Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you . . .

. . . he is the Anointed one the Lord.

 

'Lord' – as far as I know this title isn't often used anymore outside of "proper" circles within the United Kingdom. It is a concept that we Americans lost long ago, or never had to begin with. It was commonly ascribed to one who was in authority, the head of a household, a husband, or a man with mastery in a certain field.

 

The announcement that God had sent his anointed one (ambassador, special envoy, messenger, son . . . however the wording helps makes the phrase less obscure) has such an unusual wording.

 

'. . . born to you. . .'

 

It could be interpreted as 'given to you'. Jesus, the son of God is 'given' to us? The norm would certainly indicate that leaders 'take' or 'assume' power. Leaders aren't 'given' to people . . . or are they?

This is one of the qualities of Jesus that is so subtly amazing. Unlike so many, he leads by example. He taught by example, and his life was an example that all mankind should follow. Love! Love your neighbor, love your enemies, love the down trodden, love the unlovable. Be patient, kind, humble. . .

Princes are born with much pomp and circumstance; kings come with ceremony and self promotion. Jesus came quietly . . . almost less than quietly. Born in the barn, he slept in the feed trough. His first years of life he was a refugee, later he was a manual laborer. Not a man of great wealth, or backing, or any sort of family name to capitalize on. He taught people to show the appropriate respect for the creator, and then live from the bottom up, rather than legislate from the top down. Pretty backwards for a leader!

Love and tend to each other in peace and humility and you wont have to rely on a government to regulate how you act! In many ways Jesus pushed a government by the people for the people.

God was saddened when Israel asked for a King instead of living in love and trusting God to tend to their needs. He warned of the oppression and disappointment that would follow the rule of man – power corrupts. Jesus came to remind us that there is a different way, a better way. And he came not just to remind us, but to show us!

 

So . . . unto us a child is born. . .

 

Happy Birthday Jesus.