Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Today we are continuing to look at the Advent of the Messiah, this morning we are going to look at the idea of Joy.
Joy was ushered in the story through the shepherds.
The shepherds, the most coveted part in the Christmas play for boys.
Well, not really, it was the easiest part to fill.
I remember growing up and the many years the director of the children’s program will ask all the boys to bring your housecoat.
You will be a shepherd.
There is no skill needed.
Most plays don’t even have lines for the shepherds, perfect for the shy boys, who do not want to speak.
In one church I served at, there was a lady who spent the entire year searching garage sales for sheep.
She would bring them out on the Christmas story day and fill the whole stage with sheep, because, well, the shepherds were watching their sheep.
They are in the story.
I grew up thinking that the shepherds were just a small part in the story, but recently, my thinking has changed.
This morning as we look at the shepherds, who brought in the Advent of the messiah, we will discover the joy that came along with this advent.
Turn with me to the second chapter of Luke.
We will be reading the story in sections.
We will be looking at the shepherds, the angels, and their various responses.
Shepherds Joyfully on Duty
Shepherds joyfully on duty.
For years, I had and understanding that these shepherds were the average shepherd of their day.
There is nothing wrong with being a shepherd, after all, they provide the source of food.
But if you didn’t know, there were different types of shepherds in this narrative.
They had a specific purpose.
Their Location
The first words that we gloss over is in the same region.
Same region as what.
Bethlehem.
Same region in the previous verses where the Christ child has just been born.
Bethlehem, a small hamlet south of the famous Jerusalem.
In the same region.
We often remember Bethlehem because that is the place where God became Emmanuel.
God with us, but this is not the first time God appeared to his people.
We need to turn back to the first book of the Bible, Genesis 35
God appeared to Jacob, another shepherd, and shared the plan, the promise of the Advent of Messiah.
God spoke to Jacob, and changed his name to Israel.
God will bless the nations through these people.
A saviour will be come from the line and lineage of you.
Jacob marks this spot, the same region where God spoke to him and now in the same region we find these shepherds.
Their Purpose
The second reason why these shepherds were Joyfully on Duty is there role was not just regular shepherds.
They had a purpose.
They were the shepherds raising temple lambs.
To me this is a critical part of the story.
You see Bethlehem was the place where lambs were raised for the sole purpose of temple worship.
God was setting an example of His Advent of the messiah by preparing the people that a sacrificial lamb would take their place.
Theses lambs had to be perfect without blemish.
That is why the shepherds were out watching their flocks.
They had to protect these sheep for worship.
They played an intricate part in the worship in the temple.
It was their Joy to serve.
As they were serving with Joy out in the fields, the angel made an entrance
The Angel’s Entrance
Imagine the Angel’s entrance?
What would be your response?
Your out doing what you have been doing for years, and then there is an angel.
The Angel’s entrance was something to take note of this morning.
we need to look at the Angel’s approach and its appearance.
Let’s first take a look at the approach.
The Approach
Luke was very clear on how the angel approached the shepherds.
The angel appeared to them.
The greek word used here is more than just showing up, but it implies showing up with a purpose.
After all, they were shepherds watching.
Watching for anything that could come up to their sheep.
They were there to protect their sheep.
Could you imagine if the Angel decided to appear in a distant field and saunter over to see what the men were doing?
Luke doesn’t describe the angel slowing appearing from a distance.
He didn’t describe the Shepherds noticing someone coming and asking each other, say who is that?
Joe do you know him.
Is that Henry?
Wait, maybe its my dad coming out to see what I am doing.
I told him I was watching the sheep tonight.
Nope, That’s not how it happened.
The angel of the lord appeared to them.
He stood among them with boldness and with authority.
This was not the first time that the Angel of the Lord had done this.
It wasn’t the angel described in the wonderful life who appears to George Bailey on the bridge.
He came from God directly to the shepherds.
His approach was direct, it was purposeful.
God’s message does come with clarity.
God’s messengers throughout the Bible bring messages from God for clarity.
The Appearance
The second thing we need to note in this section is the appearance of the angel.
The glory of the lord shone around them.
I have lived in several locations across Canada and each location has its pros and cons.
One of the pros of some of the locations I have lived is the appearance of the Northern light.
During my early years of ministry the Lord allowed me the opportunity to serve as a camp director in Northern Saskatchewan.
One night as we had finished the Campfire, the cabin leaders had taken their cabins off to the cabin and I stayed a while around the campfire reflecting on the day.
It was my duty to make sure the fire was out, but this night I choose to keep it going and enjoy the experience alone.
After a while, I decided to put out the fire and head back to my own cabin.
Upon leaving the area where I had been focusing on the flicker of the fire light I walked out into the darkness, but to my amazement it wasn’t dark.
I looked up to the sky and saw the most beautiful display of the Northern Lights that I haven’t seen since.
The picture you are seeing is not what I saw, in fact it, was much greater.
I just stood there in amazement and wonder enjoying God’s beauty.
Then a thought came to me, I began to go throughout the camp waking the cabins and telling them to come out and enjoy God’s wonderful light show.
For those brief few moments, we experienced God’s beauty unfold in all its glory.
If you haven’t had a chance to experience the northern lights, may I encourage you to include that on your bucket list.
If you have, you all know what I am talking about.
God’s beauty.
The Glory of the Lord Shone Around Them
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