"who Was That Masked Man?"

We all probably at one time or another have seen the old TV show “The Lone Ranger.” He always rode in on that great white steed “Silver” accompanied by his faithful sidekick “Tonto.” He’d ride into town ready to deal with the “Do-Badders.”

Of course his identity was perfectly camouflaged by the black mask he wore, so as he rode away at the end of each episode, someone would scratch his head and say, “Who was that masked man?”

It amazes me how much a tiny little mask like that over the nose and around the eyes can change a person’s appearance. Why, I suspect that if he saw himself in the mirror he’d ask “Who is that masked man?”

One late night Marlene and I were still up and decided to watch a little television so we scanned around and found “The Lone Ranger” on an old television show channel. We both said, “What a bowl of corn.” But for the sake of the story we will just play along that indeed his mask could really veil his identity.

Speaking of a hidden identity, I recently heard this story. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into an old saggy, baggy robe and proceeded to wash her hair, and to put in hair curlers. Lastly, she put on a layer of white facial goop. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was that?

Too many people have no idea about who Jesus is. He came as God veiled in a Baby. He grew up to be Jesus of Nazareth, veiled as a simple carpenter’s son. But the song the ladies sang this morning said,

“Long time ago in Bethlehem,

so the holy Bible say,

Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ,

was born on Christmas Day.”

Who was that Baby Boy? God, masked, in a manner of speaking. Very few recognized that this child, Jesus, was the Christ. So we ask, “Who was that baby boy?” We might say “He was God incognito; God in disguise.”

People have had all kinds of ideas about Jesus.

• Some people thought He was a miracle worker using Satan’s power.

• Some thought He was demented.

• Some perceived Him as a threat to their religious traditions.

• Some of the religious leaders especially saw Him as a troublemaker who would upset the apple cart.

• Some of the religious leaders also viewed Him as a lawbreaker, a blasphemer, and misleader of the people.

• Some today think He was mythological, or a misled martyr, or an overzealous religious teacher, a good moral man, a sterling example of right living.

• When Jesus asked, “Who do people say I am?” the disciples answered, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:13-16 (NASB).

This Baby Boy, God incarnate and incognito, concealed His identity from those who were unwilling to see and recognize Him as the Christ, the Messiah, THE Son of God. He was not at all like the Messiah they anticipated, so they didn’t recognize Him for who He really was and is.

Not a typical Christmas text, but I have chosen a Scripture today that clearly “unmasks” and identifies the person we have come to know as Jesus. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB)

A carol asks, “What Child is this?” Of course we have the benefit of knowing, through God’s word, exactly Who He was, or rather, Who He is.

I. HE IS THE ONE WHO EMPTIED HIMSELF FOR US:

A. “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself.” The word, “empty” means to void something or to deprive of benefit or authority. So in emptying Himself, He temporarily voided or deprived Himself of the benefit and privilege of being in heaven equal to God.