Unlikely Appearence
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o holy night! I love the part they said, To He appeared and the soul its worth!
Seasons Greetings! Some of us esteem today as a holiday some of us not so much.
Theres no judgement either way.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
There were some Shepherds in the “same country” meaning close proximity to Bethlehem.
Gods great plan is revealed to the lowly. Those who had a humble place in life which were these Shepherds.
This is a continuous fulfillment of Mary’s MAGNIFICAT, which is the song of Mary.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.
In this case there is no need to romanticized the occupation of these Shepherds.
In general shepherds were considered to be dishonest.
They were unclean according to the standards of the law.
These particular Shepherds were nomads,”living out in the fields” they didn’t live a stable life.
Thy were isolated from society therefore considered to be suspicious and couldn’t be trusted.
5. So these were nomadic shepherds who were separated from human communities and culture for long periods of time and inevibly subject to suspicion and scorn.
Popular lore accused them of failing to observe the difference between “mine” and “thine”.
They would prey on lonely travelers, they were often suspected of practicing the “craft of robbers”
Their prolonged absences and shattered reputation disqualified them from being legal witnesses.
A third-century rabbi, commenting on Ps 23, said, “There is no more despised occupation in the world than that of shepherds.” Along with gamblers and tax collectors, herdsmen were regularly listed among despised trades by Mishnah and Talmud.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
glory,” doxa, is nonmaterial, meaning “splendor” or “brightness.”
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Do not afraid- this is a word of assurance.
You ever been so afraid you can’t think straight. That you can’t process fully what is going on because mentally you are in fight of flight.
The angels had to reassure them that they weren’t in any danger. So they said “Do not be afraid.”
They went from fear to security with one phrase “do not be afraid.”
When it speaks in 1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Thats because in perfect loves there security there. There is space to make mistakes knowing that perfect love is there. There is space to be seen and heard knowing that perfect love is there. There is space to know and be known knowing that perfect love is there.
These angels are about to introduce perfect love to these Shepherds!
The angels are coming with good news! The Gospel.
Luke contrast “great fear”at the appearance of the angel to now with “great joy”
“An angelic appearance that simply impressed the shepherds with brilliance would have left them in fear. The purpose of the angelic appearance is not to stun or dazzle, but “to bring you good news””
“good news to the poor” Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
That was the defining characteristic in Jesus ministry was “good news to the poor.”
These quote unquote bad shepherds were the first to recognized the “Good Shepherd”!!
The good news is that the Messiah is here.!
God could’ve came in many ways down to earth. As strong warrior or a king. But He came here in the weakest most vulnerable way a baby.
George Macdonald said,
“They all were looking for a King
To slay their foes and lift them high:
Thou came, a little baby thing
That made a woman cry.”
“There should have been more than just a few shepherds and angels to welcome Him—all of creation should have been there.” J. Vernon Mcgee.
The angel said that he brings good tidings!
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
How can they preach unless they are sent!
Who sent the Angels to speak to the shepherds? God did!
The weren’t self sent and self proclaiming.
But God sent them.
We are sent but God to be heralds of the good news! Good tidings.
Paul is saying that the preaching of the Christian message is impossible without the divine commission.
Moses’ Law was not glad tidings, but a ministration of death and condemnation.
“The Law worketh wrath.” But the gospel—“Glad tidings! Good things!” And God who knows, calls “beautiful” the feet that carry such news. Are our feet “beautiful”—in God’s eyes?
How beautiful are the feet. We usually don’t associate feet with beauty. But the gospel being proclaimed to the world makes ones feet beautiful.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Christ means the Anointed One which is The Messiah!
The Anointed One was understood by Jewish people to perform a special service like that of a priest. But they knew that this Messiah would be Gods chosen deliverer. Little did they know it would be God Himself who would come to save man from there sins.!
Jesus was not simply a anointed one but The Anointed One!! The Messiah !
“Lord is used in the Septuagint of God (it is used in other ways as well, but it is the translation of the name Yahweh). Christ the Lord thus describes the child in the highest possible terms.”
vs 12 - It wasn’t good enough for the angels to tell the Shepherds these things were happening that had to see Jesus for themselves.
The difference between the wise men and the Shepherds.
Remember, there is one thing in which they had a preference over the wise men. The wise men needed a star to lead them; the shepherds did not. The wise men went wrong even with a star, and stumbled into Jerusalem; the shepherds went straight away to Bethlehem. Simple minds sometimes find a glorified Christ where learned heads, much puzzled with their lore, miss Him.
Charles Spurgeon
But these Shepherds were perfect representations for whom Christ came. These outcast were the first recipients of the good news.
See how divine care adds faith. An angel tells Mary, an Angel tells Joseph, an angel tells the shepherds. It does not suffice that a messenger is sent once. For every word stands with two or three witnesses.
