Sermon Tone Analysis

Shepherds…to the least of these

This is the second of four Sundays of Advent.

Last week we looked at the Birth of Jesus from Joseph’s perspective.

Joseph had no standing in his world.

He was a carpenter.

He fell in love with this “young” girl, maybe only 14.

It was a different culture then.

This was accepted.

He would have been paid a dowry to make Mary his wife.

This is the point that he was in the story…he was as we would call it, engaged.

They were pledged to each other.

This act was called “betrothal” was regarded as binding, so that the breaking of a betrothal was legally equivalent to divorce.

Joseph had a choice when he found out that Mary was pregnant.

He could have brought the Pharisees, who would have brought Mary out and stoned her to death, but Joseph heard from God through an Angel in a dream.

This Angel told him to “fear not.”

After NOT hearing from God for 400 years.

This Angel told him to “fear not”

That pretty much said it all to Joseph.

He obeyed the Spirit and changed his course forever.

We don’t know much about this “Joseph” after the birth and up to about Jesus 12th birthday.

Thank you Joseph for stepping out of your comfort zone, for stepping aside of the prevailing thoughts in your world, for moving in the direction of God and away from the Law, and for listening to the Spirit and changing the world while you where at it.

- To God Be The Glory.

Our focus for this week are the “Shepherds” and their part in the birth of Jesus

Of course Shepherds, shepherd right?

They tend the sheep in this case that are charged with watching over.

They are men and boys who are young.

They go away from home for a long periods of time raising the sheep and then returning as the season changes.

They are pretty scruffy!

As you might guess they don’t live very well.

They sleep near their sheep, eat when the sheep eat, sleep when the sheep are awake and constantly have one year open for the alarm of the approaching wolf.

We are so familiar with the Christmas story we’ve lost its shock factor.

We see shepherd figurines in stores and front lawns, we sing about them, our children dress like them.

We are confronted by the image of shepherds a hundred times each December.

But do you reflect on why they are in the story?

The story of Jesus’ birth is short and includes a small cast of characters.

Anyone involved plays a big role.

On one level, the shepherds hear an announcement, find the baby, and go back to work.

As far as we know it didn’t change their lives, they didn’t become disciples, and there is no record of them spreading the news beyond those present with Mary and Joseph.

If that’s the case, why are the shepherds in the story?

The angels reserved their most magnificent announcement of Jesus’ birth for the least likely recipients.

Who were shepherds, and why did they deserve such a privilege?

Shepherding is one of the oldest professions in the world.

Adam was charged to have dominion over the animal kingdom (),

and Abel is called a “keeper of the sheep” ().

Throughout biblical history, significant men were experienced shepherds—Jacob and his sons, Moses, and David.

and Abel is called a “keeper of the sheep” ().

Throughout biblical history, significant men were experienced shepherds—Jacob and his sons, Moses, and David.

Throughout biblical history, significant men were experienced shepherds—Jacob and his sons, Moses, and David.

Shepherding is also a prominent theme in Scripture.

Remember ?

“The Lord is my Shepherd . .

.”

God as shepherd is all over the Old Testament, and Jesus is described as a shepherd in the New Testament.

Believers are comforted by Jesus’ words, “I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep… I know my own and my own know me . . .

I lay my life down for the sheep.”

In many respects, shepherding is a noble occupation.

But there is a downside to shepherding.

Shepherds had a hard time maintaining religious purity as the Pharisees defined it.

They couldn’t keep the Sabbath because sheep need constant protection.

Shepherds spent most of their time in the fields away from society and had no influence to speak of.

In modern terms they were blue-collar workers largely unnoticed by those in power.

Shepherds were in the lower classes of society.

So why shepherds?

Why would God choose to make His most spectacular announcement to a group least able to spread it?

Let’s get to our passage for this week

Yes, it would make sense—from a human perspective and with a human agenda.

But God’s perspective and God’s agenda are quite different from ours.

Open your bibles if you would please to

This is the birth story of Jesus...

You see Joseph was a citizen and as a citizen followed the laws demanded of him by Rome.

In order to comply Joseph had to make a trip with Mary on the back of donkey to Joseph’s hometown, Bethlehem.

Luke 2.5

Once in Bethlehem, the baby, who would be called Jesus, was born.

Jesus was born!

Jesus was born!

Jesus was born!

No it was not quite like that.

There was no fanfare, no celebration, no fireworks, no one fell flat on the ground worshipping God.

To most who came to the manger this was yet another young girl who had gotten pregnant without being married.

This was somewhat different in that her fiance’ the one promised to her was with her.

The Jews were so anxious to finally see their Messiah come that there were many, many “virgin births” at this time.

There was a group that God chose to make a noise about this birth… the Shepherds.

Here is a funny look at what the Shepherds might have said that night.

***VIDEO 4:20***

They were simply doing what Shepherds do...

Marlee Weets is going to come and share with us what’s like to be a sheep farmer.

***Testimony 5:00***

Then out of all of the people on earth… The Romans, the Pharisee’s, the landowners, the sheep owners, the Priests, and multitudes of others, God chose the Shepherd’s to announce the coming of the Messiah.

Then it happened...

So why shepherds?

Why would God choose to make His most spectacular announcement to a group least able to spread it?

We’ll consider some possibilities next time.

In the meantime, make sure you take the time to read or listen to John’s messages on .

He provides fascinating historical detail and, as always, illuminates the passage in a meaningful way.

This Angel came again…sounds like the same one that visited Joseph last week and told him it was OK to be married to the young girl Mary even though she was pregnant…pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

These lowly shepherds who are worth less than the sheep they herded were to be in charge of “Good News” that will cause great joy for all the people.”

Here is the Good News that they learned that night

Luke 2.

After they picked themselves off the ground...

The Shepherds, the least of these were the first to visit the baby Jesus.