While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Have You Been Given an Honor That you Felt Like You Did Not Deserve?

For me, it was when I was invited to play a show at the House of Blues

Luke 2:8–12 NIV

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

New American Commentary (Comments)

One should not romanticize the occupation of shepherds. In general shepherds were dishonest and unclean according to the standards of the law. They represent the outcasts and sinners for whom Jesus came. Such outcasts were the first recipients of the good news.

If a person was unclean, he or she would not be able to be part of the congregation. Often this meant living outside the community to separate oneself.

The Shepherds Were

outcasts

dirty

Often times thieves

unclean

The Shepherds Were The First

The First People to See Jesus were not,

Kings

Priests

The Wisemen

Jesus’ first visitors were,

Sinful

Unclean

Outcasts

The People That Needed a Savior

Jesus Started His Ministry Only Minutes Into His Life To Those Who Needed It Most

Matthew 9:11–13 NIV

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

God Set His Angels To Invite The Shepherds

Not Only Invited These Sinful, Unclean Outcasts To The Most Important Event, But He Sent An Army Of Angels To Invite Them, Much Like a Messenger To Royalty.

The Message God Is Sending

He Invited The Sinners to Show That Jesus Came For Everyone, Not just the perfect

Maybe you feel like you do not deserve Jesus, Well, You Don’t, NO ONES does, that is why it is called a gift, and grace, and mercy

Maybe you are living in a way that you feel like you needed to earn Christ’s gift, well you can never do enough, and no one can, it would not be a gift if you could earn it,

Maybe you are letting past mistakes hold you back from going forward

Communion

Candlelight

Light a Candle For Those Loved Ones That Are With Christ