Shepherd's Sign of Salvation

Luke 2:8–20 NLT

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

20 - Introduction: Gender Reveals gone wrong. The Shepherds are not revealing gender but the first to reveal the good news to the community that the Messiah has arrived.

21- Who are these Shepherds?

This is the third Angel Announcement in Luke - to Zechariah, to Joseph, and now the shepherds.

The narrative follows a standard form: appearance (v. 9a), fear (v. 9b), a “do not be afraid” remark (vv. 10–11), and the announcement of a verifying sign (v. 12). The angel informs the shepherds of what God is doing through Jesus.

1. God chose to share the Good News to and through Shepherds. Why?

The people of Israel started out as shepherds (Genesis 29),

Scripture is filled with numerous examples of the noble image of the shepherd

God himself is depicted as a shepherd and Israel as his flock.

But shepherds throughout

But throughout Ancient History Shepherding people were considered lower class, dirty, and undignified. And it is possible that by the time of Jesus the Jewish view of shepherd may have changed as their society became more sophisticated. But it’s not clear when you read the scholars whether that was the case for these shepherds, Many have a negative view, and others a positive view.

Negative View: Not favorably. They were despised by the religious authorities, just like they were when Jacob and his sons moved to Egypt during the great famine (Genesis 46:32–34). The religious authorities of the temple disliked shepherds so much, that they wouldn’t allow them to participate in the religious ceremonies in Jerusalem (Craig Keener, IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament [Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2014], 185)! Think about that: we’re told that the first people to whom God announced the birth of the Messiah were those who could not enter the temple and worship God! Could you imagine not being allowed to come to church just because of the job that you had?

This is Plausible, however this idea comes from Jewish writings that were written 200 - 500 years after Jesus. After the temple was destroyed.

The Hebrews started as a group of Shepherds - Egypt, Greece, Major civilizations saw shepherds as the dirty and the lowest form of profession. - Aristotle

It is possible as Jewish Civilization developed that same sentiment grew, and especially when they had no need for shepherds to raise sacrificial lambs.

Positive View: Daryl Bock: Noteworthy too is the choice of shepherds to be among the first to hear about the new child and see him. Some commentators argue that the shepherds symbolize God’s meeting the despised, but this negative reputation for shepherds is later than the first-century Judaism. The biblical shepherd imagery is mostly positive, and the association of shepherds with these events adds an image of everyday living to the scene. God is involved not just with the special or the great, but with all people. His announcement of the child’s arrival to everyday folk shows his commitment to the mass of humanity. Those “on whom God’s favor rests” include those whose claim to fame may be nothing more than that they wake up each day and pursue a living in service to God.

Place Called Migdal Eder - Tower of the Flock.

More on the Positive View: Geldenhuys, N. It is probable that their flock was intended for offerings in the temple, as flocks for this purpose were kept in the vicinity of Bethlehem (cf. Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus, i, p. 189). In this case they would ere long have gone to Jerusalem and would there also have told the whole story to the pious people who were awaiting the coming of the promised Messiah. In this manner they would have prepared persons like Simeon and Anna (verses 25–40) for their welcoming of the Christ-child.

Geldenhuys, N. (1952).

22 - Chart of most and least trusted professions:

23 - Possibility 1: of these shepherds - Priest/Shepherds - Highly respected, and it a good position to make the news spread fast.

Possibility 2: Priest/Shepherds - respected by some not by others - distrust of the priests by some of that day - like some of the professions mentioned.

Possibility 3: - Average Shepherds who are that way to make a living - Likely despised and not respected as lower class at that time in history.

What’s the Point:

It really does not matter who you are, God chooses the right people at the right time to share his good news, to witness the goodness of the Gospel. He can use people in high positions and low positions. He can use respected folks, and outcasts. He can use White Collar, Blue Collar, or Blue/White Collar folks.

Mary is likely the main source of this story to Luke, and she doesn’t care about their position. She is blessed by what God is doing through them. She treasured it in her heart.

- The angels described the birth of Jesus as good news of great joy, and Luke’s Gospel in particular shows that from the very beginning, Christ came to redeem people from all levels of society. This is the good news of Christmas: that no matter where you live or what your parents do for a living, you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are loved by God and that he delights in you. Whether you’re a shepherd or a janitor or a doctor or a teacher, God still can and will use you for eternal purposes.

24 - Anyone Can be a Witness of the Good News.

Try to picture the scene: on a warm evening, in the hills outside of Bethlehem, flocks of sheep are bedding down for the night. Fires have been lit and shepherds sleep by the fires or with their bodies stretched across the door of the pen to further protect their sheep. These shepherds have spent their lives outside in the elements, so their tanned skin is worn and cracked, their appearance (most likely) unkempt because of the nature of their work. Suddenly, the night sky is filled with light, and a multitude of angels appears to the shepherds to give them “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). This good news is for “all the people” (Luke 2:10)— including the shepherds whom God chose to spread the word of the Messiah’s birth.

1. When the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of the Messiah, Jesus, they described his birth in this way: “good news of great joy” for “all the people” (Luke 2:10). Why was the birth of Jesus good news of great joy? And why is it something that is celebrated by all people?

The good pleasure or good will proceeds from God, not men. The meaning is that peace on earth will in the highest instance become a reality among those who are blessed by the good-will and gracious favour of God, those redeemed in Christ, those ordained to full salvation as children of God.

Geldenhuys, N. (

Sharing the Good News.

Know the Gospel story/God’s promises - The Shepherds were anticipating the Messiah.

God gives us a sign object Lesson.

Share Your Story - Keep it simple. Simply share how God showed up in your life. How he gave you favor.

All the Shepherds did was share - Hey, Angels told us the Messiah was born here, and look He is here just like they said. They promised that He will give piece to those who he gives grace to.

Share it with Joy.

Video of young gal looking for man who blessed them.

1. The angels described the birth of Jesus as good news of great joy, and Luke’s Gospel in particular shows that from the very beginning, Christ came to redeem people from all levels of society. This is the good news of Christmas: that no matter where you live or what your parents do for a living, you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are loved by God and that he delights in you. Whether you’re a shepherd or a janitor or a doctor or a teacher, God still can and will use you for eternal purposes.

Conclusions:

And the