Heavenly Announcement! -Pt. I

6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The heavenly announcement that was to be given was given to certain shepherds who were keeping their sheep.

Why no fanfare before the birth? It was prophesied and now was being fulfilled. The Jews were looking for the Messiah and here He comes in the flesh

John 1:14–15 NASB95

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ”

God manifested in the flesh

1 Timothy 3:16 NASB95

16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

The prophets, John being the last one spoke of Him. John will point him out soon (but it is not recorded in Luke). The Messiah came in the flesh. The Spirit testifies, the Father testifies, the word testifies, yet the world did not accept, the Jews did not recognize or acknowledge. He was ministered to by angels (see Mt4). His message was to be taken to the world (Mt28:20). and he would return to His Father in Glory (Lk24:50-51).

Do you wonder why would God use shepherds to make announce the Messiah to?

This is another example of God using unlikely people to be brought a great and precious message to be given to others.

Speaking of unlikely people, can you think of any, unlikely people God had used before?

Noah, Gideon, David, many of the prophets, and recently Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary, and John the Baptist.

Shepherds in that day, time, place were thought of as outcasts, they were considered unclean and could not enter the temple because of them handling the sheep.

These shepherds more than likely were outside the city of David and keeping the sheep that were to be sold, offered for temple sacrifices.

Oh, shepherds at that time were not allowed to give testimony in court

“As a class shepherds had a bad reputation . . .More regrettable was their habit of confusing ‘mine’ with ‘thine’ as they moved about the country. They were considered unreliable and were not allowed to give testimony in the law courts.” - Morris

This is the type of men that God made an angelic announcement through regarding A Savior born, who is Christ the Lord!

If they could be used by God, we too can be used by God, we have been given the message!

The Heavenly announcement

Luke 2:8–9 NASB95

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

Luke 2:10–11 NASB95

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:12–13 NASB95

12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

Luke 2:14–15 NASB95

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

Luke 2:16–17 NASB95

16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

Luke 2:18–19 NASB95

18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Luke 2:20 NASB95

20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Wow, what a passage, anything in particular stick out to you?

Remember we are to be good students of the word and need to ask questions of the scripture so to learn from it.

Where did this angelic visit come (v.8-9)?

In the same region. This has to be the region around Bethlehem (v.4) for that is the only thing mentioned in the context of the scripture.

How did the shepherds feel when they encountered a angel of the Lord (v.9)?

They were terribly frightened

What was good news of great joy that was for all people (vv.10-11)?

Born, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

After the announcement what happens (v.13)?

Let the praising begin, a heavenly host praising God appear!

What does the heavenly host proclaim (v.14)? and the shepherds decide to do after the angels returned to heaven (v.15)?

Glory to God in the highest

Peace on earth among men with whom he is pleased.

So,they left their sheep and came in a hurry, then what transpires (vv.16-17)?

They found the child just as it was said they would.

They shared what they had been told.

What did Mary do with the things that the shepherds said (v.19)?

She treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

OK, one more question, what was the end result of the heavenly announcement (v.20)?

The shepherds went back glorifying God, praising God. They had to have a strong belief in God to as a result of all of this (implied).

The angelic visitor(s)

What did the angel bring (v.9)?

Good news of great joy.

Not just for Israel, but for all the people.

We give credit to Peter and the other apostles for preaching the first gospel message, but in reality. Here is the first one, for the good news is the gospel message. So the first preacher was an angel (paraphrase of Guzik).

You have to wonder why to shepherds, the outcasts. Why not priests, scribes or the like? The good news was not just for the religious it was for all mankind.

The announcement was to just the ones spoken of before (see Lk1:51-53)

Luke 1:51–52 NASB95

51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.

Luke 1:53 NASB95

53 “He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed.

Not to the strong, mighty, the rich, the noble, but to the ones who were considered unclean, unworthy, the poor the lowly. (turn to and read 1Cor1:26-29)

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 “26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.”

Maybe some irony that it came to shepherds, for Christ came as the Lamb of God and also the Good Shepherd. They were keeping the sheep to be offered for sacrifices. He is the one sacrifice that would surpass all others.

Something else significant happens. God had not spoken to Isreal in 400 years.

Just in the last year to Zacharias, and to Mary, to a person, not to a people.

No wonder they would be afraid, wouldn’t you be?

What a powerful message they were receiving.

Wiersbe said this: “What was the Good News? Not that God had sent a soldier or a judge or a reformer, but that He had sent a Savior to meet man’s greatest need.”

Then comes the angelic host

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!”

Whom is God pleased? Those who believe on Him whom the Father has sent (see Jn6:29)

Peace to those who believe! In a world that needs peace just as much today as it did then.

I do not think we are getting as far as I thought, but let me give you another quote about the times there and even the world knew it needed peace. This one is from Epictetus, first century pagan writer:

“While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy; he cannot give peace of heart, for which man years for more than even outward peace.”

That is the kind of peace you have, good news that can bring this kind of peace to all men who believe, put their faith and trust in the Christ child who the angel and angelic host announced and praised!