The Greatest Story Ever Told [Shepherds]
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Tonight I want to look at an unusual group of people who God used in “The Greatest Story Ever Told”. This group of people would be the last in that culture or that most of us today would put at the top of the list to have a heavenly visit to announce the birth of the Savior! That group of people are the Shepherds.
Text; Luke 2:8-20
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Shepherds;
Shepherds;
Shepherds- Shepherds were near the bottom of the social ladder. They were mostly uneducated and unskilled people. They were viewed as dishonest and unreliable characters, so much so that they were not allowed to testify in court. Because sheep required care seven days a week, shepherds were unable to fully comply with the “man-made” Sabbath regulations developed by the Pharisees. As a result, they were viewed as being in continual violation of the religious laws, and hence ceremonially unclean. Not to mention the aroma they carried on them from the sheep.
33 So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’
34 that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
It’s amazing that though men didn’t care for shepherds Scripture often uses shepherds to symbolize all who care for God’s people, including God himself.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!
11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.
Moses and David, both shepherds, were called to lead the nation of Israel!
So let’s look at why God chose to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds instead of the religious or political leaders.
1. Shepherds are Caring; 8
1. Shepherds are Caring; 8
Shepherds care for their flocks 24/7/360. It says they were living in the fields with their flock. This was to provide for and protect them.
These flocks were pastured near the town of Bethlehem. Most likely these shepherds were in charge of the flocks from which the Temple offerings were chosen.
The shepherds were responsible for making sure that newborn lambs had no defects since the sacrificial animals had to be without spot or wrinkle. So the shepherds would tightly wrap the lambs in cloth to keep them from becoming blemished and injuring themselves. [ref . v.12, pointing to the Lamb of God]
These shepherds symbolize the constant care that the Great Shepherd “Jesus” has for His flock.
1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
30 I and My Father are one.”
2. Shepherds Believed; 15-16
2. Shepherds Believed; 15-16
The shepherds have just been given the greatest news to mankind! “A Savior is born who is Christ the Lord.”
Then they were given instructions [sign] of how to find Him, “Wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger.”
And finally they were given the benefits of what this Child brings to those who seek Him, “peace, good will towards men!”
Now many things could have happened at this point between these shepherds.
They could have discussed this and figured it would be to costly to leave the sheep unattended. Bethlehem was a 5 or 6 mile journey from the sheep fold and a lot could happen in that time to the sheep.
They could have figured that people would have thought them lunatics [moon struck] if they were to go in town talking about looking for a baby king in a stable because some angels talked to them in the fields.
They could have simply ignored it. Why would God tell us something like this anyway. We’re shepherds, not Pharisees and Scribes.
They Believed and went in haste! Look at [v.15] “this thing that has come to pass”
What they actually did is what changed their lives. They simply took the message at face value and went to Bethlehem to see the Christ child. That is the only response to God’s invitation that will bring salvation to the soul. When the message comes to a lost sinner, it is a crucial moment. Either that sinner will heed the message and go to Christ, or that sinner will reject the message and continue in their sins. What they do with the message of the Gospel determines determines how they will live out the remainder of the earthly lives, and where they will go when this earthly life is over.
Carr, A. (2015). When Shepherds Meet (Luke 2:8–20). In The Sermon Notebook: New Testament (p. 1249). Lenoir, NC: Alan Carr.
24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
3. Shepherds Evangelized; 17-18
3. Shepherds Evangelized; 17-18
Good news is not to be kept to ourselves. The shepherds became the first evangelists of the Gospel! They made “widely known” everything concerning this Child.
[10] Good tidings and great joy [remember Luke associates joy with salvation]
[11] A Savior, Christ the Lord [The Anointed One, our Messiah has come]
[14] Angels giving glory to God for giving men peace and good will who will seek this Child and believe [Peace with God]
Listener’s Marveled- marvel means to wonder, be amazed or astonished. They were taken back that mere shepherds would have a message this important.
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
Christians are to be faithful to evangelize the world regardless of what the response might be.
4. Shepherds were Faithful; 20
4. Shepherds were Faithful; 20
These shepherds were faithful in their duties not only in believeing the angels, seeking the Christ Child and evangelizing everyone everywhere, but they were faithful to their responsibilities in the field watching over the sheep.
Christians need to be faithful in their jobs to be the best employee that business has. After all, your job is your greatest mission field!
col 3 16-17
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Close;
I believe it was only fitting that God would choose shepherds who looked after the temple lambs to be the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and take part in “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”
I’m so thankful that God saw fit to allow you and I, the bottom of the social ladder, to hear this wonderful message and allow us to take part in it as well. Amen!