In Luke 2:11 the angel gives three titles to who this child is and, in the Greek, there are no articles as seen in the words, “a, who is and the” so that this literally reads: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David” Savior, Christ, Lord! This newborn was to be:
• Savior: Someone confronting all sin of all the world who alone has the regal authority to redeem all fallen humanity.
• Christ: Someone that can confront all that sin has unleashed upon humanity in the world that is witnessed in the chaos of civilizations since the fall. He alone will have the leadership and authority to set right the Kingdom of God.
• Lord: Someone who will not only confront all of humanity through all time but will also be able to unite all peoples of all time for all eternity.
The “Good News” has not come forth in God sending an edict nor was Good News pronounced upon these shepherds and all of humanity in the announcement that God was sending a soldier, judge, or reformer…NO
He sent a Savior to meet humanities greatest need. In the infamous “Pax Romana” or “Roman Peace” had been in place since 27 BC but God in “those days” sent a Savior to save humanity from the world’s peace!
Epictetus the Stoic philosopher over a hundred years later would write, “While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy. He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace.”
The Jews longed for “shalom” or as we would say “PEACE” but that word to them meant far more than a truce in the battles of life. It meant well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness and completeness. The word as the Jews understood it has more to do with character than in does circumstances. Life at that time was like life today: Taxes and unemployment were high while morals and morale was low. Roman law, Greek philosophy and even Jewish religion could not meet the need for peace that humanity’s heart longed for. But God sent Jesus who was born, Savior, Christ, Lord!!