As 2015 slinks toward the finish line, it is readily apparent that everywhere one looks people are desperately searching for someone or something to save us from our deepest dreads. 

In the Middle East whole populations are lifting their eyes to see if the United States will enter the world war with enough seriousness to halt the ISIS genocide.  Europe faces millions of displaced Muslim refugees who threaten to overwhelm what is left of the old Western culture and its democratic institutions. Economic instability shadows the prosperity of nations. 

And in America unrest in the cities and corruption in the highest levels of government have ignited a smoldering anger and its accompanying anxiety.  Leaders appear hapless and maddeningly unresolved in what course to follow.

In those places where people yearn for a Deliverer, there abide those who resolutely resist such a one, for his appearance would force them from the lairs of power and its benefits.  Their motives are not disinterested or altruistic, for these are the possessors of the perks, the rulers of their fellows, be their fiefdoms great or small.  The danger with “saviors” is that they may be merely one more, albeit with greater success than their peers, who arise from the class of the oppressors.

But two thousand years ago an angel from God announced to shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem, “Do not be afraid; for behold I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a savior who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)  Billions of people the world over have taken those words to heart and have looked to Christ to save them, to deliver them from the sin and sorrows of this world.  For the downcast of the world’s teeming hordes the angel’s message has indeed been good news.

However, we have too easily tended to make the Savior’s birth into a sentimental tale that has lost its bite.  It has morphed into a sweet story of a crowded inn and a stable and a tender mother with visits by shepherds and wise men.  Poets have composed glorious music and we have overlaid the observance with trees and tinsel and gifts and family togetherness—all the things that touch our hearts and either make us sad or make us glad.  But is this story real?  Was the true savior of the world actually born at Christmas?

There is one word in Luke’s account that anchors it in truth.  It may be a word that you have overlooked as you have read it or heard it recited.  First, recall that Luke is generally regarded as the preeminent historian of ancient times.  In commenting on his work and its process he says, I have “investigated everything  carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order.”  He included interviews with “those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses.” (Luke1:2-3)  For historians interested in determining the true history of long ago, an account like Luke’s is of inestimable value. 

The word that locks the birth in real time is found in the sentence following the angel’s announcement.  “Suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host.” (v 13)  It is the word ”host” that demands our attention.  It is a word that immediately dispels the image artists have given us of angels wearing white gowns and sprouting large feathery wings and floating in the air.  The word “host” is a military word.  It means “army.” 

What the shepherds reported seeing was a strong detachment of soldiers standing before them which a moment before had been invisible to them.  These angels would have been outfitted in the battle uniforms, brandishing the weapons, of that day.  For us, we might picture special forces troops in camo battle fatigues with combat helmets, body armor, and  fully automatic weapons.  Luke says the shepherds were “terribly frightened.”  Not surprising.

The question now rushes to the forefront: Why were the angels of heaven outfitted in battle gear?  The answer, clearly, must be that this was no peaceful night.  It was an invasion, or the precursor of one.   They were on guard to repulse an enemy counterattack.  This small detail causes us to realize that the baby lying in a manger was in grave danger from those whom his very existence threatened to dislodge from their seats of power. 

That’s the stuff of reality. 

Read the account by Matthew to see that within weeks or months shock troops dispatched by Herod the Great, five miles away in Jerusalem, rampaged through the streets of Bethlehem slaughtering the male babies of that town in the vain effort to kill little Jesus.

A savior, for all the hope he brings to millions, will always be opposed by the power elite, by the establishment.  It is ever a struggle to the death.  Indeed, thirty-three years after his birth, Jesus’ enemies captured and crucified him.  So we ask, why did his angelic protection fail at that critical moment?  The answer is that Jesus called them off. 

He said to his followers, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will not at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”  (Matthew 26:53)  Twelve legions are equal to 144,000 angel warriors.  The Romans had one legion of soldiers occupying Israel.

Why did he call them off?  Because he intended to die so that he might bear the divine punishment for the sins of his people.  Then he rose from the dead.  The saving hope that he offers is that any person who comes to him, yearning for a savior, and believes that Jesus Christ is that savior, may be forgiven and granted eternal life. 

All by God’s gift! 

This is the central fact of Christmas. 

And it is locked in the concrete of reality. 

“Joy to the world!  The Savior comes!” 

And will come again, probably pretty soon.

Dr. Rick Perrin is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and Chairman of the Board of World Reformed Fellowship..  He writes a weekly blog called ReTHINK which may be accessed at www.rethinkingnews.wordpress.com. He may be contacted directly atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..