Shepherd's Response Luke 2:8-20
Notes
Transcript
, Response of the Shepherds
, Response of the Shepherds
(Rough draft)
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. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Missing Jesus at Christmas vs. Seeing Jesus at Christmas
When Alissa was 3 our family took a trip to Disney World. We had a great time.
When you take kids on a trip every moment isn’t always happy.
One of those unhappy moments was when we entered Disney World and were going down main street in the Magic Kingdom. This is the entry point to where the park starts to open up to its grander. It sets the feeling and theme for the park.
There was my 3 year old having a meltdown. We got her a big sucker, we got her a Mickey Mouse balloon, but she wasn’t having it. I was pushing a screaming unhappy child down main street at the happiest place on earth.
-I wanted her to see it and get it. I grew up in Florida and been to Disney 20 times and this was her first. Now we look back and that moment was comical.
What is not comical is when we miss Jesus in Christmas.
About 10 years ago, after Christmas was over I looked around and asked myself spiritually - What just happened? I had given and received gifts. Gone to all the activities. Laughed with my friends, but came up empty. I missed Christmas, because I missed Christ.
This year with a late thanksgiving and December 1 being Sunday - Christmas has caught us by surprise. Some of us are already playing catch up.
What does it take to get a clear view of Jesus at Christmas?
What does it take to embrace Jesus at Christmas?
Today the Shepherds are going to guide the way.
Transition - The first thing we see in our text is...
I. I must be humble to see Jesus.
Jesus revealed himself to those who had nothing to be prideful about.
Who did God reveal himself to first?
Mary - poor and unkown
Joseph - the poor and lowly
The Shepherds - who were not highly respected.
-Why were the shepherds low and not highly respected
-Shepherds because of their job could not keep the Sabbath and attend Synagogue. -They had to tend to the flock on the Sabbath - so they were considered unclean or unworthy.
-Most were not highly educated.
-Most were not able to attend Synagogue on the Sabbath.
-Most were not highly educated.
-A few shepherds were dishonest and this reflected on the other shepherds.
-There was a saying about Shepherds that if they tried to sell you something (like clothing or bread) you should consider it stolen.
-Shepherds were lower in the social class.
-Do you know anyone in a lower social class?
Jesus comes to the lowly shepherds and identifies with them.
Most Shepherds had an undeserved reputation.
Because some shepherds were
God reveals himself to the lowly -
He does not come as a triumphant King parting the skies, with trumpets and lights and come down in broad daylight into Jerusalem or to Rome.
He identifies with the lowly and the humble. He loves the lowly and humble.
He identifies with the lowly and shows humility by wrapping himself is swaddling clothes (torn strips of rags).
-His crib is a manger, that animals eat out of.
God reveals himself to the lowly. He has a heart for the humble.
A humble and contrite heart God does not despise. (Psalm 57:17)
If you are going to love who Jesus loves you will love the lowly and humble.
If you are going to receive Jesus - your spirit must not be about self and being number one, but your spirit must be humble.
What are you out for in life?
What are you out for in life?
-My goals. My life. My experience. My Christmas?
The bigger question is - What is God’s goals for your life?
-What is God’s direction for your life?
What does God want you to experience in life?
He wants you to experience Him.
We love the Christmas trees. Christmas isn’t about the Christmas tree.
We love being with family and giving gifts. Christmas is not about family and gifts.
Christmas is about humbly loving Christ.
I must humbly seek Jesus.
Receiving Christ must be done with a Humble heart.
Receiving Christ must be done with a Humble heart.
-Praying? Listening? Singing about Christ?
I must humbly seek Jesus.
God is not a respecter of persons. He doesn’t owe you anything or necessarily prefer you spiritually because you have been successful in school, in work, in sports, or in your family life.
Transition - When we see Jesus, I must look for His greatness.
Transition - When we see Jesus, I must look for His greatness.
vs. 10 Christ came for all people.
II. I must see the greatness of Jesus.
II. I must see the greatness of Jesus.
I must see the greatness of Christ.
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.
Who is Jesus? The angel tells us...
A. Savior - Jesus was born to be a Savior because you needed a savior.
Would you say this out loud with me - “I need a Savior.”
What does it mean that I need a Savior?
-That I have a spiritual need a need that follows me into eternity.
-My sins separate me from God.
-God must punish sin.
-Jesus came to earth to pay the price for my sins by dyeing on a cross.
-For Jesus to by my Savior I must trust that He paid the price for sin and make him my King.
Jesus was born to be a Savior because you needed a savior
Transition - Jesus was the Savior. The angels told the shepherds that he was also the Messiah/Christ
Christ’s atoning work applies to all who receive Him personally as Savior and Lord.Christ/Messiah
B. Messiah/Christ = Anointed one
Christ/Messiah
Jesus was Anointed, he was set apart to save God’s people.
-Who was anointed in the O.T.
-The Prophets - Jesus as God was the greatest prophet.
Jesus was the greatest fulfiller of prophecy and the greatest foreteller of the future. As God He is the only one who knows the future.
Who else was anointed in the O.T.?
-The High Priest - Jesus as God was the greatest High Priest ever have the title.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Rom 8;34
There is no longer a need for a Priest to intercede to God for you. Why?
Christ’s blood has interceded for the Christ follower.
Christ himself sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for you as your great high priest.
Who else was anointed in the O.T.?
The Kings - Jesus being God is the King of his Kingdom. He will come again to rule over all the earth.
The most important question is - is He your King. Do you follow and obey Him as your king?
If not, what is holding you back from following Jesus as your king.
The shepherds would have recognized what Christ the Lord meant.
Jesus is the anointed one who is to be our master.
Transition - in verse 10 tells us that this Joy about Christ is for all people.
Lord
Christ’s atoning work applies to all who receive Him personally as Savior and Lord.
How does this show God’s greatness?
The word Christ (Messiah) refers to His Messianic office as the anointed King of Israel who will sit on the throne of His ancestor King David and reign over the house of Jacob forever. His Kingdom will never end (cf. 1:32–33).
For who was this Messiah Savior?
When we look closer into the New Testament we see that this statement fights back against those who think they are unworthy of a Savior.
The word Lord speaks of His rank as “LORD OF LORDS” () and refers to His absolute sovereignty and divine authority over everything in the universe.For who was this Messiah Savior?
There was a popular belief that God blessed only certain kinds of people.
This verse reminds us that Jesus was ...
C. A Savior Messiah for all classes of people
-Jews and Gentiles
White, Black, Hispanic, Asian
-Slaves, Free, Roman Citizens, politicians, business owners, the working class, the homeless, the sick and disabled ...
Why would this announcement for “all people” all classes of people need to be said?
Because bigotry is in the heart of all men.
Illustration - A friend of mine (who I worked with in the past) very kind man who was growing as a Christ follower … was traveling out of town. He struck up a conversation with other travelers. They start to get to know each other. In the conversation he mentioned that he worked for a church. The strangers got excited and said, “Oh, are you the pastor? He said no, I’m the janitor.” Their faces fell, they practically stoped talking to Him.”
God does not push certain classes of people out.
HE BRINGS YOU NEAR.
We see His greatness in bringing all kinds of people near.
When the angel told the shepherds that they would have joy because Jesus would be for all people - they got that - they needed a God that would not reject them, but who would love them.
If you are a Christ follower, has brought you near.
Here is the question - in your daily walk are you staying close to Him?
Transition - We must be humble to see Jesus and look for His greatness.
Christ’s atoning work applies to all who receive Him personally as Savior and Lord.
The word Christ (Messiah) refers to His Messianic office as the anointed King of Israel who will sit on the throne of His ancestor King David and reign over the house of Jacob forever. His Kingdom will never end (cf. 1:32–33).
The shepherds respond by:
The shepherds were overwhelmed by His greatness.
The word Lord speaks of His rank as “LORD OF LORDS” () and refers to His absolute sovereignty and divine authority over everything in the universe.
A. Belief
The shepherds respond by:
III. I must worship
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.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
When your life is deeply impacted, you sit back and marvel at what has happened. This is what the Shepards did...
A. Worship
A. Worship - Shepherds gave their hearts and minds over to being overwhelmed by God’s greatness. They worshiped.
One of the ways they worshiped was by telling others.
They made known what had been told them and what they saw.
B. Telling/Sharing - When you life has been deeply impacted you not only marvel and worship, but you tell others.
Illustration - When I worked with youth we would sometimes go to Six Flags or Carowinds.
I would take a group of middle school boys who had never ridden the big giant roller coasters. In their head they wanted to. In their heart they were afraid. We would start on the small rides at first by the end of a long day, they rode the big ones.
-They were so excited that they conquered their fear - they went home telling everyone that they rode the big one. At age 12 their had been impacted.
-Some of you have grandchildren. I know because that’s all you’ll talk about. Your life has been impacted, so you tell everyone.
Question - Have you this season been impacted by the humility of the Savior?
Have you taken time to worship Him? ...
Closing?
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Notes-
Jesus birth was first announced to the poor (Mary, Joseph, Angels)
Jesus comes to the rejected (shepherds) and identifies with the lowly (swaddling clothes & manger),
vs. 8, Glory of the Lord shone around them, The glory of God
The radiance of God’s glory shone around them. What is this radiance? It is glory - the Holiness of God revealed. When sinful man is confronted with the holiness of God, we see only one response come forth from every person who has been confronted with God’s holiness - fear.
Why fear? The perfection and might of God is so grand compared to the brokenness and smallness of a human it is terrorizing.
If the response to the glory of God that surrounded an angel is terrorizing fear, imagine what the response would be to experiencing God Himself in His glory.
-If you did not die, you would fall to your face on the ground and quake in tears and terror.
vs. 10, Christ will be for all the people (this was scandalous)
vs. 11, Savior who is Christ the Lord (unpack this identity)
vs. 13-14, Heaven celebrates in worship
Vs.
vs. 19, Mary treasured and pondered this in her heart
How did the Shepherds respond?
vs. 17, “they made known”
vs 20, Shepherd’s - celebrate and worship
from “Grace to You”
God revealed Jesus’ birth to the shepherds to shame the religious leaders. God, revealing such news to the shepherds is consistent with Paul’s teaching it in . He says, “But God chose what is foolish to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are.” You might say, but the religious leaders didn’t know they were being put to shame! That’s right, and the wise, strong, and favored in the world don’t know it either. They are not put to shame in their own eyes, but in God’s eyes.
God revealed Jesus’ birth to the shepherds to bring them joy (). What brought the shepherds joy was not the birth of a baby per se, but birth of the Messiah in particular. The angel said this news is “great joy for all people” (), but then narrowed it by saying, “For unto you is born this day . . .” (). This announcement was specifically for them. Even though only the shepherds received this announcement that night, God directed Luke to record the event so every believer can share in the joy of their Messiah’s birth.
Christ’s atoning work applies to all who receive Him personally as Savior and Lord.Christ/Messiah
Lord
The word Christ (Messiah) refers to His Messianic office as the anointed King of Israel who will sit on the throne of His ancestor King David and reign over the house of Jacob forever. His Kingdom will never end (cf. 1:32–33).
The word Lord speaks of His rank as “LORD OF LORDS” () and refers to His absolute sovereignty and divine authority over everything in the universe.For who was this Messiah Savior?
The word Savior speaks of Christ’s ability to deliver physically and spiritually through Jesus’ pre-determined death on the cross for humanity’s sin.
Christ’s atoning work applies to all who receive Him personally as Savior and Lord.
The word Christ (Messiah) refers to His Messianic office as the anointed King of Israel who will sit on the throne of His ancestor King David and reign over the house of Jacob forever. His Kingdom will never end (cf. 1:32–33).
The word Lord speaks of His rank as “LORD OF LORDS” () and refers to His absolute sovereignty and divine authority over everything in the universe