DONE 231224 Luke 2: The Wonder In Our Worship

Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

0 ratings

· 3 views

Notes

Transcript

INTRODUCTION 10 minutes TURN TO OPENING SLIDE

Set Stage: Turn with me to Isaiah 9. In Isaiah 9, we find ourselves coming to the text during the time of the reign of the Judean King, King Ahaz, a wicked and inept king. This is a pretty bleak time, because at this time the cities of the Northern kingdom of Israel are beginning to fall to Assyria. In a few more years Assyria will remove the Northern Tribes off their inheritance during the Assyrian captivity in 722BC. This is a dark time in Israel’s history, a gloomy time but at this time listen to the surprisingly good word that Yahweh reveals through Isaiah His prophet. God is about to give a great gift.

Read Text: Isaiah 9:1–7 | 1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in the land of the shadow of death, The light will shine on them. 3 You shall multiply the nation, You shall make great their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You shall shatter the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their taskmaster, as at the battle of Midian. 5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the rumbling of battle, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will accomplish this. TURN TO MAINPOINT SLIDE

Transition to Main Point: There is coming a day, approximately 7 centuries after Isaiah, when the gloom and darkness and oppression will end… A great light will shine on the people of Israel and great praise, great gladness will result, because the very Presence of God will be amongst men. This will be no superficial event, the praise that develops from the coming Babe, Our Savior, Christ the Lord will exceed the revelry of great battles and bumper crops. There is coming a day when the people will see a great light and rejoice exceedingly a time of wonderful worship will come - which is the main point that undergirds today’s message as well as every Christian’s hope, it is found in verses 2-3… TURN TO MAINPOINT SLIDE

MAINPOINT

Reread Main Point Text: Isaiah 9:2–3“The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in the land of the shadow of death, The light will shine on them. You shall multiply the nation, You shall make great their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.”

Restate: In the fullness of time, God will send forth His Son, Immanuel, to be born in the land of darkness and death to reveal God to all and this revelation will elicit great worship that will resonate ever after throughout history. This is a sermon about worship, joyous worship focused on God and His Christ.

ROADMAP

Where We Are Going: Today we are going to be in the book of Luke chapter 2 as we look to the fulfillment of God’s promise.

What We Are Going to Do: We are going to zoom in on the rejoicing, the worship that was foretold in Isaiah. We are going to revel in the mystery of our Savior

What We Are Going to Learn: After we examine Luke 2 we are going to make 7 observations from Luke 2 as to what Biblical Worship involves

What We Will Apply: Then we learn 3 practical ways we can apply what we have learned to our worship routine

Where We Will End: And we will conclude by looking to the end of Luke which ends much in the same way as it started, with humble men rejoicing in God, worshipping Him.

Transition to Prayer: But before we dive into the main body let us go to prayer TURN TO BLANK SLIDE

PRAYER

Father God, what an amazingly generous God You are. Giver of every good and perfect Gift, we are astonished at just how gracious You truly are! You have given Your own beloved Son. He is our great joy, our Light, our Life, the One whom every knee must bow before. Oh, to think that You would share Him with us, to think that He would come, Abba, our gratitude and joy in Your goodness knows no end. Thank You! Praise You! Amen. TURN TO CONTEXT SLIDE

CONTEXT

Give Directions: Please turn if you would to Luke chapter 2. We will find ourselves in verse 8 but before we join the text here is the context. Luke chapter 2 opens with unrest, displaced persons returning home to be counted by an oppressive and brutal government. Since the exile Judea has been under the domination of various governments. This is a period of darkness and gloom but a new dawn is about to come as the Son of God is born.

Anticipation of Text: We join verse 8, in a pastoral scene, some two thousand years ago, a few lowly shepherds are working late at night, keeping watch over their sheep… but the darkness is about to be split as the glory of God shines out of heaven… TURN TO FIRST POINT

SERMON

I. Witness the Wonder (v8-14) 9 Minutes

a). The Humble Honored (v8-9) 2 Minutes

v8 I find it fascinating that shepherds are God’s chosen audience. You see, shepherds aren’t important, they are humble field workers, in the first century at least, generally regarded as dishonest and undeserving. And we find them where we typically find the humble ones in society, on the outside, on the periphery of a tiny town, Bethlehem. PAUSE

v9 Suddenly, these shepherds are immersed in the glorious light of the Lord. One moment darkness, gloom and the next dazzling glorious light! A messenger of God, an angel, has come to them, of all people, with a message from God. The combination of glory and the appearance of the angel must have been simply shattering, understandably these men are terribly frightened - exposed to the glory of God, they become terrified. But the terror that they are experiencing will be overwhelmed by joy they will soon feel as they hear God’s gracious words through the lips of His angel of the arrival of the long awaited Savior, Christ the Lord.

b). A Savior, Christ the Lord (v10-12) 5 Minutes

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

v10 The angel come... not with a message of judgment, or doom or even condemnation... The angel says to these frightened men, “Do not be afraid; for behold, look!, I bring you good news of GREAT JOY which will be for all the people...” What could this good news, this great joy, be about - if it isn’t just for them, or for their family.... What could this news be?

v11 The news that is revealed is far more astonishing than the appearance of the angel of God in the middle of the night. The news is mysterious, profound, a revelation. The angel of God tells these men that God has taken on human flesh, He has been born a baby! This One is the Maker of worlds, the very radiance of the Glory of God, the exact representation of God’s good nature… This day, just as promised, in the city of King David is born, the long awaited Savior. This is the One who will save from the power and penalty of sin. This is the long awaited Messiah, the Anointed Chosen One of God and is Himself God, the Sovereign Lord! What a paradox! Can it be that the Sovereign Lord of the universe might become somehow more than God(?)… PAUSE God Himself has chosen to partake in His image bearers lowly state. Isn’t this astonishing? It is to me that God can be this gracious, this humble to arrive in this manner. Look, shepherds, He has come! 100% God and 100% man, the Savior has arrived, The Messiah has arrived, The Sovereign Lord over all is here! And verse 12 describes the

v12 the sign that these poor shepherds will see. Now there is not a shadow of a doubt that they will wait or delay, they will go to see this Baby safely swaddled where cattle feed. They will see the sign of the Christ. But before they can leave, heaven itself proclaims glory to God! verse 13

c). Glory to God! (v13-14) 2 Minutes

13 And suddenly there appeared 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 men with whom He is pleased.”

v13 Before they can leave, heaven itself proclaims the magnificence of what God has done, and the multitude of the heavenly host burst into praise, worshipping God, honoring Him, glorifying Him saying,

Before we move on, I want to point us to all the things that God has taken the initiative to do… God took the initiative to create, God took the initiative to redeem, God took the initiative to send the angel, God supplied our Savior. Indeed all of this is about what God has done - He deserves not only angelic worship but the worship of every image bearer and all of creation itself as well. TURN TO NEXT POINT

Well, ultimately the angelic host returned to the heavens and the shepherds were eager to see this great thing that God had revealed to them - let’s read verses 15-17

II. Hastening to Worship (v15-20) 5 Minutes

a). Hasten to See! (v15-17) 3 Minutes

v16 tells us that they didn’t hesitate, in a hurry the shepherds went and found their way to Mary and Joseph and the baby… Their encouragement to one another was “Let us see this thing that the Lord has made known to us!” So, in the middle of the night this group of shepherds traveled into Bethlehem seeking the Christ. The mind wanders, how indeed did they search for the baby? Did they listen for a cry of a newborn, did they look for a lamp aflame. How did they find this tiny family? We don’t know? The text only describes a little bit of what they did. They were in a hurry to see, that they searched for and found Him. SMILE Isn’t it ironic that He who is the Good Shepherd, the One who looks for lost sheep, who would die for His sheep was found by these whose business was the same? Astonishing!

v17 tells us that upon arriving they revealed to Mary and Joseph what the angel of God shared with them about this particular Child… He is the Savior, the Christ, the Lord!

Let’s read verse 18 because it looks as if others were present

b). Marvel and Praise (v18-20) 2 Minutes

18 And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as was told them.

v19 Things such as these which are so incredible, so profound, so paradoxical require meditation and Mary the mother of Jesus in verse 19 it says that she treasured these things, considering them. Things such as these deserve great reflection and Mary treasured these the events in her heart

v20 Eventually, the shepherds went back to their flock but they were in a much different state of mind than the beginning of yesterday evening… They left in exceeding joy, “glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen” indeed the message was true! It was exactly like had been told to them. The good news of great joy was indeed just that because Christ had come just as had been promised, just like it had been told them. TURN TO BLANK SLIDE

Begin Transitioning to Observations: As we consider what happened this first Christmas it is clear that great joy, great rejoicing permeated it. Joy by the heavenly host, joy by the shepherds, joy by Mary which didn’t sit stagnant within them, the overwhelming response was worship.

Having understood what God had done - they worshipped. There was wonder in their worship, was their not? Exceeding joy is a hallmark of those who have heard from the Lord. God glorifying praise must emanate from those who have seen His goodness. I’d like to make seven observations about this text, observations about the worship that we see taking place. TURN TO NEXT POINT

OBSERVATION

Intentionally went to Worship - the shepherds, the angels did not accidentally worship, no in fact this was an intentional event. Look at verses 15-16. It says that the shepherds went in a hurry, and without delay. They didn’t worship carelessly or haphazardly - they intentionally went. Why because they were TURN TO NEXT POINT

Informed reliably, the shepherds heard from the angel of the Lord, the very word of the Lord, verse 10 says Luke 2:10“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.” They didn’t come to their own conclusions, there was no guesswork, they went based upon the word of the Lord TURN TO NEXT POINT Thirdly, in our text we see that hearts that are intentionally going to worship and are informed reliably by God’s word they...

Invite others - shared with Bethlehem and the family of God - v16-18 tell us that the shepherds did not go secretively or hide the good news, they were unashamed of the good news and shared it with others TURN TO NEXT POINT And the focus of the worship of both shepherds and angels was

Intensely God glorifying - v13,20 The praise was not on the worth of humanity, the goodness that people possess which merited such a great gift from God. No, the shepherds and angels each focused on what God had done. So, not only did they intentionally go, not only were they informed reliably, not only did they invite others to worship in an intense God glorifying praise, we also see from verse 19 that, in Mary’s case worship... TURN TO NEXT POINT

Involves reflective meditation - The ecstatic joy that overwhelmed the shepherds and caused the marvel of all who heard and the praise of the angels manifested in Mary’s case as a treasure to ruminate on, often recalled and well, treasured. All who were involved were deeply impacted. TURN TO NEXT POINT

Impacts deeply - v17-18,20 The worship that we see in this text was not a superficial experience. And in the case of the shepherds they were deeply impacted by the experience. This event connected the hearts of shepherds to their heads and to their hands, feet and mouths. Verse 15 tells us that they did not allow status to hinder them, they came because the joy was for them! TURN TO NEXT POINT A final point I might mention is that the worship that we see here

Imparts truth to mankind about God and man. Truth about God’s goodness, His glory and His power, His generosity to mankind is all evidenced here Luke 2:14““Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.””

Transition: So what are some takeaways… I want to give us three which will enhance our worship. Three practical ways we can invest in our relationship with the Lord and develop our experience of worship. TURN TO NEXT POINT

APPLICATION:

Worship starts the night before. If we stay up late Saturday night watching movies, reading books or working, and wake up groggy and irritable Sunday morning. is it any wonder that sometimes we are a little less than enthusiastic about worship. If we would like to enjoy coming into the community of the saints, if we would come before the Word in anticipation we must begin the night before preparing our hearts to receive. Read God’s word on Saturday Night. Pray for a heart ready to hear and believe what God’s Spirit reveals and you will find far more delight, a more consistent delight in corporate worship. TURN TO NEXT POINT

Worship is also not about us or our comfort - it is about our Lord. The shepherds had to get up, had to go, had to inquire, had to search for the Christ. It wasn’t about them… Sometimes, in worship services we have a tendency to focus more on what we enjoy rather than on focusing what is revealed about Christ. That can be problematic and cause a breakdown in growth, our testimony, a breakdown in our fellowship. The reality is that we are here to be equipped for the work of the ministry in His Church and to use our spiritual gifts for the building up of His Bride. But sometimes we find ourselves in this strange place where if the music isn’t just right, we leave, if the message convicts us the problem is the pastor is too judgmental and we leave. That demonstrates a gap in understanding that is fixed by remembering that worship is not about us it is about Christ TURN TO NEXT POINT

Lastly, worship is cumulative in its ability to mature Christians. The greater the exposure to corporate worship done in spirit and in truth the greater effects on the Believers. I am not advocating here for spending 24 hours a day and 7 days a week within these four walls but consistent, regular, dedicated sacrificial worship. Hebrews 10:25“not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” TURN TO NEXT POINT

CONCLUSION

Turn with me if you would to the end of the book of Luke. It is fascinating to me where Luke begins and where the Gospel account ends. It is a longer section Chapter 24 verse 36 and following but so amazing because when those who had seen their Savior, the risen Christ who is indeed Lord of all, when they saw Him, they marveled at Him, they worshipped Him and were continually blessing God. Let’s see this unfold

Luke 24:36–53 | 36 Now while they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But being startled and frightened, they were thinking that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 And while they still were not believing because of their joy and were still marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, 43 and He took it and ate it before them. 44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 “You are witnesses of these things. 49 “And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you, but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. 51 And it happened that while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

These men are different than when Christ found them, they had been in darkness and now they have seen a great light. Different men, same response. They wondered at Christ, they worshipped Christ - He is indeed worthy of blessing and honor! May our worship of Him be exactly as He desires

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

0:00Hrs Total Time

0:00Hrs Daily Reading of Text

0:00Hrs Reset Manuscript with notes outline etc

0:00Hrs Various research and confirm text to be studied

0:00Hrs Hand write text for comprehension

0:00Hrs Read Passages in LSB/NIV/NKJV/LXX/BHS

0:00Hrs Copy passages in the sermon template in italics

0:00Hrs Draft title/main point/antithesis that connects the passages

0:00Hrs Make notes

0:00Hrs Write Sermon Outline

0:00Hrs Check Biblemaps.com

0:00Hrs Review all Cross References to see what I have missed

0:00Hrs Context

0:00Hrs Read theology CT3/CICR

0:00Hrs Read Book commentary NAC/K&D/WAL/EBB/TSK/OTT

0:00Hrs Read Logos Commentary on secondary passages

0:00Hrs Write Sermon

0:00Hrs Write Introduction/prayer

0:00Hrs Practice

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

INTRODUCTION

The God who spoke light and darkness and matter out of nothing, the One who made all things perfect, the Triune God of Scripture who confronts sinners but provided the means by which Adam and Eve might be redeemed

This is the God of Exodus who freed His people from slavery and revealed His good covenant with Israel

Psalm 96 | 1 Sing to Yahweh a new song; Sing to Yahweh, all the earth. 2 Sing to Yahweh, bless His name; Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Recount His glory among the nations, His wondrous deeds among all the peoples. 4 For great is Yahweh and greatly to be praised; He is more fearsome than all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But Yahweh made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to Yahweh, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of His name; Lift up an offering and come into His courts. 9 Worship Yahweh in the splendor of holiness; Tremble before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns; Indeed, the world is established, it will not be shaken; He will render justice to the peoples with equity.” 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, as well as its fullness; 12 Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy 13 Before Yahweh, for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness And the peoples in His faithfulness.

Philippians 2:5–11 | 5 Have this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men.

8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.

MAINPOINT

Philippians 2:5–7“Have this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men.”

SERMON

I. Witness the Wonder (v8-14) 10 Minutes

Luke 2:8–21 | 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 stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 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. 12 “And this will be the 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, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Paraphrase

v8 Approximately, 2023 years ago, some lowly shepherds were working late at night, watching their sheep. Shepherds wouldn’t have been taken as important or even as clean by the upper crust - they were generally regarded as deceivers and cheats, what we might consider the undeserving, where are they? Out in the periphery of Bethlehem watching over the sheep entrusted to their care.

v9 Suddenly, they are immersed in the glorious light of the Lord and a messenger of God, an angel, came to them with a message from God. The combination of glory and the appearance of the angel must have been simply shattering, these men are described as being terribly frightened. And it’s no wonder, when the Bible explains the appearance of at least some angels. Some angels are described as having an appearance like lightning. These poor men have been exposed to the glory of God.

v10 When the angel speaks to them though, somewhat surprisingly, it is not with a message of judgment, not a message of doom, no, nor even condemnation... What does the angel say to these frightened men? “Do not be afraid; for behold, look!, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people...” Don’t tremble - there is εὐαγγελίζομαι good news of great joy which will be for all the people of Israel...” What could this good news, this great joy be about? It isn’t just for them it is for their family, their extended family, all of Israel. What could this news be?

v11 The news that is revealed is far more astonishing than the appearance of the angel of God in the middle of the night. The news is mysterious, profound and revealing. The angel of God tells these men that God has taken on human flesh, He has been born a baby! This One is the Maker of worlds, the very radiance of the Glory of God, the exact representation of God’s good nature… This day, just as promised, in the city of King David is born, think of it(!?!) the long awaited Savior. This is the One who will save from the power and penalty of sin. This is the long awaited Messiah, the Anointed Chosen One of God and is Himself God, the Sovereign Lord! What a paradox! Can it be that the Sovereign Lord of the universe might become somehow more than God(?)… PAUSE Is the more of God a sharing in the humble state of His image bearers? Is it meekness? Is it obscurity? How can God be this gracious, this humble to arrive in this manner. Look, shepherds, He has come! 100% God and 100% man the Savior has arrived, having laid aside privilege, comfort, to take the form of a slave, being made in the likeness of men as an infant… What humility our God must possess to be this gracious?!?

v12 The angel describes the sign that these poor shepherds will see, there is not a shadow of a doubt that they will wait or delay, they will go to see this Baby safely swaddled where cattle feed. Is this possible? How is it that the Lord has come and this is the sign… This the long awaited Messiah! This is the Christ who was born, born in obscurity, lived in perfect purity, crucified in infamy, died with certainty, buried in surety, and raised by His Father in victory and seen by many witnesses.

v13 Then as if heaven itself cannot restrain the magnificence of what God has done, out of the heavens come a multitude of the heavenly host to worship God, honoring Him, glorifying Him saying,

v14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased!” They don’t simply wish glory to God, nor simply acknowledge that God possesses glory, no, the angelic host unite the truth of God’s glory with the appropriate response by praising Him. Their honor to God is responsive to their recognition of God’s great glory! God is glorious, this is the effecting of God’s good plan, praise, praise Him! Praise Him for His goodness not just to the children of Israel, they close by saying that the gift of peace extends to all men because God is pleased to do so and has taken the initiative to do so. God took the initiative to create, God took the initiative to redeem, God took the initiative to send the angel, God supplied the message. Indeed all of this is about what God has done - He deserves not only angelic worship but the worship of every image bearer and all of creation itself as well.

This is why this is meaningful

Notes

Travel routes could have been 90-100 miles from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem Judea | The revelation was matched with a sign - the sign is spectacular, Baby’s don’t hang out in mangers - worship followed the sign | Astonishing that God is pleased with men | Are the shepherds commanded to verify? No, assumed that they will leave to look [] Jewish day begins as Sunset [] “Christ, the Lord” is a declaration of dual titles [] Is there an allusion to the church being in darkness until the marvel of God’s revelation takes them utterly by surprise?

Questions

What does this text say about God

He initiated the sending of an angel to proclaim good news of great joy to the Shepherds - Why is the Birth of Christ not included in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians? Jesus was born in obscurity, lived in purity, was crucified in infamy, died , was buried and raised to be seen by many witnesses | God sends messages | God has favor and it rests on mankind - He is the One that takes initiative not men | God blesses with peace in the midst of mankind - Immanuel | He is to be glorified through Christ | He receives praise from angels and a multitude of the heavenly host | He is God in the Highest | He is pleased with men | God grants peace among men | God shares His glory with humble men - shepherds | God is in Heaven

What does this text say about Jesus

The good news about Jesus is not to cause fear | The great joy about Jesus is for all the people | Jesus was born in the city of David | Jesus is the Savior | Jesus is the Christ | Jesus is the Lord | Jesus was wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger | When the term Kurios or Lord is used in the NT it is used in its highest sense when associated with Christ, similarly William Childs Robinson says in effect that when Jesus is addressed as Kurios it is because the distinctions are blurred between Father and Son. To Jews this mean that Christ was equal with the Father (New American Commentary)

What does this text say about people

Shepherds are to be watching over their sheep by night | In general ποιμένες were dishonest and unclean according to the standards presented by the Law NAC | Shepherds typically were out in fields between March and November NAC | They dont reject the message or ask for a sign it is simply given to them (See Zechariah) [] signs are given to them [] good news of great joy was sent by God to them

What does this text say about angels

They appear unexpectedly | They are enlisted in the great company of the heavenly army - emphasis is on heavenly not army UBS | the glory of God is emanating from the angel? It doesnt say that, it says that the Lord’s glory shone around them - is there a match to the transfiguration? Exodus 24:17“And the appearance of the glory of Yahweh was like a consuming fire on the mountain top, in the eyes of the sons of Israel.” The greatness / majesty was around or enveloped them like a flame / radiance UBS | They give glory to God in the highest, recognize His salvific work as inherently peaceful for mankind | The good news for all the people should be understood primarily as good news to Israel as the term is isolated to Israelites in Luke’s Gospel | They don’t wish glory to God, they dont state that God possesses glory but that His glory is praiseworthy not a connection to visible light

II. Hastening to Worship (v15-20) 5 Minutes

15 And it happened that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as was told them.

Paraphrase

v15 ultimately the angelic host returned to the heavens and the shepherds were eager to see this great thing that God had revealed to them.

v16 tells us that they didn’t hesitate, in a hurry the shepherds went and found their way to Mary and Joseph and the baby… Their encouragement to one another was “Let us see this thing that the Lord has made known to us!” So, in the middle of the night this group of shepherds traveled into Bethlehem seeking the Christ. The mind wanders, how indeed did they search for the baby? The text doesn’t say, does it, but the text does describe their actions. They were in a hurry to see, that they searched for and found Him. In considering this, isn’t it ironic that He who is the Good Shepherd, the One who looks for lost sheep, who would die for His sheep was found by these whose business was the same?

v17 tells us that upon arriving they revealed to Mary and Joseph what the angel of God shared with them about this particular Child… He is the Savior, the Christ, the Lord!

v18 now from the text it appears, it looks as if others were present, for “all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds.” The shepherds did not contain the message, or obscure it, they simply shared it with all and everyone was astonished by what they heard.

v19 Things such as these which are so incredible, so profound, so paradoxical require meditation and the Mary the mother of Jesus verse 19 says that she treasured these things, considering them in her heart. Things such as these deserve great reflection and Mary treasured these the events that took place in Bethlehem.

v20 Eventually, the shepherds went back to their flock but they went in exceeding joy, “glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen” indeed it was exactly like had been told to them. The good news of great joy was indeed just that because Christ had come just as had been promised, just like it had been told them.

Begin Transitioning to application

God keeps His word, the “Seed of the woman” promised even in the beginning of Genesis had come in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Gal 4.4-5). Exceeding joy is a hallmark of those who have heard from the Lord, God glorifying praise must emanate from those who have seen His goodness.

Notes

Dazzled they decide to verify the sign [] Who are the “all who heard it” in verse 18? [] Action followed worship (Transitional item) [] Strange that the Shepherds already understand the birth of Jesus as a fact - see verse 15 - they simply desire to see it, not prove it because they already believed it - look at their haste

Questions

What does this text say about God

He is glorified and praised by not only angels but also people, extremely humble people like Shepherds and also powerful created beings like angels

What does this text say about Jesus

He was born, He is human, He was a Child [] He was humiliated even at birth - manger [] He wasn’t born an adult - He became weak [] He was mysterious to Mary (?) [] He was called Jesus - Yahweh Saves [] He was conceived in the womb of the virgin - Very God of God [] He was keeping the Law even as an infant

What does this text say about people

Shepherds saw first before they spoke [] Shepherds hurried σπεύσαντες to Bethlehem to see to marvel at what the Lord had revealed - they found their way, did they ask around, had anyone heard a newborn crying, a woman crying [] Shepherds believed the words that were told them about this Child [] The result of Shepherds faith was marveling by those who heard them, were they asking? [] Mary made it a point to revel in what was told her, to remember these things, to ruminate [] The Shepherds did not stay, they went back, presumably to their flocks(?) [] The Shepherds glorified God for everything that they had heard and seen and for the fact that it was exactly like God had revealed to them through His messenger the angel. [] Someone circumcised Christ [] His parents named Him Jesus, Yahweh Saves, announced by the angel before His Spirit came over Mary, the power of the Most High overshadowed her

What does this text say about angels

They returned from where they came

Cross References

Observations:

Warning

Application

Revelation 5:11–14“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.”

Hebrews 12:28–29“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.”

This is the Christ who was born, born in obscurity, who lived in perfect purity, who indeed was crucified in infamy. This Christ died in certainty, was buried in surety, and raised by His Father in victory and seen by many witnesses and He is the same Christ who will return.

DONE 231224 Luke 2: The Wonder In Our Worship

​