He shall be great

This question might be amongst the first upon the lips of a new mother or father as they look down upon their newborn. 

Many revelations were made to the young woman Mary; several no doubt confounding and intimidating. We can imagine some only became clear through the “pondering” of her heart, maybe even over years. What was “the sword” that would pierce through her heart (Luke 2:33-35), which she heard of when the child was about two months old (Leviticus 12)? Did she fear this was what was coming whilst fleeing Herod (Matthew 2:13-23)? Yet all this seemed to pass early in her motherhood and years of quietness followed. Who knows what conversations the child and His mother might have had over the years, even as He had with the teachers at the age of twelve. Likely, these revelations became clearer to Mary, the closer Calvary came. 

Despite this, many of the most delightful promises come with certainty. He shall be a Nazarene. He shall be called the Son of the Highest. He shall save. Isaiah prophetically foretells concerning the same One; “He shall be exalted and extolled – and be very high”. 

Amongst them all, in masterful understatement, “He shall be Great”. 

Amongst rulers, historians might argue Alexander of Macedon had made this title his own. Herod the Great held such a title in Mary’s generation. To each, this title meant grandeur of architecture, policy and polity, military rule, and personal glory. To the latter especially, it meant the destruction of opposition, and cruelty where such opposition seemed to linger. 

From Bethlehem there comes One following a pattern of a different Kingly line. David was the greatest King that Israel had known, and God had recognised – he becomes the pattern and precedent for the Messiah (Hosea 3:5) who will be installed by God, as a ruler and shepherd (Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24-25). 

Micah speaks of this Great Davidic King as a shepherd who will feed His people (Micah 5:3). Fittingly, like David before him, He comes from the least of His tribe (5:2); out of little Bethlehem Ephratah will in fact come forth to God the ruler of Israel. He does not need to be drawn, nor does He appear after fruitless searching – He ‘comes forth’ with omniscient timing and perfect anticipation. He comes ‘to God’ for Divine anointing, like David before Him. Is this simply David reappearing? No – the subject of this prophecy has His pre-existence in the days of eternity itself. This will be Deity upon the throne; the Eternal taking a pre-set place in the timeline of history. He as the promised Messiah will restore His people’s faithful remnant and will stand, and feed as a shepherd in the strength of the Lord, and “in the majesty of the Name of the Lord His God”. 

Micah continues to speak of Assyrian foes, and Gentile forces generally. These forces were (and are) mighty in number, but the land who had Nimrod ‘the mighty hunter’ as its figurehead (Micah 5:2, Genesis 10:9-10) will see that with Christ in place, the remnant of Jacob will be amongst that horde, like a lion amongst the flock (5:8). How fitting a picture for this Davidic King! No longer defence of the flock against the lion, but His flock itself is lion-like amongst the Gentile antagonists. Yes, Micah says – He shall be great unto the ends of the earth. 

Luke records the angelic reassurance to Mary as she is directed forward to the future conception, birth, and plan of God for the announced child. Micah foresaw the Shepherd; the angel records the accompanying truth – the one to be born, is a Son. In one sense, He will be Mary’s son: “you will conceive in your womb… and bring forth… and shall call His name Jesus”. All the process of childbearing will be involved – and the honour of obediently and legally assigning to Him the God-endorsed name of Jesus fell to that small family. 

In another sense, He will certainly be David’s son. As such He is heir – his lineage proves it also (Matthew 1, Luke 1) – and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of his father David. He will reign upon the throne over the royal household, and His kingdom shall have no end. Historically, David’s sons ultimately made poor stewards of the throne. Despite Solomon’s ‘golden years’ it was not long before the lineage had seemingly petered out, fractured the kingdom and taken away captive in ignominy. 

Here, Mary is told, is One who will be given the throne to keep; He is the Son of the Highest. Isaiah spoke of this Son; the government is safe upon His shoulder. His counsel is wonderful; He is Almighty God; He is Himself the Father of Eternity, and the Prince of Peace. 

This is no heir who squanders an inheritance – His government and its peace will increase endlessly. He orders it and establishes it – its administration is put in place by Him and forever upheld. But the means to this is not by cruelty, nor by the paranoia of a Herod; His methods are justice, and righteous, for ever (Isaiah 9:6-7).  

Whilst Micah looks back into the days of eternity for the origin of the Shepherd, Luke’s record stretches forward to eternity for the reign of the Son. With such a scope, even the inspired scripture itself prefers to understate: “He Shall be Great”. 

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Scriptures:

Micah 5:2-8

Luke 2:25-33

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