to God.
In the OT there are a number of people who are anointed.
Kings were anointed.
The patriarchs were anointed.
So were priests and prophets.
Even Cyrus, the Persian king, is anointed.
All of these people were anointed and they had a special task … and a special purpose.
The purpose the anointed one was to rebuild the relationship between God’s people and God.
And that is the purpose of the Messiah. To rebuild relationships between God and His people.
He does this in a variety of ways.
As the anointed one the Messiah is often described as a warrior.
Someone who comes and defeats all the nations.
Someone who comes to rule over the Gentiles.
Someone who comes to destroy the enemies of God’s people.
Someone who comes with authority to re-establish the spiritual life of Israel.
In the time of great distress he will bring about newness, and peace … the Hebrew people call it Shalom.
Shalom … there is not really one good translation but it means “peace in every aspect of your life no matter what is going on around you, no matter what the circumstances, no matter how crazy the world has gone.” That is Shalom.
The Messiah has come to bring this.
Everything around me can fall apart.
Everyone around me can fall apart.
But I am ok because I have a relationship with the Messiah.
Shalom is the highest level of relationship we can have. Which is why the Messiah is so important. Indeed the Jews keep looking for such a person.
By the time it came to the days of Jesus there was this huge expectation.
The anointed one would wage the messianic wars, defeat Israel’s adversaries, restore the nation and priesthood, and rule on a universal scale.
The Romans would be kicked out.
Jerusalem would be central to God’s kingdom.
Peace would come.
The Messiah means victory.
The Messiah means restoration.
The Messiah means renewal.
The Messiah means relationship
All of these concepts were attached to the name.
BUT … unfortunately the expectations of people in Jesus day were all wrong.
The Jews didn’t fully understand what they were looking for.
Jesus is Christ the messiah … but he is Christ the Lord.
Christ the anointed had come.
Luke makes this point … or more specifically the angels make the point … in a very specific way.
You can find the title of Jesus the Lord, or the Lord Jesus Christ, very frequently.
But Luke here calls the baby in the manger "Christ the Lord." Or, "Messiah the Lord."
This is a word combination that occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.
He is Lord.
When you think of Lord you see that the point Luke is making is that the anointed one comes as one who has power … for that is what a Lord is … one who has power.
And when you have power you can make life happen however you want.
Those with power can put themselves into positions of authority.
Those with power can cover-up crimes and hide.
Those with power have the ability to give themselves the best.
That is what we think about when we hear about power and authority. Someone who has the power to do whatever they want.
This is the Messiah – Lord.
Double power. Double authority. Double might.
How does Jesus use all this power?
His parents were a couple engaged in a small, backwater, town which nobody ever went to for holidays.
His birth-suit is a stable full of animals and smelling of manure.
There is no doctor, or pain relief or hand sanitiser.
His family status is low and poor.
No wealth. No luxury. No status.
No-one in authority makes a claim for him in their lineage.
And the spiritual leaders of the time disown him.
He is Christ … full the of power. He is Lord … full of authority. And he is barely recognised.
By acting in such an unexpected way this baby in the manger comes to bring about an unexpected transition.
To bring about … yes authority … but authority over sin.
Authority over sin. And even authority over death.
To bring people to himself by dying as a condemned criminal.
To bring peace by hanging on a cross.
To bring security in God by leaving behind an empty grave.
Which is why his name is so necessary.
He sees you when you’re sleeping …
And when you are crying and alone.
And when you are afraid and you think no-one else cares.
When you have all the range of emotions and all the pain … he sees it.
He knows when you're awake …
And when you are fearful and afraid.
And when you doubt and are about to give up completely.
He knows if you've been bad or good …
He knows even the deepest secrets of your heart.
He knows the stuff and the sin that you don’t even know exists.
And he still loves you.
Then he breaks into your heart.
He leaves behind his Spirit.
He gives you everything you need for this life and the next.
And then he stays. He never disappears. He never goes.
That is the Christmas Story.
The Messiah … the Lord.
Using his power … yet born into a situation of complete humbleness and complete lowliness.
So that we can have Shalom.
A real peace that comes from having a real relationship with Jesus.
My prayer today for you is this.
May Shalom be the greatest gift you experience on this Christmas Day.
Prayer
