Shepherds Meet the Good Shepherd

Introduction

Christmas, a time when friends and family gather together and celebrate. Some friends you only see once or twice a year. I guess that’s part of what makes this “the most wonderful time of the year.” Visitors are special and make for fond memories.

There were some visitors during the first Christmas. Jesus’ birth was unique in every way, including those who first came to see Him. Let’s take a brief look at the first visitors of Christmas to see how we can best celebrate Christ this year.

I. The Birth of Christ (vs. 1-7)

A. Jesus was born in a real place at a real time in history (vs. 1-3)

1. This tremendous event is not fake or a fairy tale, but God-sanctioned and God-led

a. Many have shrugged off Luke’s ability as a historian because he has a religious bias. When it comes to beliefs everyone has a religious bias, it should not discredit an individual unless the bias skews the facts

b. According to historian Sir William Ramsey, Luke is “a historian of the first rank.” He also says, “Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness” (McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, p. 86).

2. Archaeological digs have discovered that the Romans had regular tax payers and held a census every 14 years

a. This started either 23-22 BC or 9-7 BC under Augustus Caesar

b. There was an inscription found in Antioch that provides evidence of Quirinius being governor of Syria starting around 7 BC. and is called governor again by the Jewish historian Josephus later on

c. They have also discovered a papyrus in Egypt that contains the same details for a census that Luke has.

3. In other words, the virgin birth of Jesus is a real, historical event that changed the world

B. Joseph and Mary, living under Roman rule, obeyed the census decree (vs. 4-5)

1. They lived in Nazareth in Galilee, but both of them were descendants of David. Thus, they had to go back to the city of David, Bethlehem

2. Mary also went with him to register because she was “engaged or betrothed.”

a. Legally, they were married but they had not consummated the marriage

b. This was an ordinary custom where the parents usually set their kids up, the man would “get the marriage certificate” (paying the marriage price) and would go prepare the couple’s future home

c. Once that was complete the husband would come back to get his wife and they would begin living together, consummating their marriage.

C. While they were in Bethlehem it came time for Mary’s first baby to be born (vs. 6-7)

1. Swaddling clothes is a common practice still today

a. Taking strips of cloth or a small blanket and wrapping the baby to feel more cozy, protected, and have a familiar feeling of being constricted in their mother’s womb

b. There’s a sense of safety when a baby is held close and tightly, a newborn can be scared when their limbs move outward abruptly, it feels like falling

c. So, swaddling is often a nice transition for the baby entering the world.

2. Being laid in a manger, on the other hand, is very unusual

a. Mangers “were cut out of limestone and were approximately three feet long, eighteen inches wide, and two feet deep” (James M. Freeman and Harold J. Chadwick, Manners & Customs of the Bible, p. 500.)

b. It was a feeding trough for animals and was the perfect size to fit a baby. What a humble birth for the Creator of the universe.

3. Why such a lowly entrance into the world? The most practical reason was that there was no room in the inn

a. An inn would be similar to a modern-day motel. Just a convenient place to rest for the night when traveling a distance

b. There were often accommodations for a traveler’s animals (hence the manger scene). Mary and Joseph were probably sleeping with the animals

c. A lot of times, these stables were small caves, which would have made for good

D. Such a strange way for the Christ to enter the world. Yet, it was beautiful: fulfilling prophecy and showing how special this baby was

II. The Angel’s Announcement (vs. 8-14)

A. Who do you think was the first person God called to see the culmination of Israel, the Messiah?

1. Surly it was the King, right? Nope, no one let Herod know about this for months or even a couple years

a. How about the high priest? No, the lead worshiper in Judah had no idea

b. Perhaps God told the Sanhedrin, or one of the Pharisees? No, they were oblivious to the events in Bethlehem

c. Maybe Augustus Caesar was the lucky man? Again, no.

2. If you were in charge of announcing the Christ what would you do?

a. Maybe now we would get all the news channels we could find or live-stream our first meeting on YouTube

b. We’d post pictures, do interviews, and do everything we could to get the word out. In the first century any of the above people were the obvious choices. But God’s ways are not our ways

3. Jesus came in a humble manner, being born by a nobody in a small town and laid in a manger. With such a quiet entrance it was only fitting to have a humble group

B. God called shepherds to worship the Savior (vs. 8-14).

1. Some of the most influential people in the Bible have been Shepherds:

a. Joseph was a shepherd before being sent to Egypt to save the known world from a famine, Moses was a shepherd before God called him to lead Israel. David was a shepherd before being anointed as king

b. Jesus is the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23, John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” ).

c. It is only fitting that Jesus was first visited by Shepherds

2. This unique birth was announced in a unique way. An angel appeared to pronounce the birth of the King of kings

a. Seeing God’s glory has always instilled fear in people

1. The angel quickly demonstrated his message was from the Lord by displaying a fraction of His glorious light

2. Here, God’s messenger does not bring dread, but good news of joy for all (vs. 10)!

b. The sign given was the unusual circumstances for the birth and placement of the baby: that unique situation is like the unique child Himself: Christ, the Lord and Savior.

c. This baby was joyful news because He was born as: the Savior, the Christ, the Lord, the Glory of God, and the Peace of men. Jesus was the One they had been waiting for.

3. The angel army (host is a military word) announced peace.

a. There is only peace in Jesus. At His baptism and transfiguration the Father states, “this is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” which is similar wording in vs. 14

b. Peace only comes to those who are pleasing to God and that comes by being in Jesus, who is peace.

III. The Shepherd’s Visit (vs. 15-20)

A. The birth of Jesus was truly good news for all! The shepherds wanted to see Him for themselves (vs. 15-17)

1. They went straight to Bethlehem, they didn’t waste any time

2. After a careful search they found Mary, Joseph, and the baby just as the angel told them

3. For this Christmas don’t run straight to Amazon for more stuff, or the photographer for cute family photos, or the store for that glorious Christmas meal. First and foremost of all, run straight to Jesus

B. Everyone who heard this news was astounded (vs. 18-20)

1. It’s nearly unfathomable and unbelievable if we didn’t serve a God who specializes in the impossible

2. Mary, however, treasured everything that was happening in her heart to meditate on it throughout her life

a. She kept everything that God had done and was doing close to her heart. She yearned to know how God was working

b. How would Jesus be the Savior of all? How is He Lord and Christ? How would He bring peace? These questions would be answered 33 years later at the cross

c. Until then she pondered at God’s work and remembered all He had done

3. The shepherds were overjoyed and glorified God, praising Him for sharing the Messiah with them

Application/Conclusion

Let’s stand in awe of the awesome thing God has done! Jesus, God come in flesh, was born by a virgin that He may grow and bring peace between mankind and God by dying on the cross and resurrecting from the dead.

Store this in your heart, ponder/meditate on it, and glorify God for what has been told to you!