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SHEEP HERDERS
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
David’s Occupation
In Luke 2:4 we find that Jesus was from the line 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
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.
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
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!”
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
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.
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
Jesus states that these people needed a shepherd and John 10:1-18 we will see that Jesus becomes the shepherd they need.
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
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
Can you say this morning, “The Lord is my shepherd?”
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