A Sight For Sore Eyes

Has anyone ever told you that you were a “sight for sore eyes”? It’s a common phrase that has been spoken for years. Despite its frequent use, many people do not know where the phrase came from or whether it means that your eyes hurt.

The phrase has been around a lot longer than most people realize. The first recorded use was penned by Jonathan Swift for the book A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation (also known simply as Polite Conversation) in 1738. There are hints that it was in use prior to publication of Polite Conversation. At the time, the wording was a little different. It read: “The Sight of you is good for sore Eyes.”

The simplified modern version was first used by William Hazlitt in New Monthly Magazine in 1826. He wrote: Garrick’s name as proposed on condition he should act in tragedy and comedy… What a sight for sore eyes that would be!”

Sore eyes sound painful, but when this phrase is used it typically means something different. The word “sore” usually refers to feelings of fear, worry, tension, or sorrow.

Concerning what Lot saw

2 Peter 2:7–10 ESV

7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,

The person or thing being viewed brings relief or is a welcome sight to the beholder.

The Beauty of the LORD

Psalm 27:1–4 ESV

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

Isaiah 4:2–3 ESV

2 In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem,

Isaiah 33:17 ESV

17 Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar.

Transition To Body- Here in our text today we read in Luke 2:20 and we see why the LORD God, Jesus, is a “Sight for Sore Eyes”

Luke 2:20 ESV

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 2:1–4 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

Micah 5:2 ESV

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Luke 2:20 ESV

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Body- Jesus Christ’s Birth is a

Majestic Message (Reaching The Marginalized)

marginalize- to remove to or keep in a position without influence in a society or group

New Testament 2:8–20—The Real King’s Birth

This narrative would have challenged the values of many religious people, who despised shepherds; shepherds’ work kept them from participation in the religious activities of their communities.

Shepherds were considered dishonest and unclean

They represent the outcasts & sinners for whom Jesus came.

Define majestic-

sovereign power, authority, or dignity

royal bearing or aspect : GRANDEUR

: greatness or splendor of quality or character

The shepherds received a glorious revelation from an angel of the LORD (LORD’s messenger)/servant

Luke 2:8–9 ESV

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.

In the same region, there were:

shepherds out in the field, keeping watch....

Glory of the LORD shone around them

the quality of splendid, remarkable appearance

fear- the product of an intimidating/alarming force

There is no need to fear the LORD God

Luke 2:10–11 ESV

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.

Perfect love Casts out fear

1 John 4:18 ESV

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Bringing good news of great joy- that will be for all the people!

Why ought the gospel, good news of Jesus Christ, bring great joy?

city of David evokes memories and visions of the city of the kings

Major Offices of Jesus

Savior- one who rescues or saves—‘deliverer, rescuer, savior

Christ- messiah, one who has been anointed

LORD- chief or leader

one who exercises supernatural authority over mankind—‘Lord, Ruler, One who commands

Luke 2:12 ESV

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:13–14 ESV

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!”

Luke 1:50–53 ESV

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

God, the Father, was well pleased with his beloved Son!

Matthew 3:17 ESV

17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

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Majestic Message (Reaching The Marginalized)

}

Meaningful Message (Meriting Immediate Action)

Luke 2:15–16 ESV

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.

Meriting- deserve or be worthy of (something, especially reward, punishment, or attention).

Meaningful- full of meaning : SIGNIFICANT

Revelatory- of or relating to revelation : serving to reveal something

an act of revealing or communicating divine truth

: something that is revealed by God to humans

: an act of revealing to view or making known

see- to have realised, perceived” == “to know.”

Acts 17:11 ESV

11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Seeing & Hearing but not Understanding

Matthew 13:13–17 ESV

13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The shepherds investigate what has been revealed to them from the angel of the LORD

Seeing (and hence hearing) for oneself

John 4:39–42 ESV

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

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Majestic Message (Reaching The Marginalized)

Meaningful Message (Meriting Immediate Action)

}

Moving Message (Made Known Through Proclamation)

Luke 2:17–20 ESV

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.

proclaim- to praise or glorify openly or publicly

to declare publicly, typically insistently, proudly, or defiantly and in either speech or writing

moving- producing or transferring motion or action

: stirring deeply in a way that evokes a strong emotional response

The shepherds reveal what has been made known to them (they did not keep it to themself)

Luke 2:17 ESV

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

Mark 7:36 ESV

36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.

How the shepherds reveal the message?

Luke 2:20 ESV

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

glorifying- to speak of something as being unusually fine and deserving honor—‘to praise, to glorify, praise.’

praising- to speak of the excellence of a person, object, or event—‘to praise, praise

Mark 7:37 ESV

37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Transition To Close- The Shepherds were moved as they moved closer to Jesus Christ!

Illustration: Verse 1 of “Move The Crowd”, released in 1987 by Eric B & Rakim, 4th single off their debut album “Paid In Full”

Standing by the speaker, suddenly I had this

Fever, was it me or either summer madness

'Cause I just can't stand around

So I get closer, and the closer I get, the better it sound

My mind start to activate, rhymes collaborate

'Cause when I heard the beat, I just had to make

Something from the top of my head

So I fell into the groove of the wax and I said

How could I move the crowd?

Close- Though you have not seen him

Romans 10:14–17 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Foolishness of preaching

1 Corinthians 1:22–25 ESV

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Consider your calling...

1 Corinthians 1:26–30 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Though you have not seen him, you love him

1 Peter 1:8 ESV

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

1 John 1:1–4 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

The carol was written in 1719 by the English minister and hymnwriter Isaac Watts would later write in 1719, these words, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ

Joy to the world, the Lord is come Let earth receive her King Let every heart prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

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