Characters of Christmas - Shepherds

Intro

Read Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:8–20 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. 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. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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!” 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. 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.

A proclamation

Read Luke 2:10-12

Luke 2:10–12 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. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

The message these angles bring will change the world

This is the proclamation of the Gospel

I bring good news of great joy

A savior is born

Matthew 1:21 “21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””

This baby the shepherds are to find will be the one to save people from their sins

This world altering proclamation

This message of such great importance is entrusted to shepherds????

Shepherds in that day werent the most holy bunch

They were some of the lowest cast of people

They were dirty

They spent all day in the fields watching sheep

Their testimony wasnt accepted in courts

They dont have the best track record in society

But God trusts these guys with this message

Why a shepherd?

Throughout scripture God uses shepherds

Moses when he first met God

David when God called him

the prophet Amos was shepherd

and now this bunch of shepherds

God in his omnipotence and soverignty chooses these men

If you had important news to share how would you share it

If you wanted people to celebrate the birth of the one who has divided timelines

Who would you send

God chooses shepherds

He chooses those who may not be of high stature

But are faithful

Shepherds may have been looked down on by society but they had an important Job

Sheep were important for this society

They needed sheep for sacrifices for sin

They need sheep for clothes, for food

These men were faithful in their Job

Up at night

Luke 2:8 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

They were keeping watch over their flock at night

The foreshadowing

Luke 2:15–17 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. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

The first evangelist

Luke 2:18–20 ESV

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.

The takeaway

Be encouraged God uses who he sees fit

Be ready

Dont keep the news to yourself