Christmas: From the Shepherds to the World

During the month of December we will be going through the advent calendar but we will do so from the point of Jesus birth forward. We will explore the story of the Shepherds, the wisemen, Mary and Joseph, and lastly Jesus. During this month it is my prayer that we will take a break from the corporate Christmas design and lean into the heavenly design and true purpose for the Christmas season. The first recorded Christmas was in 336 AD in Rome and was a catholic mass dedicated to the gift of Jesus. There has long been a discussion of why December 25th? Truth is there are many different theories that are floated. The one theory that makes the most sense given the time and location of the first recorded Christmas would be that Saint Jerome decided that it was the best date because December was a month that the Catholic church was not already celebrating something else. We often times forget that Christmas started out and is still a christian Holiday. It started in the catholic church as Christo Masse and was a mass to celebrate the gift of Jesus to the world. What we do know is that Christmas is so much more than the lights, celebrations, and eggnog. Christmas started over 2000 years ago when God sent His son to live a sinless life and to lay his life down as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Christmas started when God chose a virgin girl betrothed to a man with character, to bring Jesus into this World and to raise Him as their own. It started when Mary and Joseph were committed to what God told them His plan was.

When a child is born we send baby announcements. Who do you send baby announcements to? We often send them to every single family member, to all our friends. Baby announcements go out as a way to tell the world we are so excited about our children and that we are excited that they are finally here. Baby announcements though cost money as does shipping so if you are like me then you send them to the most important people in your life. The family members and best friends.

You would expect God to do the same thing. When Jesus got here you would expect that God would send the announcement to kings and foreign leaders. To the religious leaders and the Rabbis. You would expect that this announcement would go to all the most important people in the World. Then when you read this story you find that God announced it to shepherds. Why shepherds? What was so special about them and why would God choose lowly shepherds when He could have announced it to so many other people? Today we will be in Luke 2:8-19

Luke 2:8–19 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.

In this Scripture we will see why God chose these Shepherds. First we will see that they Listened respectfully.Second we will see that they responded Faithfully. Third we will see that they Praised wholeheartedly.

Listened Respectfully

Luke 2:8–14 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!”

God chose to present His message to the shepherds because they were of a humble mindset. The Shepherd by time Jesus was born had declined in its position. Once an honored position, this position now was one where a shepherds could not even testify in court. So here is the thing there are two different sides to this story of shepherds at the time of Christ. The first is that they still maintained their stately jobs and that they were regarded as honorable. The other side is that their position had over the years been viewed as less than worthy jobs. I cannot tell you with a clear conscience that I have a 100% accurate answer on this. What I can tell you is that based on my research if they were regarded as honorable they were still seen as what the religious elite would consider as ceremonially unclean. The shepherds were hard working people who often worked 7 days a week to ensure the protection of the sheep. Because they had to work 7 days a week they did not take part in the sabbath and so were viewed as unclean. They were only permitted so far in the temple before they were stopped from going any further. While they may have still held a position of some honor to some they were viewed as third class citizens by others. Their job was hard, it was nasty, and it lent them to be classified at least by the Levitical laws as unclean. Why would God choose to deliver this message to these people? The reason was that they were not overly religious. To say that they were not religious at all is a false statement. All people in this time were “religious” Jews in particular took great pride in their history and customs. To find a Jew that did not maintain the customs and rituals of the time was not going to happen. The shepherds though because they were not overly religious did not have closed ears to the messiah. You see the religious leaders already had in mind who they were looking for as the messiah. The messiah in their minds would come from a wealthy family and would be a true born leader who would deliver them from the oppressions of Rome and also bring about the restoration of the old kingdom. Their ears would not listen to the message of a messiah born into a manger. The shepherds would though and they did! They listened because they were the least likely to be given the religious message to send to the world. Let’s face it no shepherds were leading synagogue and no shepherds were leading the prayers in the temple. They were not looked to for spiritual leadership and this is exactly why God chose them because they would listen.

Back in 2016 I had just been promoted to management and was just getting th hang of things. I was doing some training in Atlanta and was selected to be a part of a team working with our Senior Vice President at the time Tracey Garner. I was in awe, why would they choose me? I had no experience in management and I was not prepared to be a part of a team that was going to deliver a new product and process to the entire company. When Tracey arrived for our first meeting I sat in that room I sat there and listened with my mouth shut. I didn’t dare open my mouth and let her know how inexperienced I was and how I did not deserve to be there. I simply listened. As she spoke she told us that we were selected because we were new managers and we did not already have closed mindsets on what we could and could not do and what we were going to be asked to do was going to seem impossible. She knew that we were not experienced and she still chose us to be a part of this team. I knew that I was an important part of the team because I didn’t deserve to be there.

God chose the shepherds because they did not deserve to be nor were they the ones everyone would expect to bring the greatest message the World would ever hear. The shepherds were chosen because they would listen. When the Angels appeared to them they were in fear, they were then told not to fear and were given the message that the Messiah had arrived. They would first understand like I did that they did not deserve to be there. The shepherds were not going to be allowed in the temple to share the message so they would need to share it in the streets and in the homes. God designed for this message to not be one of religious origins but of relational origins. Jesus was designed to be introduced into the heart of all people not set up as some shrine in a temple. The scripture tells us that God uses the humble and weak. Why because they listen when He speaks.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Psalm 138:6 ESV

6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

Isaiah 57:15 ESV

15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Isaiah 66:2 ESV

2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

This is the same attitude that the Shepherds had in the presence of God’s Angels, imagine the heart they had towards God.

How is your heart? Are you of a heart that is willing to listen? Humble and contrite and ready for God to speak? The shepherds were chosen because God knew their hearts and knew that they would Listen Respectfully. They were also chosen because they would Respond Faithfully.

Responded Faithfully

Luke 2:15–19 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. 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.

It was first important for God to find people who would listen respectfully, understanding just who was delivering this message and who the Angels were representing. The second part of this was that God needed to ensure that the ones who recieved the message did with it what He intended. Who better to choose than men who would no matter the weather and no matter the dangers protect the sheep? A shepherd did not carry with him a place of protection. It is not like today. Today you get an enclosed side by side with AC and heat and you can ride with them sheep every where. These men had to be dedicated and willing to walk for miles and find ways to protect them and the sheep. These men were the type of men who had to be willing to work 7 days a week. God chose the shepherds because He knew they were dedicated and once given the message would deliver it to the World. This message was not a message that could wait it needed to be told now and it needed to be told with urgency. Listen to what the scripture says.

Luke 2:15–16 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.

These men could have run the other way and hidden themselves. Remember they were fearful. These men had no Levitical calling and were under no legal standing to deliver this message as told to do so by the Angels. They had every ability to turn around and run away. They did not though. It says that as soon as the angels went away they turned to each other and set lets go. They did not say, let’s go when we are prepared. Let’s go after we take the sheep back home. No they said let’s go now. The scripture continues to say they did so with haste. Are you a person who can be counted on by God to deliver His message and do so with Haste? What was so important about this message? Lets see what the scripture says.

Luke 2:17–19 ESV

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.

The message was important for those around Mary and Joseph they were amazed at what the shepherds said and it brought them to a place of worship. Look though what it did for Mary. The scripture says that Mary treasured up these things and pondered them in her heart. This was confirmation of God’s promise to her. You see she knew that Jesus was special because she was a virgin. She rested in the truth of what God told her and the confirmation of the shepherds. This was God both delivering the message to the world and confirming to Mary her role in His plan. This helped to ensure that Mary understood her role as the mother of the Messiah and how he needed to be raise. This reassured Joseph of his responsibility as the earthly father of the Messiah. It was very important for the Shepherds to respond faithfully because it impacted the world around them. One might wonder what would have happened had the shepherds kept this to themselves and walked away. Would Mary have been fortified and would the others around her have known the significance of Jesus? We must be willing to respond faithfully when God gives us the words to speak. Are you a person who responds faithfully or are you the type to run from God’s message and plan?

Govern my heart, that I may be willing and even eager to profit, lest the opportunity which thou now givest me be lost through my sluggishness. Be pleased at the same time to root out all vicious desires of seeking thee. Finally, let the only end at which I aim be so to qualify myself in early life, that when I grow up I may serve thee in whatever station thou mayest assign me.

John Calvin.

Do you understand what Calvin was writing here? We cannot be sluggish and we must be committed to do what God has placed on our hearts.

Proverbs 3:3–4 ESV

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

1 Samuel 12:24 ESV

24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.

Luke 16:10 ESV

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

The shepherds first listened respectfully, They then responded faithfully. Are you listening to God are you listening respectfully understanding who He truly is? If so are you responding faithfully? What things are God calling you to do? Are you following through with doing them? The shepherds listened respectfully, they responded faithfully, and they worshiped wholeheartedly.

Worshiped Wholeheartedly

Luke 2:20 ESV

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

Worship came as a response of the shepherds listening respectfully and responding faithfully. The worship they had in their hearts was the type of worship that cannot be held in a building or sung in a song. This was the type of worship that changed their lives forever. These men knew Jesus was the son of God and believed in Him. Before Jesus earthly ministry began He was already delivering salvation. The Shepherds left glorifying God and praising God. They were a part of His plan and were used to change the world. God wants to use you in the same way. Do you want real worship in your life that extends beyond this building and beyond all the songs? Do you want the type of worship that extends into your life? This worship comes from listening to God and following through with His callings in our lives.

I have often shared stories about my family and this Sunday is no different. When I was early in my gym days I started listening to others who appeared to be successfully and I wanted so badly to be successful at losing weight an gaining muscle. I listened to a YouTube channel that told me that I could get an electrical unit that attached to my body and would work my body out for me while I slept or worked. This sounded amazing to me. It was the solution to all my dreams, I did not have to go to the gym but would look like I did. I spent 45.99 on the unit and I could not wait to get it. I opened the box as soon as I recieved it and I put batteries in the unit and attached the sticky pads to my arms. I turned the unit on and immediately it began to cause my muscles to tense and release. It felt like it was going to work great. The problem came in when I tried to do anything while wearing this thing. Have you ever tried to drive with your biceps twitching? It is nearly impossible. Not completely impossible but nearly. I almost wrecked a few times. If that sounds bad try wearing the stupid thing to bed. I tried one night and kept myself up all night smacking myself in the face. I finally threw the stupid thing away.

What was the issue? The issue is that I could change everything on the outside but until I ate healthy and started working out nothing I was doing was going to help. This machine offered the opportunity to give me what I wanted and change my life without all the work. That is not how life works though, it is also not how faith works. There are many people trying to experience true worship through changing everything on the outside and by experiencing the right kind of music, the right kind of preaching, the right kind of lights and sounds and classes. The fact though is that until you start living and working out your faith you will never experience true worship. True worship and change in the world comes when we stop being lazy Christians and get involved in the things God is calling us to do. This requires that we listen to God respectfully, and when He speaks we respond Faithfully, this results in Worshiping Wholeheartedly. What are you looking for this morning? Is it a feeling? Is it an emotion? I cannot offer you those things what I can offer you is the opportunity to respond in obedience to what God is calling you to do. Get involved in what He is doing, bless those He has placed around you. Be the change in the world that everyone around us needs. Love unconditionally and experience Worship unbound.

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

The Shepherds were chosen because they would Listen Respectfully, Respond Faithfully, and Worship Wholeheartedly.