10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The very fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem is telling of how God decided to reveal the Savior. Micah 5:2 tells us about Bethlehem: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.“

Like today, people in the 1st century weren’t expecting a hero to come from no name parents, born in a no name town. Heroes are supposed to be strong, charismatic, and visibly powerful. One of my favorite characters in all movies is Batman. Batman is a billionaire by day, and come nighttime he turns into a powerful caped hero who saves the city of Gotham by his mere strength, technology, and shear power. When the city of Gotham is in trouble they expect Batman to rise to the occasion and save them.

First century Israel was looking for someone to sweep in and take over the Roman Empire, and establish an earthly kingdom. They were expecting you could say, a hero like Batman. One who could come to destroy their enemies. What they didn’t know is that the child born in Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger did come to destroy their enemy, just not the Romans. The enemy this child came to defeat was humanity’s greatest enemy, sin and death. Jesus was born in an unexpected town to unexpected parents for a seemingly unexpected mission. Like first century Israel, people in the 21st century seem to expect their savior to be something other than a baby born in a lowly manger.

That baby who is Christ the Lord is the only true hero of the universe. The only place we can look for hope in our hopelessness, Christ The Lord… When our battles seem unbeatable, we trust Christ The Lord… When loneliness sets in, we know we have a friend in Christ The Lord… The fears in life often cause anxiety, but there is peace in Christ The Lord… Pain and suffering is a present reality, but those will one day forever be no more in Christ The Lord!

On this Christmas day, celebrate the unexpected King, Christ The Lord!

Merry Christmas