Witnessing Luke 2:8-20

Witnessing Luke 2:8-20

Introduction:

Hi, I’m Jeremiah. I live in Jerusalem around the time you would call 33 AD. I have a story to tell you. But first, I have a question for you.

Do you know what a witness is? No - Okay then let me tell you.

According to the Dictionary of Bible Themes:

A witness is an individual who, having observed something take place, is able to give an accurate and full account of what has happened. A witness was of central importance to Old Testament law. The theme of giving an account is also of major importance to evangelism, which rests upon a believer to explain the impact of Jesus Christ upon their life.

Got it now? Do you understand - it will be important later. I may even test you on it.

You’ve probably heard of the Apostles. They are all witnesses to the life of Christ Jesus.

But have you heard about some of the things written by “The Witness”? Well, that’s his nom de plume. Let me tell you about him. His real name is:

Amos bar Benjamin. But everybody just calls him Amos. He was born in Jerusalem around the time that we call 33 bc. He was around 30 years of age at this time. So it’s some where around 3 bc by the new calendar. Amos was trained as a Scribe but was struggling with what that meant for him and the rest of his life. What he really wanted to do was be a journalist for the Jerusalem Herald but he was having a hard time getting noticed. Back then you had to come up with something big to make a difference and get published.

So one night he was on the roof of his flat when he saw a great light shining in the sky in the direction of Bethlehem. It was amazing, he later described it as the most wonderful thing he had ever seen. He decided immediately to go and see what this was about. Maybe it would be his chance for a big story. Unfortunately the light vanished within minutes. Oh well, I’ll go and see any way, maybe someone can tell me about it.

So Amos was off. Of course Bethlehem is about 8 miles away so it took a little while to get there, taxi service wasn’t very reliable back then. Here’s what he was able to find out:

As Amos was traveling the road he came upon a small group of people who were stopped for the night. They were traveling to Bethlehem for the census. In the group of sleeping people was one who was awake and watching over the others.

Amos: Hello kind Sir. I see you and your son are awake at this late hour. Did you happen to witness something unusual in the sky a little while ago?

Witness #1: Yes, Jeremiah, my son, says he saw something with lots of color and heard beautiful voices. He heard instructions for everyone to go to Bethlehem. But we are unable to break away from our group of fellow travelers because it is our turn to keep watch.

A little further down the road towards Bethlehem he found a lone shepherd on his way to Bethlehem so Amos stopped and questioned him.

Amos: Good evening. I see you are a shepherd who is traveling with his flock towards Bethlehem. Did you happen to witness something unusual in the sky a little while ago – with lots of color and beautiful voices instructing you to go to Bethlehem?

Witness #2: Yes, I was briefly awakened and aware that something unusual was happening. The beautiful voices were singing. But I was so very sleepy, and my sheep were bedded down nicely for the moment. I turned over and slept for another hour before waking my sheep and continuing my travels.

Amos continued his journey and as he neared Bethlehem he found a group of Shepherds and kept digging for information.

Amos: Hello, hard working shepherds! I am wanting to find someone who might have witnessed something unusual in the sky a little while ago – with lots of color, beautiful voices, singing, and instructions to go to Bethlehem? Do any of you have any information?

Witness #3: Yes! We saw most of the heavenly show. There were indeed beautiful colors, voices and singing! The head angel told us to go to Bethlehem to find a baby. But we were trying to find our lost sheep and we ended up lost ourselves. We found our sheep, and we are very tired. We have turned around and are on our way home now.

Further along another shepherd provided him with a bit more of the story.

Amos: Hello, good shepherd! I am desperately trying to find someone who witnessed the unusual visit from angels to tell of a baby in Bethlehem. Did you see the messenger? Have you found the baby?

Witness #4: Oh, that? Yeah, I saw it. Half blinded me, it did! The voices were harsh and didn’t make any sense – something about a baby, maybe named Christ. Lying in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. What respectable family would allow a baby to be born in a place where the animals… you know… live? I lost my temporary shepherding job just because I lost a few sheep. Go figure. Anyways, the angel said something about this Christ being the Messiah? I don’t believe any of it. I’m going home now.

As Amos was roaming through the streets of Bethlehem looking for the baby, trying not to get lost, like the one shepherd he found a couple more.

Amos: Wow! You guys look like you have seen heaven! Your faces are glowing and your smiles are wide and contagious! Tell me – did you see the messenger in the sky? Have you heard the whole message? Have you found the baby? Tell me what you know!

Witness #5: YES! We have seen the glory of the Lord in the heavenly host of angels He sent to tell us, to tell everyone, that the Messiah has been born. He is our Savior! He has been given to us! I found Him in a stable, lying in a manger. He is beautiful and I felt such peace looking into his face. You must go - see Him for yourself! You must tell others of Him! Come – I will take you to Him.

As Amos looked at the child he couldn’t help but to be drawn into the scene and to the new born baby. He’d seen babies before, but not like this one, He glowed. After a few minutes he sat down and described the scene, he even drew a picture of what he saw. Then he started looking for others to see what they had to say about what they had seen.

The next person he spoke with was a young lady from the town.

Amos: I must tell everyone what I have seen! You, young lady – let me tell you who I just met – I have met our Savior, the Messiah, sent from God. You must go see Him for yourself. He is the One the prophets have told would come to usher in God’s Kingdom.

Witness #6: Yes, I know. I know Him. I am Miriam the Inn keepers wife. I helped Him be born. He is wonderful. He made me feel rested, comforted, loved. I normally would never help anyone like that – especially not a poor girl giving birth in a dirty stable. But I was drawn, drawn to Him, the baby. I will always try to care for others now, as He has already cared for me…..

And then as he left there he found one last witness. Another person from the town of Bethlehem. It’s a good thing this is where Amos decided to stop searching for more witnesses.

Amos: I must continue to tell everyone what I have seen! You, Sir, you are a holy man – a pharisee! What joy I have discovered. You will understand. This is who we have been waiting for for over 400 years! Let me tell you who I just met – I have met our Savior, the Messiah, sent from God. You must go see Him for yourself. He is the One the prophets said would come to usher in God’s Kingdom.

Witness #7: Blasphemy! You speak heresy! Claiming the Messiah has been born in a dirty stable. We know the scriptures. The Messiah will be born a King. If you dare speak of this again, I will have you thrown out of the synagogue and brought before the Sanhedrin.

So Amos left town. And that’s how he got the facts for the biggest news story for the Jewish people since they rebuilt the Temple. You can probably guess what happened next. The story was published by the Herald and they took him on as a new member of the staff. He began writing a weekly column called “The Witness.” For thirty more years he would find the big stories that kept people informed about what was going on around Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. So here’s the story according to The Witness...

As published in the Jerusalem Herald and later the Gospel of Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:8–20 (NASB95)

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 suddenly 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 “This will be a 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.”

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

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

20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Now’s where I enter the story. It’s been about 33 years since that time and I am in the same situation Amos was in all those years ago. I have a choice to make. As I said earlier I am Jeremiah. I was born in Nazareth around 9 BC. On the night that Amos went searching for his big story my father who was a scribe was on his way to Bethlehem with his wife and children in tow. I was one of those children. My father was the first person Amos talked to as he began his search for a better life. My father didn’t lie when he said he hadn’t seen anything but some bright light. That is all he saw. But me, I was up on the hill top and saw the whole thing. I saw the light and the angels that caused it. I couldn’t hear everything but I heard enough to know that something special was happening in town and we needed to be there. But dad, always doing the right thing, refused to go. Said the others we were with depended on him to keep them safe. So I missed out. I missed Him the first night, but I have seen Him. I saw Him the next day and everyday for about a week afterwards. My parents didn’t keep a close eye on me so I would sneak away and see them. Turns out it was Mary and Joseph, from Nazareth, with their new baby Jesus. I told my parent’s about them but they didn’t want to hear about it so they told me not to see them anymore. My father said they weren’t the sort of people for me to be visiting. Something about sexual immorality. I didn’t get it then, but now I know it was all a part of God’s great plan. What’s really cool is that about 7 years later they moved back to Nazareth, after a few years in Egypt. That must have been cool, so I actually grew up knowing Jesus. Of course I was the rich lawyer’s kid and he was just a carpenter’s son - then. But that didn’t matter to us.

But now, He’s gone. Crucified. I spent the last three years of my life following Him whenever I could get away. I’ve tried to listen to everything he taught. Unfortunately, I wasn’t welcome when He spent time alone with His Apostles. I don’t know why. Maybe that’s why I’m having such a hard time with this decision.

You see, I was a fan. I followed Him when it was convenient for me to get away. That’s how I met Amos. Amos would come around once in a while and ask questions. I got to see him at work and I got to read his stuff. Man could he write. He tried to get everyone to believe. He taught me how to write too, he taught me how to be a witness. And that’s where I am stuck, I believed Jesus was the Messiah from the beginning, I grew up with Him and followed Him. I learned a craft from “The witness” the best journalist in the land during these last three years. But. But, my father won’t hear of it. He wants me to follow him in the family business. He wants me to be a lawyer. He has trained me well and he doesn’t want me to make the mistake of being a homeless vagrant roaming around preaching this gospel I keep talking about. The gospel that I can’t even get my own parents to believe. The gospel that is trying to tear me away from my parents and the life I know. You see one of the things that Jesus said was that he didn’t come to bring peace between family members. He said:

Matthew 10:34–39 (NASB95)

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 “For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

That’s where I’m stuck. Even though there are lots of people around me who have given up everything for Jesus. I can’t do it, I just can’t let go of my life and stuff. Part of resolving my struggle was to go back in time with Amos to revisit some of the people he spoke to on that night when Jesus was born. So we went to Bethlehem. It’s the first time I have been there since that week when we were there for the census.

It’s amazing, not much has changed. We searched for some of the shepherds who remembered that night. They were the same outcast, unclean bunch who are generally rejected by society because they are ceremonially unclean because of their profession. We didn’t find all of them, some have passed away, but others were still there keeping their flocks. As we spoke with them Amos noticed a change, or no change depending on how they reacted that first night.

The guy who got lost in Bethlehem and never found the baby Jesus was a hopeless and crass man who drank himself to sleep and never had a good thing to say about anything. To bad he didn’t try a little harder that night, or even listen to his fellow shepherds after wards.

A bit later we found the guy who found Jesus but saw nothing but a baby and went back to bed. He was a bit nicer but he didn’t seem to have much hope or peace either.

The other shepherd we found was one who found Jesus and started telling everyone about Him. It was actually the one that showed me the way to the stable. He still remembered me and everything about that night. He was still telling everyone he met that He had seen the Messiah with his own eyes and had held Him in his arms. He told us about the gifts the shepherds brought to give the baby when He was born. Gifts of love, devotion, faith and gratitude. Gifts that mattered the most. Gifts that he was still giving to Him to this day. Gifts that were given from a broken and contrite heart and a spirit that was so broken that he really had no hope. After all - Psalm 51:16-17 says:

Psalm 51:16–17 NASB95

16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Now that man he was full of hope, peace, and joy. He even told us about how he took a break from his herd a year or so ago and found that baby again. All grown up and teaching. He was there when He taught everyone about how to be in this life. Now he was certainly a witness, he told everyone how Jesus changed his life.

That’s when I became a witness. I told him and the others with us about what has happened in the last year. I told them the gospel message, the message I couldn’t get my parents to believe. I told them about Jesus being turned over to the Romans, how He was crucified and how He rose from the grave on the third day. I also told them that He died to take away the sins of the world. I told them how He had said if anyone believes in Him that they would be saved. Everyone there believed. Everyone of them. Wow, what a wonderful feeling to be able to lead people to Jesus.

After we left them we happened to find the Pharisee. He was still trapped in the law. Still stuck as a slave to sin. He was glad that the rabble rouser Jesus was dead and gone. He was drawing to many people away from the law. He was cold and heartless, no peace with God and no love for man. I wanted to smash a pot over his head.

Our last stop found us at the Inn. The old Inn keeper was there. His children were running the place now but he remembered that night. He still regretted the fact that he didn’t bring them inside, he didn’t do more for that couple and the baby that came along in his stable. As we questioned him more we found out that his wife was gone. She had died a few months after that night. You see King Herod was jealous and was worried about the reports of a new King of the Jews being born. It came to a climax when a caravan of wise men showed up wanting to find this new king. Well that sent him over the top, since his plan to find out about the one baby failed he had every male child in Bethlehem under the age of two murdered. Matthew 2:16-18

Matthew 2:16–18 NASB95

16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.”

Unfortunately Miriam tried to protect her one year old son so the soldiers killed her too. It was a terrible night. But the man and his children still believe. They still believe Jesus is the Messiah even though it was because of Him that their mother and youngest brother were not with them. They were a witness to how Christ Jesus changed their lives.

Now do you see my problem? I have spent time with Him and I am struggling to pick up that cross, when others who have spent less time with Him testify regularly about how He changed their lives. I think the difference is that they didn’t change their lives all that much. Like the shepherds, they are still shepherds. But me, He told me I had to give up everything. I once asked Him a simple question: Luke 18:18

Luke 18:18 NASB95

18 A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

His answer broke my heart: Luke 18:22

Luke 18:22 NASB95

22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

I couldn’t do that. I just couldn’t. So I started walking away, but as I left I heard Him say to Peter Luke 18:29-30

Luke 18:29–30 NASB95

29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”

So this is where I am stuck. Do I keep my life and all the stuff I have, or do I walk away and follow Jesus. But now He’s gone, it’s too late. Or is it? There are groups of followers, churches, popping up all over the city, Judea, Samaria, and we’ve even heard about one in Antioch and other places farther away. I could be a witness for Him by using what I have and know to tell others. After all I am a scribe, I can read and write I can become “The Witness”. What to do, what to do.

Wow, here I am rambling on about myself. What about You? Are you a witness? Have you beheld the Messiah? Have you turned your life over to Him?

He has a way of changing people. Faith brings with it the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is ever the same after that. You can try to run, you can try to hide but you can’t. When you accept Him He doesn’t want just part of you, He doesn’t want the parts you think are worthy of Him. He doesn’t want just the parts you are willing to give. He wants all of you, everything you have. He wants to take the good and the bad and make all of it better.

I remember what He said just before He was taken up into Heaven Acts 1:7-8

Acts 1:7–8 (NASB95)

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

He wasn’t talking to just those standing on the hill with Him. He was talking to every disciple that would come after them. All of His disciples will be filled with power. That power comes from the Holy Spirit. That power can make even you a witness, if you allow it to. I can’t imagine that you haven’t been changed by His presence in your life. Just tell people about how Jesus has touched you.

Let’s go back to part of that definition in the beginning:

The theme of giving an account is also of major importance to evangelism, which rests upon a believer to explain the impact of Jesus Christ upon their life.

So Go, be a witness. Tell others how you have been changed by Jesus. That may be the only time that person ever sees Jesus. That may be the only time that person ever has an encounter with someone who could help change their life in such a wonderful way.

Alright that’s enough.Thanks for listening to my story. I have made up my mind. I am going to follow Jesus. I am going to be a witness. I am going to tell others about the wonderful things He has done in my life.

Come and join me, together we can shout the good news from the mountain tops.

But first let’s Pray!