God in the Manger by John MacArthur

Author:John MacArthur [MacArthur, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jesus Christ - Nativity, Religion, Christian Life, General, Holidays, Christmas & Advent, Christian Theology, Christology
ISBN: 9780849955570
Google: 1URxmz-Ra-wC
Amazon: 0849955572
Barnesnoble: 0849955572
Goodreads: 1510371
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2001-10-08T00:00:00+00:00

Just how widespread is this joyous good news? Is it for only the favored few or restricted to just the educated elite? We know that’s not true if the angel appeared to the lowly shepherds and confirmed the pervasiveness of the gospel by telling those ordinary men that it “‘will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord’” (vv. 10–11).

“All people” refers primarily to the people of Israel, because salvation was first promised to God’s people, the Jews. That night God was delivering and ratifying the New Covenant in fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Davidic promises, and He knew the shepherds would have a general understanding of the covenant concept that God was the Redeemer of Israel.

But the expression “all people” encompasses far more than just the nation of Israel. Eight days later, the aged Simeon uttered these prophetic words as he held the baby Jesus in the Temple: “‘For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel’” (Luke 2:30–32). That statement expands the angel’s words and makes “all people” truly mean all people without distinction, namely, the Gentiles throughout the world. Isaiah indicated the same truth centuries earlier: “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord [Messiah] is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the

people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light” (Isa. 60:1–3; 9:2; 42:6; 49:6–9; 61:1). The prophet was describing the arrival and spread of the gospel. From the beginning of God’s plan, the gospel of Christ went to Israel first and then through Israel to all the nations.

The pervasiveness of the gospel, however, also includes an individual aspect. The angel told the shepherds that Christ the Savior had been born “to you.” He could have said it this way: “The Savior has been born, and His salvation will be sufficient for everyone, and He will save individuals like you who repent and by faith embrace His work on the Cross.” The gospel is for the humblest and lowliest, the most uneducated and unskilled, the most despised, even the worst of sinners. The Son of God, the One born as a baby that special night, came as the Savior for the shepherds and everyone who believes.

THE PERSON OF THE GOOD NEWS

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