The Faithful Shepherds: Lessons from the First Christmas

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!”

You see we get so numb to the Christmas season

we encounter it every year

it almost feels normalized to us

when in reality it is an incredible season

when in reality it should be one of the mos joyful times of year for Christians

Summary: The theme of shepherds at Christmas highlights the humble yet crucial role these figures played in the nativity story, emphasizing faith, obedience, and the joy of sharing the message of Jesus' birth.

Application: This message encourages Christians to embrace humility in serving others and to boldly share their faith, just as the shepherds did, regardless of their status or background.

Teaching: This sermon teaches the importance of recognizing God's calling in our lives and responding with faith and action, as exemplified by the shepherds who were the first to witness and proclaim the good news of Jesus' birth.

How this passage could point to Christ: The shepherds serve as a foreshadowing of Christ as the Good Shepherd, who leads, protects, and cares for His flock. Their story reflects the invitation to all, especially the marginalized, to receive the Messiah.

Big Idea: God uses the humble and often overlooked to communicate His greatest truths and to share the joy of salvation with the world.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider exploring the socio-cultural context of shepherds during the time of Christ. Using your Logos library, you can examine relevant historical commentaries that discuss the significance of their role in Jewish society. Additionally, investigate the Hebrew scriptures' references to shepherd imagery, which can enrich your understanding of how Christ fulfills this role.

1. Surprising Shepherds Selections

Luke 2:8–10 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.

Where do we start

The shepherds

out keeping their sheep

watching their flock

these men who constantly were surrounded by dirt and grime

tired after watching sheep all day

they were often considered the lowliest of society at the time

yet...

Imagine the shepherds in the time of Christ, spending their nights under the stars, surrounded by smelly sheep, trying to keep awake. They were not the elite of society—more like the underdogs of the ancient world. Yet, these very humble men were chosen to be the first to hear the joyful news of Jesus' birth! It’s a beautiful reminder that God often chooses the unexpected to reveal His glory in the most delightful way.

These shepherds got a wake up call

the dead of night wakes up

they get a message from God

What a signal

a signal to the world

These shepherds the lowliest of lows getting a message from God

They were encountering the glory of the Lord

This was an astounding moment

a moment that resonates loads of joy

and love from God

A signal to the world that God came for all people

This was a message

even the angels said so themselves

these men were the first to hear of the greatest news on earth!

What a unique and astounding moment

they are in fear of these angels but they quickly signify do not fear

we have a grand message for you

2. Shepherds Hear Splendid News

Luke 2:11–14 ESV

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!”

It is interesting that shepherds were the first choice

it signifies God’s love towards all

it also parallels great with the Messiah

the shepherds were the first to hear the news of the “Great Shepherd”

the greatest shepherd

the shepherd of man

sent from God

What a wonderful storyline for the Messiah

a story that would stand the test of time

The angel does not literally say go find Jesus

instead the imply that the Shepherds should search for Jesus

they say the sign will be a baby wrapped in clothes laying in a manger

this is the big factor

Then it gets even better

the shepherds have been talking to the angel

the angel has shared grand news

they are awestruck in the glory of God

and then suddenly the heavens erupt

a multitude of angels appear

but no they do not appear quietly

they appear rejoicing

they appear shouting

as if the shepherds need any more hype to this story

they witness heavenly worship in this moment

they encounter a moment of glorious praise

then the angels split

3. Shepherds Share Savior's Story

Luke 2:15–20 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. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Then we see the impact of this message

remember these shepherds have just seen angels

they have been in the presence of the glory of God

with all of this the shepherds jump into action

they quickly said lets go to Bethlehem

the glory of God has no sooner left the field and the Shepherds are on their way

the excitement must have been brewing

they start moving towards Bethlehem with haste it says

they arrive

they find the Messiah just as the angels had promised

upon the sight of Jesus

they made known what they had been told concerning the child

they shared their story

they shared their testimony if you will of understanding

this would have been the first testimony of the Messiah

the shepherds had heard seen and had all their faith in that little boy named Jesus

the answer had been given to the world

we know that Jesus had come

it doesn’t say there were a ton of people around but it sounds as if some had followed into the stables here

these people were in awe

it doesn’t say they were in disbelief

they were in awe

they knew they were experiencing a grand miracle of the ages

God in the flesh

Mary

even already knowing and giving birth to the Son of God

pondered these things

you have to think that Mary would have still been in awe as well

after all she had experienced

it would still be a little surreal

she was holding the Savior of the world!

what a glorious message

then we see the shepherds leave in silence...

NO

the shepherds leave praising God

for what they had been told

for what they had seen

they knew due glory went to God!

Their awe turned in to worship

they were sharing the good message they had heard

the message that was changing hearts and Jesus couldn’t even talk yet!

Just God’s presence on earth had made a difference!

Where are you in your awestruck journey for God this morning?

Are you just experiencing His goodness for the first time?

Are you actively praising the King of Kings for all of His goodness and grace?

Or are you struggling because the awe that you encountered at Salvation has waned and unlike the shepherds you are walking in silence?