The King is Coming: The Shepards Proclimation

Introduction: self

Introduce myself back round info: Age, family where I am from, college. Thank the church and John for the opportunity to be here this Sunday and the upcoming year.

Prayer: for the message, about the account of Christ, and for the people.

Introduction of Today's Passage:

-First was about Mary’s Servant attitude.

-Second was Joseph’s obedience

-This Sunday we continue the account of Jesus's birth, with the Shepard's proclamation.

Jumping into the passage:

Read V8-20

Luke 2:8–20 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 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.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Let us Pray:

Focus on Jesus, not the Shepherds:

Important Background info :

-Old testament literature was common and known for those people, as it contains the laws and the history Isreal.

-Shepherds did dirty work, as such because of their work, they could not participate in Israel's ceremonial laws, they were considered unclean and unreliable in the court of law. Because of all these things, they were low class citizens who are despised.

The Angel’s Proclamation v8-14

Luke 2:8 ESV

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

V8. Paint the picture of the scene: In the fields outside Bethlehem

-there are shepherds in field with their sheep.

Luke 2:9 ESV

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.

V9. Angel appeared, glory of the Lord shone brightly

-flash bang all of a sudden bright

Luke 2:10–11 ESV

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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

V10-11. Do not be afraid, they have good news.

Point 1: The good news is for all people.

Luke 2:12 ESV

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

V12. The Angel gives the Shepherds a sign on how to find the the Savior.

1 Samuel 2:34 ESV

And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day.

*THIS WILL BE A SIGN FOR YOU* prophetic in nature same wording when a prophet spoke on God’s behalf rebuking Eli and his 2 sons

-City of David

-In a manger

-Wrapped in cloths

Luke 2:13–14 ESV

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

V13-14. The heavens open and the angels praise and glorify God with their words.

Read v15-20

The Shepard's Proclamation v15-20

Luke 2:15 ESV

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.”

V15. They go that night, some thing amazing has happened and they need to find out.

-They went to confirm the good news, the news that God had told them.

Luke 2:16 ESV

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

V16. They went with haste (fast)

-They found exactly what the angels said:

-in the city of David, a baby wrapped in cloth, in a manger.

Luke 2:17 ESV

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

V17. They confirmed the news and made know the news they have been told

-Everything the angel told the shepherds is true, so by coloration, this has to be the saivor.

-They recognized that this baby as the savior, and as many as they could.

Point 2: They Recognized the baby as their savior.

Luke 2:18 ESV

And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

V18. They told everyone they could and all those who heard wondered.

-this is deep thought,

-biblical knowledge it deeply ingrained in this culture, they know of or heard of the savior or messiah.

-putting the pieces together.

Point 3: Good news is to be shared/proclaimed

Luke 2:19 ESV

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

V19. Mary recieved this proclamation with her heart

-God fulfilling his promise to Mary again (Luke 2:26-38)

-God is faithful to Joseph as well (Matthew 1:18-25)

-This is continual encouragement for Mary

Point 4: God is faithful in his promise

Luke 2:20 ESV

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

V20. The Shepard's went back to the field

-they continued to glorify and praise God, because of everything they have been told and what they have seen.

Foreword: 4 points

This news is for all the people

The Shepard's recognized the baby as their savior,

Good news is to be shared

God is faithful in his promise.

As we turn to the Lord in this moment, I want us to think about value and importance of what was shown in this passage, are we thinking about the shepherds and what they said about Jesus, the implications of what this good news means for the world, God’s faithfulness and ability to fulfill his promises.

Close with Prayer.