Recently I read about a man who was teaching a children’s Sunday School class. On this particular Sunday he was teaching the story from Luke 4 about Jesus being rejected by the people in his hometown of Nazareth. He told his students that when Jesus attributed Isaiah 61 to Himself—He was in effect making His announcement that He was the Messiah. The teacher wasn’t sure if the kids were getting him until one of the little too “worldly wise” boys in the class asked, “Do you think the devil said the “SH” word when he heard Jesus say this?”
His question is one to ponder and muse on because, quite frankly, I wonder what that old serpent made of that first Christmas. Did he have a clue? Had he figured out the incarnation? Was he behind the “no room in the inn” agenda running through Bethlehem? Without a doubt he had it figured out by Matthew 2 when he incited Herod to slaughter all the baby boys of Bethlehem under two. But could it be that Lucifer, the angel of light, had been completely in the dark about the Messiah being safely protected as a baby in Mary’s womb?
If so, it wasn’t long before he was enlightened by his righteous angelic counterparts who visited the shepherds in the hills above Bethlehem the night the Messiah was born. There, where shepherds grazed their flocks of lambs probably born and raised to be sacrificed at Passover the angels sang their song announcing the birth of the One to Whom all these little white lambs were pointing.
I’m pretty sure that by the time the angels finished their song, Satan must have known what was up. The Prince of Peace had invaded his turf and Satan’s days as the Prince of this World were numbered. God had made His entrance into His own creation quietly and stealthily as a baby Who was “pleased now as a man with men to dwell.” And He would without a doubt and at great cost save his people from their sin. As the glow on the hillside faded and the shepherds headed down to the manger to welcome this One Who was self-destined for the Cross where He, as The Sacrificial Lamb” would crush the devil’s head and free believer’s from their sins, I imagine the devil knew his end was in sight. And I have a feeling that he said the “SH” word. (Based upon and adapted from a story told by Betsy Childs)
His question is one to ponder and muse on because, quite frankly, I wonder what that old serpent made of that first Christmas. Did he have a clue? Had he figured out the incarnation? Was he behind the “no room in the inn” agenda running through Bethlehem? Without a doubt he had it figured out by Matthew 2 when he incited Herod to slaughter all the baby boys of Bethlehem under two. But could it be that Lucifer, the angel of light, had been completely in the dark about the Messiah being safely protected as a baby in Mary’s womb?
If so, it wasn’t long before he was enlightened by his righteous angelic counterparts who visited the shepherds in the hills above Bethlehem the night the Messiah was born. There, where shepherds grazed their flocks of lambs probably born and raised to be sacrificed at Passover the angels sang their song announcing the birth of the One to Whom all these little white lambs were pointing.
I’m pretty sure that by the time the angels finished their song, Satan must have known what was up. The Prince of Peace had invaded his turf and Satan’s days as the Prince of this World were numbered. God had made His entrance into His own creation quietly and stealthily as a baby Who was “pleased now as a man with men to dwell.” And He would without a doubt and at great cost save his people from their sin. As the glow on the hillside faded and the shepherds headed down to the manger to welcome this One Who was self-destined for the Cross where He, as The Sacrificial Lamb” would crush the devil’s head and free believer’s from their sins, I imagine the devil knew his end was in sight. And I have a feeling that he said the “SH” word. (Based upon and adapted from a story told by Betsy Childs)
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