Christmas Blog 1 - The Sovereign, the Servant and the Saviour

I really enjoy the Birth Stories, the accounts in Matthew and Luke describing the coming of the Saviour. They are simple and straightforward narratives, but constantly filled with wonder and surprise as The Great Event unfolds. Every year I look forward to renewing my acquaintance with the central characters, those ordinary, humble, godly men and women: Mary and Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth, and especially Simeon and Anna.

My thoughts this year have focussed on the story of Simeon and his meeting with the proud new parents in the Jerusalem Temple (Luke 2:25-34). By my reckoning this takes place about 40 days after the actual birth of Jesus, but I think we can still call it part of the Christmas Story. I am drawn to Simeon’s prayer in v29-30: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation…’

Here we find three important strands drawn together – the Sovereign, the servant and the Saviour. This blog will concentrate on the person to whom Simeon directs his prayer, and his understanding of the God he so evidently worshipped and adored: the Sovereign Lord.

In Britain we are used to the notion of a sovereign who reigns because we have one, Queen Elizabeth II. She holds her position by right because of her royal descent. However, she does not rule because she has no authority to change anything. That part belongs to the Prime Minister who through Parliament can introduce laws and govern the country; but he of course does not reign because he is elected to office and can be voted out whenever there is an election. It is unusual for any one person to reign and to rule. Indeed, we can say that only God has such authority for he in both Sovereign (he reigns) and Lord (he rules).

The notion of the sovereignty of God is a fundamental belief of Christianity. In essence it means that God is in control of everything that happens, in the world of nations, in the church, and in our individual lives. He does this whilst still allowing us freewill, and by weaving together individual events (which may seem random) and a multitude of personal choices (which may not always be wise) into his overall plan and purpose. As God says through Isaiah, ‘Surely, as I have planned, so will it be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand… For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?’ (Is 14:24,27)

As we survey the various happenings in the Birth Stories there is a very real sense of God superintending and orchestrating events, like a director arranging a play, or a football manager employing match-winning tactics, or a chess grandmaster moving his pieces strategically. Things are not happening by chance but by divine design. Scriptures written long ago are being fulfilled before our eyes. A powerful Roman emperor makes a decision that causes God’s will to come to pass through the ensuing chaos and movement of thousands of people. Angelic activity increases dramatically as important news is communicated, and people have disturbing dreams that shape their responses. A star supernaturally appears in the heavens to herald a major event and provide expert guidance for distant travellers.

It is not just that these things happen, but that they happen together, according to a timetable. God’s plan has been set for centuries but in this moment it is coming to pass, when the world is ready. As Paul says, ‘But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son…’ (Galatians 4:4) We are watching the Sovereign Lord at work, skilfully placing together the various pieces of the jigsaw.

But what does this have to say to us? It means firstly that our own lives are not at the mercy of chance or fate, but that there is a Guiding Hand overseeing seemingly haphazard happenings in our own circumstances. Yes, God is working out his plan for us, in his own time and in his own way, and we can rest in the knowledge that he is in control and knows what he is doing.

It means secondly that we need to live with patience, waiting for the timing of God. There is a right time for God’s promises to be worked out in our lives, and he will neither hurry nor delay. We must learn to adjust ourselves to the divine timetable.

Thirdly, if God truly is the Sovereign Lord, and if we recognise him as such, it means we must yield ourselves to his authority. We must happily take our place as his servants, and allow him to govern our lives. That was the way Simeon lived, and it is the way all who worship the Christ Child should live too. This will be the theme of our next posting.