The Shepherds
Notes
Transcript
Yesterday, I was thinking about the Christmas season. it dawned on me that during this time of year there seems to be a desire to tell good stories. Hallmark will put out movies, there will be new books and short stories to read. Most of us even have a couple of favorite stories, many of them considered to be classics by our American culture. This stories often begin with irritable, grumpy people, who in their self indulgence look down on others. Over the course of the story they learn about how they have harmed and affected people, that there is more to life then themselves. Or the other main story told probably revolves around someone who is good and kind to people but is struggling to make ends meat. Through the story, somehow in the nick of time, a miraculous outcome occurs and everything is all better.
It doesnt really matter what Christmas movie or story you read, the basic elements of these stories are all very similar.
Over the past few weeks we have been in a study called “O Hear the Angel Voices.” In this study, we are reading one story after another about how God used His angels to bring news to people. While this is a Christmas story, it is unlike any other. First of all, this is a true story, telling us about how God used several peoples stories to reveal Himself and at the same time communicate important truths to us.
As we read this true story, it doesn't take long to see that God was about to do something big. Something that had never been done before. God wanted key players to be ready. He wanted them to know that they had a specific role and wanted to get their attention in a way that they would not be able to ignore. So, He sends his angels to personally interact with different people. In each case, the people are nervous, captivated, and responsive to the message.
I think using a little imagination we can resonate with that. If we put ourselves in that situation, where we are going about our day, or worshiping the Lord and suddenly an angel appears before us! It would be shocking. It isn’t a normal experience, it is not something we would expect but suddenly, standing before us is angelic being, radiating with the glory of God! In each case, when people in the Bible interact with heavenly beings, there is almost always a comment like “they were troubled in heart” or “Fear came over them.”
Each time the angel has to say, “Fear not.” And in the case of the Christmas story, the reason they say “Fear not” is specific. The news that they are bringing is not the typical world ending news we hear about on tv. It is news of the arrival of God.
If you haven’t picked up on it yet, there are a couple of themes throughout the Christmas story. The first is that each encounter is provocative in its own way. But the common theme throughout is common people. The king of kings and Lord of Lords is coming to earth and the key people who will take part in making this happen are your everyday John and Jane Doe.
Which is curious, isn’t it?
1. Why does God come to earth and only tell the common person?
2. Why aren’t kings and governments informed that their reign is over because God Himself has come?
3. Why are the high officials left out of the loop?
4. What about the high priests and the prophets?
Because from birth to death Jesus wanted to present Himself with humility. He wanted to come like a lowly servant and speak the truth to anyone who would hear it. The reality is that the kings, the rich, the famous, often struggle to see their need for a savior. They often build their own kingdoms and rely on their own power. But the hardworking, the out casts, the poor, Jesus chose to experience life in very much the same way. Knowing that they would be far more interested in salvation, in praising God from the deepest corners of their heart, for the good news that He brings and it involves them!
Today, we look at the shepherds. These were not men of high standing, but practical hard working men. People who were not known for great imagination, deep thinking, but rather practical hands on solutions and matter of fact world views.
Lets read about the message they received from the angels.
Luke 2:8-14 “8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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 among those with whom he is pleased!””
In the scene we have shepherds and an angel, with a host of angels that later appear. The shepherds find themselves in shock and fearful. But pay attention to how Luke wrote this part of the story. We have the common working people, taking care of their responsibility when an angel appears. Not just any angel, but Luke ensures we know this is an angel of the Lord. He gives further evidence to the angel being the Lords by saying “the glory of the Lord shown around them.” So, this is without question a messenger that has been sent by God to these common shepherds.
Why?
To announce the news of a life time. This is not just good news but it is good news that will bring great joy.
At this moment, I am sure there was a sense of relief in the shepherds.
But listen to what the news being delivered is, the angel says “born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Savior means someone who can rescue you
Christ means “Anointed one”
Lord - Supreme Power or authority = God
Luke is repeating these words, using other descriptions of the coming king to ensure that we understand a very important truth. The truth is this,
That the Lord in heaven who sent the angel
the glory of the Lord that radiated from that angel and surrounded the shepherds
The savior of the world
The Christ, the promised anointed one
They are all the same Lord
The same Lord who is lying in a feeding trough in Bethlehem.
Sometimes I think we are so used to hearing this story that we have lost the significance of what is taking place.
This is not the announcement of a important person or a significant shift for the people of Israel. This is an announcement that everything is about to change. The very fabric of history will be shaken and the world will not continue in the same way because of a radical shift in trajectory based on a new relationship. This is the all powerful, creating God stepping off His throne in heaven to join mankind here on earth. In other words, that baby that is in the feeding trough, a baby who appears to have no wealth or standing, is the most worthy and significant being in existence!
God planned for Jesus to be born in an incredibly humble state, so as to identify with all of the powerless, sick, and outcasted.
He sends angels to the shepherds as a symbol of who he is focused on relating to and also touching with His healing hand.
This is not to say that Jesus doesn't want people in power to come to Him. In fact, the verse actually says that this good news of great joy is for all people. So, lets consider that maybe Jesus came in this form, because of the way it would naturally allow Him to relate to the outcasted.
If Jesus simply descended from heaven and announced Himself to the world as God in the flesh, how would the poor and outcasted perceive His care for them? What about if He came from a royal family? or even a wealthy family? In each of these cases, there would be an internal disconnect that hears the label of the world and believes “I am not enough, God doesn’t want me, why bother trying.”
With great purpose, God showed the world that He came for all and through the most humble form of being born related to us in very meaningful ways. Beyond that, the people invited to His inauguration were no more than shepherds.
Glory to God
Now with all that in view, consider the last few verses there;
Luke 2:13-14 “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 among those with whom he is pleased!””
At the announcement of the king of kings laying in a feeding trough compels God’s angels to respond in full choir praising God for His kindness and love towards mankind.
Can you imagine? Already being startled by a single angel and then suddenly a whole choir appears praising God in song. This was a little more than a jarring experience
Just as quickly as they came, they then left.
The shepherds are there, left to marvel, and wonder about the greatness of God.
Shepherds
But what the shepherds do next is of great value to us here. Read this next section with me, starting in verse 15
Luke 2:15-20 “15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
There are a few keys to pay attention to in these verses and I did some highlighting to help us identify them.
notice the shepherds response
We have been called, “lets go,” and the they went with “Haste”
How many of us here need to be reminded, that when God prompts you, when He convicts you, when you see a needed change in your life that doesn’t line up with God’s word, or whenever God has so grabbed your attention that you understand there is a task for you to complete - do it. Don’t pause because it isn't great timing for you or its uncomfortable - Do what God is calling you to do and do it with haste.
The second key is this, notice the focus on the news. The information that was made known to the shepherds convinced them to go see the child. There is no description of their time there or what took place while they were visiting. It simply says, “They saw it.” Everything they were told, they saw. But this is where the news gets emphasized.
What they saw “They made known”
What was told to them, they were “saying.”
Those who heard it “Wondered at what the shepherds told them.”
Saw, told, heard, and made known are used 10 times in these five verses. Meaning, Luke has a great emphasis on not only receiving the news of the glory of Jesus, but also a great emphasis on sharing the news of the glory of Jesus.
Why is this a point of emphasis for Luke?
Those who share the news then praise God
Angels
then the shepherds
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
The promise of God to save His people has come to fruition
we were already told in verse 10 that this news was “For all the people.” and later we learn from Luke in the book of Acts, that he wasn’t just referring to Israelites, but anyone who would put their faith in trust in Jesus and repent of their sin. Through and through, this message of Jesus’ coming has a gospel flavor, helping us to see that we too, as common people have a place in the sharing of the news we have been told. The good news of Jesus is not something that we simply receive.
The shepherds show us that it is something we respond too, that we witness, and actively invite others into this same news that we have received. Through all of this, we will find ourselves naturally longing to raise our hands in praise and worship, lifting up and exalting the name of the one true king, the one true God, born in a stable, laid in a feeding trough, Jesus the Christ.
The most famous passage in the Christmas story may be verses 10-11
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
This good news and great joy is more than Jesus coming as a baby. His coming alone is worth our full attention and praise. That He would leave every amenity of heaven to reveal Himself to us in a physical body. But there is more to the story. The story leads to the cross, which again was a purposeful part of God’s plan.
You see He loved you enough to send Jesus
He loved you enough to have Jesus live a life very relatable to your own
He loved you enough to have Jesus personally exemplify Godliness, revealing His full nature, teaching us about the values of heaven and the mission of God.
God loves you enough, to die on the cross for your wrong doings, the times you cheated, lied.
He loves you enough that He says He will forgive all you sin, all your wrongdoings… no matter how dark, wicked, or hurtful you have been towards others, Jesus loves you and wants a relationships with you.
You might be sitting there thinking, “I am too far gone” or “I am not really the church type” - This good news of great joy is also for you. Jesus loves you and wants a relationship with you.
There is no person who has gone too far, done too much wrong. God sent His son, because He loves you and wants a relationship with you.
If you choose Jesus, He will alleviate all the shame, all the guilt, and all the pain. Because He loves you and wants a relationship with you.
But you also need to know this, if you choose Jesus, you will have to learn how to die to yourself, to your desires, to your plans and learn how to seek His. He is not a political candidate or party that we simply get to follow from afar. We are talking about having a personal relationship with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He has much to offer you and this world. But He isn’t looking for your vote, He is looking for your loving devotion, which He has already offered to you.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
