Refocus on the Facts

Subtitle: What? OK, but NOW?

Let’s put ourselves in the picture—the fly on the wall

Dark of night—no text mentions moonlight—maybe campfires for warmth

…in the fields near Bethlehem

Shepherd by culture not thought highly of (ceremonially unclean)

…yet, 23rd Psalm; David Israel’s Shepherd; Jesus, the Good Shepherd

Nothing in their humble position means they were less understanding of the Word than their counterparts elsewhere in society

We don’t know how many there were

Would have been expecting their Messiah…but tonight?

An Interesting Question

How did Luke know so much?

As a physician…of Greek culture…he looked for facts surrounding the death (Quincy)

He had followed the matter for some time

listened to eyewitnesses had delivered the Word to him

Possible he had interviewed Mary herself!?!?!

He knew that Mary had treasured and pondered…v.19

Revelation

Startling event—not many had seen the angel of the Lord

They “feared a terrible fear” as strongly as the Greek language can make it

“Good news” euvangelion

Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring, And we greet in His cradle our Savior and King!

…from There’s a Song in the Air

All people—could have meant for all Jews…likely all the world

Through Abraham would “all the world be blessed”

John 1:11–12 ESV

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Assuming they knew prophecy, City of David would be no surprise—but NOW?

Savior who is “Christ Lord”

Easily understood that the Messiah was God (Christos kurios)

Isaiah 43:11 ESV

I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.

Swaddling cloths—pretty common

In a manger? Not so common

NOTE lack of a definite article “A” baby (park that thought for a bit)

That heavenly host—the army, ready for war, protecting the one who would bring peace

Si vis pacem, para bellum

…if only we understood the realities of spiritual warfare…likely a lot more to unpack there

Glory to God—proclaiming what the shepherds already knew—God was the Highest God

…peace on earth among those with whom He is pleased.

Must note translation variances

Resolve this like Robertson…real peace exists only among men with whom God is pleased

…covers all variances

Final analysis: God is only pleased with those who have trusted in His Son—the one whose birth we are studying here

Reality

Let’s go check this out for ourselves—we don’t know how many

The found Mary and Joseph (Luke has already introduced us to them…) and THE baby

NOTE: a specific baby—the one lying in a manger

This confirms the sign

An unusual place—dresser drawers, footlockers, even at the center of the dinner table…but a manger?

Short version---exactly as the angel had described

Confirms that what the angels had seen was real—not a group-vision of some sort

Retelling

Appears to be in two parts

Shepherds told Mary and Joseph what the angel had said—and the account of the heavenly host singing

Mary and Joseph had not been aware of that

…for them a confirmation of their own angelic experiences

Then, proclaimed to others (inferred from the text)

…as and after they had gone back to their position, watching their flocks

The first evangelists spreading the good news they’d seen and heard

Observations

They trusted the angel’s message

…and checked it out for themselves

They retold the good news—the evangel

The shepherds’ quiet night—that Silent Night we sing about—shattered by an announcement that changed would change the world: the Good News, the Gospel

This series of events apparently changed them

It appears that the shepherds trusted the angel at least in part because they were expecting Messiah

They trusted in what they saw because it proved out what the angel had said

Application and Challenge

You have heard the Good News

What have you done with it

…checked it out in Scripture

>>no pastor will be upset if you check out what he says by digging through Scripture

Have you placed your faith in Christ?

If so…have you seen it proven in its impact on your life

Have you seen, are you seeing, Him change you—life issues, attitudes, fears, behaviors...

...for some, process is slower than others

If not, maybe you didn’t really place your faith in Christ--

A superficial belief, fire insurance

Maybe you were thinking more of a genie, not a savior…certainly not a Lord, certainly not God Himself…a god who bows to your wishes and wants

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Faith that He exists—as He says He exists

He rewards…this may indeed be a process…God is not finished with you yet...

…not to be used as an excuse

Philippians 2:12 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

His rewards may not be what we look for as rewards

To be men and women ...with whom He is pleased

So, are we among those?