Read: Psalm 90; Isaiah 1:24-31; Luke 11:29-32
To the small band of shepherds living out in the fields around Bethlehem and watching over their sheep, the sudden appearance of an angel of the Lord proclaiming the birth of Jesus must have been a life-changing experience. Luke tells us that as the glory of the Lord shone around the angel, the shepherds were terrified.
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” ~ Luke 2: 10-14
A baby lying in a manger seems like one of the most innocent things one could imagine. The songs written about it, and manger scenes artistically drawn of the baby Jesus often depict Him lying quietly (sometimes silently) in a bed of hay as animals, shepherds, and kings bow before Him and bring gifts while at the same time Joseph and Mary gaze lovingly down at Him.
This humble, gentle king was not what everyone had been expecting. As Israel had waited for the Advent of their coming expected Messiah they had thought they would be getting a king who would overthrow the government of their oppressors and who would sit on the throne of David.
So where was the king foretold by Isaiah 9?
“For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.” ~ Isaiah 9:4-5
J.R.R Tolkien coined the term “Eucastrophe” in his essay “On Fairy Stories” The definition for the term he gave was:
“Eucastrophe (eu-cas-tro-phe): A sudden and favourable resolution of events in a story; a happy ending.
“The birth of Christ is the eucastrophe
of Man’s history
The Resurrection is the eucastrophe of the story
of the Incarnation.
This story begins and ends in joy.
It has pre-eminently
the ‘inner consistency of reality.’
There is no tale ever told that men would rather
find was true, and none which so many
skeptical men have accepted as true
on its own merits.
For the Art of it has the supremely convincing
tone of Primary Art, that is, of Creation.
To reject it leads either to sadness or to wrath.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien further stated:
“The birth, death and resurrection of Jesus means that one day everything sad will come untrue.”
That day will come when our King returns in his full glory.
Do not be led to think simply because Jesus came the first time as a helpless baby, that He is not the King promised in the scriptures. The shepherds who fell down terrified before the glory of the Lord heard the message of joy proclaimed to them by a “heavenly host”.
this “host” is actually a term for Army, and it means that the multitude of angels who pronounced the joyous birth were warriors in the army of the Lord.
In C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” Susan finds out from the Beavers that Aslan, the king who all of Narnia has been waiting for to return, is “on the move”.
“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…”Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” ~ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Isaiah proclaims that the child who was promised will also be King,
“For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” ~ Isaiah 9: 6-7
Jesus who sits on the throne is a King who is not safe, but He is good. The same army that pronounced the Saviors’ birth will also accompany Him as He returns to judge the world on the last day.
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” ~ Revelation 19: 11-16
This terrifying image of a returning king riding in judgment is a warning to the enemies of God, but for those who call on the name of the Lord, and await the Advent of the returning King it is a terrible, awesome, wonderful, joyful thing when everything sad will come untrue.
I imagine as the angels sang “glory to God” at His first Advent, at the return of the King, we will sing something like Handel’s Messiah which so beautifully bridges the promises of Isaiah and Revelation.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world, is become The Kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. King of kings, and Lord of lords. Hallelujah!”
Blessings,
Jory
Reformed in Tualatin 