The Journey to Bethlehem - The Shepherd's Journey

Introduction

This morning’s text brings us back to Luke 2 and the Christmas story. Last week, we considered Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. Their journey was one of useful service unto God.

Others also made the journey to Bethlehem. As we know, God revealed to a group of shepherds that His Son, the Messiah, was born there.

As for these shepherds, their journey did not start in some far town or village. In fact, Bethlehem was their home. No, their journey began with them heading out of town on the morning of the Savior’s birth. I imagine their day started as it always did. They gathered their sheep and led them down some dirt path they only knew existed. Their way led them and their sheep to soft grassy plains where they could graze. Later, as the sun began to set, they kept a watchful and guarded eye on their sheep. Perhaps they were conversing about whatever significant events were happening in their village affecting their families. I imagine the enormous throng of people coming into Bethlehem was a considerable part of their conversation. Perhaps, their discussion turned to the taxes and how unfair it seemed to be paying taxes to some distant Roman Emperor. As the evening wore on, they probably started a fire on which they could prepare their food. Then, shortly after dark, and as the sheep settled in for the night, they sat around that fire listening to the familiar sounds of the sheep. These were tired men who spent an enormous amount of energy keeping sheep. Slowly the toil of the day, the warmth of the fire, and the calm sounds of the outdoors settled them as they gazed into the night sky, ready for another night of watching sheep. There was nothing different about this night than any the night as they relaxed around their campfire. They were simple men doing a simple job seeking to provide for their families. They were not kings. They were not warriors. They owned no great wealth. As for spiritual things, they left those things to the priests and scholars. No, they were just shepherds going about their business of watching sheep.

That night turned out to be a far different one than they had ever known or experienced. For just as they were settling in for the night, Scripture records that without warning...

Luke 2:9KJV 1900

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.

How could they not be afraid? In an instant, their usual settling in for the night suddenly becomes a very tense situation. Out of nowhere, an angel shows up, and the night sky glows with God’s glory. These men are sitting by a fire under a night sky, and unexpectedly this angel appears with light shining all around them. I have been camping many times. I have even spent time hunting deer in the woods, coming out only after it is dark. If such an event happened to me, I can assure you that I would have to change my clothes afterward.

However, that is not all that happened. We know that the angel gives them a special message.

Luke 2:10–12KJV 1900

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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Now, remember, this has already been quite startling and very unsettling. These shepherds listen to this beautiful message the angel is giving them from God. Perhaps, they are starting to settle down a bit when...

Luke 2:13–14KJV 1900

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.

Now there is a whole multitude of angels all around them praising God.

Wow, talk about your rollercoaster of emotions. A huge part of me wishes I could have seen all those angels praising God.

As we know, they receive the message from the angel, other angels join him, and then we see the shepherds’ reaction.

Luke 2:15KJV 1900

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

There is no doubt that all this got their attention. Remember, they are one minute listening to the sheep and staring into the night sky. Perhaps their minds were already on the tasks of the next day. There was nothing different. It was the usual “ho-hum” average day. Then, in the next minute, everything changed for them. The angel’s message launched them on a journey back to Bethlehem. We do not know when they left Bethlehem. They could have left that morning or earlier in the week. Here is what we do know. They were headed back to Bethlehem, and it mattered not what time it was. Something unique had taken place in their home village, and they were going to check it. Thus, they were on a journey that altered their life. How do I know this?

Look at Luke 2:16-17

Luke 2:16–17KJV 1900

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

This incredible moment was a watershed moment for all of these shepherds.

A watershed moment is a turning point, the exact moment that changes the direction of an activity or situation. It is a dividing point from which things are never again the same.From this moment on, nothing was the same for these shepherds and the rest of the world.

I want us to see some key elements of this life-altering moment that propelled them on a journey back to Bethlehem. I believe these same vital elements can create a watershed in your life if you allow them. For you see, Christ’s birth leads to Christ’s death. When we consider His life, mission, and ultimate sacrifice, it was a watershed moment and still remains. In fact, all who will believe and accept what He has done for them will also have their life changed.

Here is the first element.

They Were Given a Profound Message of Good Tidings

Luke 2:8–12KJV 1900

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Note that the angel proclaims that his message is full of “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

What make the birth of Christ a profound message of “good tiding of great joy?”

The answer is found in John 1.

John 1:1–5KJV 1900

1 Inthe beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Just a few verse later in that same chapter, we read...

John 1:9–10KJV 1900

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

When it says, “that was the true Light” it refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, the little baby born in a manger in the tiny insignificant village of Bethlehem was the Light of the World. He was born into a world of darkness. He came as the Light to expose men’s sin, shame, and immorality.

In John 3:19, the Lord Jesus made another profound statement.

John 3:19KJV 1900

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

The awful reality is that we are evil people. We are born from the womb with a natural tendency to do what is wrong rather than right. Many claim that the world is becoming a better place. They back that claim by pointing to all the modern conveniences we have today. Yet, if you take a closer look at today’s society, you will find that men and women are not improving. Sin and immorality are ever-increasing. Just in my lifetime, we have seen the rise of more and more pornographic material in movies and on TV than ever before. We now have open fornication all around us. Language has degenerated. Violence has increased. We are not getting better. No, we are descending ever so quickly into the mirky darkness of sin and immorality.

God knew this. He knew the heart of men. For that reason, He acted with grace and mercy. He gave His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Sacrificial Lamb for our sins. He made way for us to be free of the darkness. He sent His Son as the Light of the World. The day Christ was born was full of good tidings of great joy.

In fact, go with me back to Luke 2:11

Luke 2:11KJV 1900

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

Not only was the message profound because it was one of good tidings, but it was also profound as it directed us to Christ.

God reveals three key names for Christ in this one verse.

He is Savior

What was so important about Christ’s birth? Why was it the most significant single watershed moment in history?

Matthew 1:21KJV 1900

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

This was the angel’s message to Joseph. This baby named Jesus came so that He might “save” people “from their sins.” He did just that. There was a day when the baby became a man. He became a man who was without sin. He then laid down His life upon a wooden tree made into a cross. As He did, His blood flowed freely as He shed an offering for our sins. His sole purpose for being born was so that He might die for us to live.

Isaiah 53:4–6KJV 1900

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He wasbruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Then note that in Luke 2:11, the baby is identified as...

He is Christ

Luke 2:11KJV 1900

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

Christ means “the anointed one.” It was an important name to the Jews of that day. For years, the Old Testament prophesied that a Messiah would come. He would fulfill all the promises and covenants God made with Israel. One of the great promises was that He would reconcile all men to God. In fact, as you study the Old Testament, all the sacrifices and customs of the Temple point to the coming Messiah. This was not lost on these shepherds. In fact, it is alleged that these shepherds were tending sheep meant for sacrifices at the Temple. They understood and knew the prophecies. Now, here stood an angel saying this baby born in Bethlehem, their village, was the promised Messiah. He was Christ, the “anointed one.”

And, then, note the third name given in this profound message.

He is Lord

Luke 2:11KJV 1900

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

The word “Lord” simply means master. However, we all know it carries more weight than a master or supervisor. The term “Lord” has been used for centuries to recognize royalty. Kings, princes, and wealthy landowners were consistently named “Lord.” Now, the angel is saying to the shepherds a “Lord,” a member of great royalty, was born in Bethlehem. How fitting that indeed was! If you remember, Bethlehem was home to one of the greatest kings of Israel to ever sit on the throne of Israel. It was home to King David. Now, a new king was born. He was, however, more than just a king. He was the king of kings. This baby born in Bethlehem was the Sovereign Lord of all the universe.

Philippians 2:5–8 KJV 1900

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

It was a profound message that night given to those shepherds, for it was a message proclaiming the Creator was now here. He had humbled himself by taking on the “likeness of men.”

Can you see how this message impacted these men? It was life-altering. In fact, it was earth-shattering.

They Witnessed a Magnificent Demonstration of God’s Great Glory!

Thinking back to that night, remember it was a night that began like any other night. It was a night of eery silence and a dead calm. These shepherds were not thinking about spiritual things. They were thinking about getting rest and preparing for chores the next day would bring. As we know, all was interpreted by a massive demonstration of God’s glory. A demonstration that was worthy of the King of Kings!

Demonstrated by the Angelic Message

Luke 2:13–14KJV 1900

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.

I would imagine it was one thing to be startled by one angel. Now, this one angel is suddenly joined by a “multitude.” The word “multitude” means there were so many it was too difficult to count them. These angels were part of God’s “heavenly host.” The word “host” means army.

Here is a thought! We often talk about how we are part of God’s army. How many times do we stop to think that this army includes God’s angels? These mighty messengers were now standing above these men proclaiming a wonderful message.

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men!”

Their message contained two distinct expressions centered around one central theme. The theme is all glory and honor must be given to God.

Why was this such a momentous occasion? You might say God’s glory was not manifest so that men could look upon Him and live even as sinful. This baby born in Bethlehem was no mere human being. No, this baby was God Himself. He was Immanuel, “God with us.” All that God had promised from the moment Adam sinned was put into motion with this seemingly lowly birth in a small insignificant village. At that moment, Christ bodily and physically entered our realm so that He might accomplish all that God intended for men. There was nothing more glorious than what God was doing at that moment. Thus, it was worthy of God’s great army of angelic beings filling the sky and singing praise unto God. That was the first expression. It was the message of God’s glory.

However, there was another expression uttered in their song that night. It was the expression of peace and goodwill toward men. The one thing that most people long for in this current world is peace. Everywhere and throughout all of history, men have clamored for peace. There is no peace when living a life of sin. It is a life of greed, jealousy, and constant want for more, leading to war and conflict.

James 4:1–3KJV 1900

1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Yet, that night, in a manger in Bethlehem lay the very Son of God Who is the only one who bring true lasting peace to men.

John 14:27KJV 1900

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

What about goodwill? Goodwill is an intentional action of benevolent favor. The most benevolent thing God could do for us is send us a Savior. That He did. He sent His Son so that we might live eternally.

John 3:16KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The angels demonstrated the wonderful and magnificent Glory of God with their heavenly choir. Yet, their message became the biggest demonstration of God’s great glory, for He was born so that we might have peace. It was an act of great benevolence to all men.

Here is my last thought about the shepherds and the heart of this message. Yes, the angels gave a great demonstration of God’s glory. However, I contend that the shepherds gave the most outstanding demonstration on that particular night. How is that? God’s glory was...

Demonstrated by the Shepherd’s Actions

Look again at our text quickly, and we will soon conclude.

Luke 2:15–18KJV 1900

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

What were the reactions of the shepherds? They saw and heard the message from the angels. They responded with curiosity. They quickly journeyed into Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, just as the angels said. It changed their entire lives. One minute they are settling in for another long night of watching sheep, and the next, they are standing at the foot of the Lamb of God. It impacted them so much they did not hesitate to tell others. They were spreading the news as fast and furious as possible. They cared not for what people thought of them. Their only concern is that others know that the Messiah is born. He is here. He has come to save men from their sins.

Here is the heart of this message. Christ has come. He came specifically to seek and save that which is lost. All of us are born into this old world already lost. We are born sinners out of fellowship with God. The evidence of our sin is our actions. We do not spend time teaching our children how to do wrong; they already know. What further proof do you need that God’s Word is true when it says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Because of our sinful nature, our destiny is already set. We are all destined for eternal separation in a place where God does not reside, and there is only pain and suffering. However, that is the reason we celebrate Christ’s birth. It is the reason the angels proclaimed it as a night of “peace and goodwill to all men.” That night, Christ came into this world so that He might one day go to Calvary. There on Calvary, He did what no man could do. He, as the sinless and perfect Lamb of God, willingly gave Himself as a blood sacrifice for our sins. In doing so, He made it so that we might again be righteous in God’s sight. Now, all a person must do is look to Calvary, see the Savior, and believe all He did for them on that cross. He did not just die; he was buried and rose again on the third day. The message of Christmas is the same message of Easter. Whenever a person admits their sin, acknowledges the penalty for their sin, and accepts all that Christ did in paying for the penalty, they can receive a wonderful gift. It is the gift of eternal life. A gift that ensures their place in Heaven with God for all eternity. However, Scripture is quite clear that to receive that gift, you must receive Christ.

1 John 5:11–13KJV 1900

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

May I ask you, if you have never called upon Christ’s name and believed all He had done for you, would you do so this morning? I cannot think of a better time of the year to accept Christ than at Christmas. Today, the Bible says, is the day of salvation. I encourage you to open your heart this morning. Believe the message of Christmas as the shepherds did. Take the journey to Bethlehem this morning by placing your faith in Christ.

Conclusion

The shepherd’s lives were changed that night. The world itself experienced a watershed moment. In fact, that night changed the world so much that our calendar is marked by that event. History is recorded as events that took place for Christ’s birth and events that took place after His death. Christmas and Easter stand at the center of all historical events. Why is that? Christ’s birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection is the most significant watershed moment of all time. I can assure you that if you open your heart to Him this morning, He will change your life similarly.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.