Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Introduction

It's Christmas Season and it's called the most wonderful time of the year. Without a doubt, Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year. It is the most wonderful time of the year not because of Christmas lights and Christmas trees. It's the most wonderful time of the year not because of snow, silver bells, mistletoes, holiday sales and bargains, gifts and parties and family gathering or reunion. As great and wholesome as some of these are they are not what make Christmas the most wonderful time of the year. What makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year is the fact that it is a fulfillment of God's promise of a Saviour. 

God from the very beginning had promised a Redeemer and it's found in ...

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This promise was fulfilled in...

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5: To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Our text is the fulfillment of that promise...

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Let me just remind you that Christ is not Jesus' last name. In the olden times, the way they identify a person is they either attached right next to the name who their father was or where they live or what they do. So we read in the Scripture: "Jesus of Nazareth" or "Jesus, son of Joseph" or "Jesus Christ". Again, Christ is not His last name, it is His title. It is like calling someone a teacher or a doctor. So when we say "Jesus Christ," we are describing His identity: "He is Jesus the Christ."

This title is very significant because if you and I are to be saved we must believe that Jesus is the Christ. 

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

In order to be saved, and in order to receive eternal life, we must believe that Jesus is the "Christ".

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Those who have been born again by the Spirit of God believe that Jesus is the Christ.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ is a liar and when you deny that Jesus is the Christ you are also denying the Father and therefore rejecting the great salvation that is found in Christ alone.

But now the question is what does the title "Christ" mean? 

If eternal life comes to those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, it is important for us to know what the title "Christ" means. Another word for "Christ" is "Messiah" or "Messias"..

John 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 

John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

The word "Messiah" is rooted in a verb that means to anoint. Therefore, when the New Testament speaks of Jesus Christ, it is saying "Jesus the Messiah," which literally means, "Jesus the Anointed One."

In the Old Testament, there are three offices that God sets up in leadership for His people - the prophets, priests, and kings. They were anointed with oil into the offices to represent God and reveal God to His people. While the three offices were each exercised by a different person in the OT, all three offices are united in the one Person of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ alone held and still holds the three offices at the same time. He is the Prophet, Priest and King.

Please note carefully what Andrew, Simon Peter's brother said in...

John 1:41b ... We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 

He said, "we have found 'the' Messiah." Not just any messiah, the Messiah. We have found the Prophet, the Priest and the King! These three offices were all completely and perfectly fulfilled in Christ.

This morning consider with me this threefold office of our Lord Jesus Christ. And as we focus our attention on how Christ perfectly fulfill this threefold office, may we have greater appreciation for what Jesus Christ has done and what He continues to do for us.

I — The Prophet 

The responsibility of the prophet is to represent God with man. He is the spokesman for God to man. He speaks to man in behalf of God. God, instead of speaking directly to the people He gives His word to the prophet and in turn the prophet delivers the word of God to the people. So a prophet is one who speaks God's word to man. 

There are several aspects to a prophet's calling. First, the prophet must know God and His Word. From that knowledge comes the calling to proclaim the name of God and the will of God. That in its essence is the calling of a prophet.

Secondly, the prophet must faithfully speak the word of God. He is not to invent his message. He is simply to repeat what God has revealed to him. That's why when you read the Old Testament, you often read prophet's begin their message by these words, "Thus saith the Lord."

When we look at Jesus in the Gospel record, we see that this office of a prophet was completely and perfectly fulfilled in Christ. He is the perfect Prophet. 

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2: Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

God in the past spoke to His people through prophets but this time He spoke to His people through the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, "the" Prophet. The Lord Jesus Christ the incarnate Word of God. He is the perfect Prophet who manifests fully that which the Father reveals to Him. 

What is so amazing is that not like the other prophets, Jesus was not just the bearer of the message from God but He Himself is the message. He doesn't just declare the word of God He is the Word of God.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

While all the Old Testament prophets would begin their proclamation by the statement, "Thus saith the Lord," the Lord Jesus could say with authority and begin His teaching with the amazing statement, "But I say unto you".

The Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect Prophet. 

II — The Priest 

Just like the prophet, the priest was the spokesman. He is the spokesman for man to God. He speaks to God in behalf of man. But while the responsibility of the prophet is to represent God to man, the responsibility of the priest is to represent man to God. He represents man in the presence of God. The main responsibility of a priest is to offer sacrifice and intercede for the people. He offers sacrifices, prayers, and praises to God on behalf of the people.

There needed a priest to mediate between guilty sinners and a holy God. We are unable to approach God directly, there must be a mediator. There must be an advocate. 

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Now when we look at Jesus Christ, we see that this office of a priest was completely and perfectly fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is not just a priest; He is the perfect Priest. He completely and perfectly fulfilled the responsibilities of the priest. How?

1. He offered Himself as a sacrifice 

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

The sacrifice that Jesus offers is not that of sheep and bulls and goats but the sacrifice that He offers is the sacrifice of Himself. 

It was a perfect sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:14 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13: From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14: For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

One problem with the old order of priesthood was that they had no perfect sacrifice, so they had to continually and repeatedly day after day, year after year, offer sacrifices. But Jesus is a priest who offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice that never needed to be repeated.

In His once offering up of Himself a sacrifice satisfied divine justice, and reconciled us to God.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

No more sacrifice is necessary for Jesus completely and perfectly fulfilled the responsibilities of the priest.

2. He continually makes intercession for us 

Romans 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 

To intercede is to make request in behalf of another. Christ is the great Master of requests in heaven. 

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

He exercises this function of His priesthood in heaven, where He is said to appear in the presence of God for us. He is the perfect priest and the perfect mediator now and forever.

III — The King 

The king in the Old Testament ruled over the people as God's representative but it was not an absolute rule. The king of Israel does not have absolute authority. He does not make his own law. He rules under God. He receives his office from God and he is called to exercise his kingship under the law of God. He is to exercise his office to manifest the justice and the rule of God Himself. 

We know that none of the kings in Israel were perfect. The closest model of kingship in the Old Testament is David but even David himself had his imperfections.

But now we see Jesus. Jesus is not only the Prophet, not only is He the Priest, but He is also the King. 

Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

Acts 2:20 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

And so when Christ was born, the wise men knew that He was born King. 

Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

In fact He is crucified because of the claims to be King.

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

When Christ said, I came into the world to bear witness of the truth, He was in effect saying, "I am a King." He has a throne, a crown, a robe, a scepter, a government, kingdom and law and He possesses supreme power and authority. 

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

The Lord Jesus Chirst is not just a king He is the King. He is the King of kings! 

Revelation 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

I Timothy 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14: That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16: Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

He sits at the right hand of God and to sit at the right hand of God is to be in the exalted position of power and authority.

Today people do not acknowledge Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords, but there is coming a day "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:10-11)

Revelation 15:11b ... The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Closing Thoughts

Why do we need a Messiah? We need a Messiah because we have a very serious problem and that problem is a threefold problem. The Bible clearly teaches that we are fallen sinners ruined by this threefold consequence of our sins, namely, ignorant, guilty, and corrupt. In light of this threefold problem we need a threefold solution. What we need is a prophet, a priest, and a king. We need a prophet to teach us and deliver us from our ignorance, we need a priest to offer sacrifice for our sins and intercede for us to deliver us from our guilt, and we need a king to reign and rule over us and to subdue the great enemy of our soul. And in God's wondrous and amazing grace that is exactly what He provided in Jesus Christ. The sinner needs a Messiah. The one person who fulfills that is the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ is fulfillment of the long promised Messiah. 

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

The Messiah had already come. The waiting is over. You can stop searching because we know the Messiah had already come. But don't miss the phrase "for unto you". It is true that Jesus came to the shepherds, to Israel, but understand that it is for you that He came. God sent His only begotten Son to be born for you, for any and all who will call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Have you called upon His Name? Have you by grace placed your faith in Him as your Messiah? Do you acknowledge Him to be your Prophet to teach you; the Priest to intercede for you; and the King to reign and rule over you? You must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and upon believing you shall have eternal life!

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

For those who have believed, may you respond in worship and adoration, faithfulness and greater service, greater boldness and passion in spreading the good tidings of great joy! 

AMEN!