Christmas According to the Shepherds and Wisemen

Last week we talked about how crazy it must have been for mary and Joseph with the Christmas story. And we walked through everything leading up to the actual birth of Jesus

Tonight we are continuing that story.

The Birth

Luke 2:6–7 (NIV)

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Now remember they had traveled to Bethlehem out of their home town for the Census, at the time Bethlehem was a town of approx 300-500 people. So probably not a whole lot of hotels in that area, and remember that King David was from Bethlehem so there were probably a lot of people traveling to Bethlehem just for the Census

Luke 2:8–12 (NIV)

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

So we see that the first people to find out about the Birth of Christ other than mary and Joseph of course were shepherds.

What was a Shepherd

We know what a shepherd was right. They watched the sheep and made sure that they were safe.

However did you realize that a shepherd was actually looked down upon in that society

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Graeco-Roman Uses of Shepherd

Aristotle speaks negatively of the shepherd when he writes that among men, “the laziest are shepherds, who lead an idle life, and get their subsistence without trouble from tame animals; their flocks wandering from place to place in search of pasture, they are compelled to follow them, cultivating a sort of living farm”

So we see that these people that had come to Worship Jesus did not necessarily have the highest regard. I dont know what we would equate that to today, however they would not be the ones invited to an A list hollywood party

These shepherds however may have had a very important job. It is believed that these shepherds were actually protecting the lambs that were to be used for the sacrifices during Passover

Luke 2:15–20 (NIV)

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Which is a really cool transition, we see that they go from watching the animals used for sacrifices to worshipping the one who will become the final and perfect sacrifice.

so we can see that God didnt limit himself only to the powerful but in fact the first to know about his birth was actually very lowly.

However we know that the Shepherds were not the only ones to visit Jesus.

Matthew 2:1–2 (NIV)

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Who were the Wisemen

Where was their Journey?

We done really know where the Wisemen came from, but we do know that they first stopped in Jerusalem.

Why would they stop in Jerusalem?

Thats where they would assume a King would be found, in the capital city.

Matthew 2:3–6 (NIV)

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

We also know that the Wisemen or magi were of great enough social standing to get before King Herod. So these would be the ones that are almost completely opposite of your Shepherds.

We also know that they would study the stars and from history we know that they were heavy in believing in Astrology. Which is part of why they noticed the star so quickly.

Matthew 2:9–12 (NIV)

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Now the thing with the Magi, we dont really know that they were ever truly believers in God. We dont know where their story ends other than they go back to their home country. Scripture tells us that they worshiped Him however we dont know the why behind their worship.

What does this mean for me?

God doesnt care what your social status is.

God will meet you where ever you are.

God showed Himself to the Magi through what they were already worshiping.

3. the Why matters

The reason behind why you do things matters just as much if not more than what you are doing. Jesus showed us this time and time again in dealing with the pharisees.