Why the Shepherds?
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This morning we felt led to break away from Acts for a Sunday and take a look at the Christmas story. Ever since last Sunday when I mentioned the shepherds...I just could not get them off my mind.
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
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;
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
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.”
So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
Why the Shepherds? Of all the people in that region, people from all walks of life.
Farmers
Artisans - Weavers, potters, silversmiths,
Craftsmen - Stone Masons, Carpenters
Merchants/Traders
Kings/Politicians
Why the Shepherds?
I’m gonna start with the obvious
The Kings wanted him dead.
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.
And I truly believe that this action stems from the decree in Gen 3:15
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
Satan has been after the seed of Eve since the very beginning.
Cain and Abel
Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.”
‘You shall not give any of your offspring to offer them to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God; I am the Lord.
Murder, child sacrifice, genocide.
The assualt on children has been raging since the beginning of time. Satan vs our Kids.
Fast forward to today.
Abortion. Over 63 million. (contrast that with 6 million Jews during Holocaust)
Transgenderism - Teens (13-14) being butchered,
Homosexuality (Which is more of an assualt on the family unit, but targets kids)
Pedophila, Epstein Island.
I had this thought back in Sept...I texted back and forth with preacher Joey about it....
Only 2 dieties have asked for a child sacrifice in Scripture. Molech and when God called Abraham to offer up Isaac.
Of these two...which one stopped the sacrifice?
God was testing the obedience of his servant. Already had a ram in place as a substitute.
Molech let the kids die.
God’s nature is love and obedience.
Thesse other gods of the world have a nature of destruction. Satan.
Anyway...I am kinda fascinated by this war on children. Satan is relentless and we have to be hyper vigilant in protecting our kids.
So why didn’t God chose a king to reveal His son...B/C they wanted him dead.
Why the Shepherds?
Shepherds were the lowliest of occupations.
The youngest son usually was assigned that role. (David)
Long days and long nights. Someone who understood hard work.
Filthy work. Outside work. Dirty. Sweaty. Livestock = Feces
Had to be a caretaker. Physician. Hurt animals, Doctoring wounds, aiding in birthing
It was for the lowly, common man.
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
Outside work, keeping the predators away.
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
Angel of the Lord - Phrase appears 64x in Bible (52 OT, 12 NT)
Matt (4x) Birth, 1x Resurrection
Luke - Zechariah, Shepherds
John - Pool of Bethesda stirring the waters
The Angel related to the birth:
4x Joseph (3x in a dream) - Not uncommon
1x Zechariah - In the Temple - Not uncommon
1x shepherds - SHOCKING
The Glory of the Lord
37x in Scripture (34x OT, 3x NT)
2 Cor Paul is descubing the glory of the lord. In Luke 2...the Glory is visible.
So the Shepherds are some of the only People in the NT to see the Glory of the Lord. Same word “DOxa” is used to describe Jesus’ Transfiguration
The Shepherds see the Glory of the Lord and they are terrified.
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;
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
The angel brings comfort...I bring you good news (euangelizō ). This is were we get our word EVANGELISM. The angel was evangelizing the shepherds! We bring you good news of great joy.
Which will be for all the people. So...what I am telling you...you need to tell others!
A Savior is Born. These shepherds were not scholars. They were not educated. But they would have been required to know the Torah. At an early age, they would recite the memorize the first five books. Genesis, Exodus, Lev, Numbers, Deut.
They would have know the History - Genesis - Exodus
And they would have know the Law - Leviticus, Numbers, Deut.
The would have known Gen 3:15 The Coming Deliverer.
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
They would have known about the Ark (Judgment and redemption of man)
They would have known the Abrahamic Covenant. All the Earth shall be blessed.
They would believe that a Savior (Messiah) was coming.
And the angels gave them a roadmap. A baby in a manger.
Who else would understand an outside birth other than the shepherds?
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
I really like the KJV better. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
So not just one angel...a heavenly host.
JOKE: What do you call one woman in heaven - ANGEL
What do you call several women in heaven - A HEAVENLY HOST
What do you call ALL women in heaven - PEACE ON EARTH!
The Angels put an exclamation point on this message for the shepherds.
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.”
This experience made an impact on the shepherds.
First an Angel appears.
He gives them a crazy message
Then a bunch of angels appear and seem to confirm this message.
And then they disappear into the heavens.
The the response of the shepherds???
They acknowledge that this was from GOD! The Lord has made known to us.
They straight away went to Bethlehem.
So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
They were in the neighborhood. They werent terribly far away. So they arrive on the scene...and THEY TELL!
They tell what happened.
Man we were just kicked back making sure nothing harmed our sheep and all of sudden this big angel dude just appeared and this bright bright light shown around him.
And he told us not to be scared that A Savior, the Messiah had been born.
And he told us how to get here. and to look for a baby in a manger
And then a whole bunch of angels came and started Singing...Glory to God in the Highest.
And then they just vanished into heaven.
Can you imagine hearing this story?
And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
Can we agree that this sounds crazy? Bizarre??
But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
Mary knew. Everyone else may have been sceptical. But not Mary and not the Shepherds.
Mary knew. This was her confirmation. This was her God wink. This is God telling her: Mary, I know this has been a crazy time. I know that you may have had your doubts. But this is real. He is my Son. You are His mother. And He is the Savior of the World.
Mary knew it.
The Shepherds knew it.
The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
This instance made a profound impact on Mary. It confirmed everything.
It also chagned these shepherds. They were the ones God chose. And do you notice they never questioned “Why us?”
I questioned it...Why the Shepherds? But they didn’t.
They just rejoiced and praised God.
So why the Shepherds?
God used this event to let the world know that Jesus is for everyone.
Not just the Kings, but the Shepherds too.
Not just the CEOs but the janitors.
Not just the teachers, but the students.
Not just the important, but the outcast.
The gospel is for all...and the fact that God chose the lowly shepherds to tell of his birth is a perfect example of this.
