Christmas Surprises (3)

SHEEP HERDERS

Luke 2:1–20 KJV 1900

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men. 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. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Introduction:

We have looked at several “Christmas Surprises” over the last few weeks. We discovered that the Messiah had been anticipated ever since the sin in the garden. The prophet Isaiah foretold His coming. Mary became pregnant while she was still a virgin and Joseph instead of killing her married her just like the angel had instructed. The King of Kings came from a genealogy full of prostitutes, murderers, foreigners of Israel, and all other sorts of sinners.

Today we are going to look at how the working class of people found in the Christmas Story can give us some “pointers” on being more like the One Who was born and died for us.

The Shepherd Boy-David

Luke 2:4 KJV 1900

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

David’s Occupation

In Luke 2:4 we find that Jesus was from the line of David.

Luke 2:4 KJV 1900

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

We most remember David as being a king who had an affair with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. We also remember how he killed Goliath and that God said David was a man after His own heart, but it is what David did as a boy that we want to look at, today.

He was a shepherd for his father. It is interesting to see how God used his experience as a shepherd to lead His people.

Duties Of A Shepherd

1. The shepherd has to lead the sheep to food and water.

2. The shepherd has to protect the sheep

1 Samuel 17:34–37 KJV 1900

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

3. The shepherd has to go find the sheep when they get lost.

God’s Use Of David’s Occupation

Psalm 78:70-72 tells us that God took David from herding sheep to shepherding/leading a nation.

Psalm 78:70–72 KJV 1900

He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him To feed Jacob his people, And Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

God takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary.

God used David’s experience as a shepherd to lead a nation.

How is God using your life?

The Shepherds

Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:8–20 KJV 1900

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men. 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. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

The Shepherd’s Reaction

What an amazing experience! Angels appear to the shepherds. Why shepherds and not the religious leaders?

What I want us to notice is that in verses Luke 2:15-16 the shepherds do not hesitate. They say, “Let’s go right now! Not tomorrow. Not later. Let’s go!”

Luke 2:15–16 KJV 1900

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. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

They were in a hurry to find the Savior.

Once they found the Savior and visited with His parents, they returned to their work, but they returned as different people. The result of that change in their lives was that they glorified and praised God.

Seek the Savior + Find the Savior=Being changed forever and praising God.

The Good Shepherd

Luke 2:11 KJV 1900

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

Who Is The Good Shepherd?

As we read in Luke 2:11, we see that the Savior had been born. Jesus was born in the city of a shepherd boy turned king who was also in His family tree. Then shepherds came to see Him and worshipped Him.

Luke 2:11 KJV 1900

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

This same Jesus, later in His life, says He came to this earth to seek and to save that which was lost. That sounds like a shepherd to me. Could the Savior of the world really be a shepherd?

Let’s read Matthew 9:35-36

Matthew 9:35–36 KJV 1900

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Jesus states that these people needed a shepherd and John 10:1-18 we will see that Jesus becomes the shepherd they need.

John 10:1–18 KJV 1900

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Duties Of The Good Shepherd

He leads us to (spiritual) food and (spiritual) water.

He protects us to the point that He gave His own life to save us, the sheep.

He will find the lost sheep, even if there is only one

Luke 15:3–7 KJV 1900

And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Jesus is the Shepherd we should be following.

He always provides for and protects His sheep.

Conclusion:

It is amazing to me how God uses ordinary things and makes them extraordinary.

Is the Good Shepherd, your shepherd?

Jesus gave His life for you and He would have done that even if you were the only one.

I can say this morning as the Psalmist did… Psalm 23

Psalm 23 KJV 1900

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Can you say this morning, “The Lord is my shepherd?”