Waiting for Messiah - The Shepherds

Luke 2 Account of the announcement to shepherds

ILLUST: Royal Birth announcements - as in William and Kate

Or to us, “gender reveal” parties

Who do YOU tell when someone you love is going to have a baby?

Compare to God announcing the birth of Jesus

To the whole world? Nope. To shepherds, faithfully going about their seemingly menial task of watching sheep.

Why Shepherds? Lots of suggestions, ideas, possibilities…biggest answer - GRACE

1 Cor 1:26-29 says it best - God’s plan seems foolish to those who do not believe

The shepherds didn’t care if people thought them foolish - how about you?

The truth was shared, even if truth doesn’t make sense to this world

First, some characteristics of shepherds (perhaps from sheep’s perspective)

Dependable

Responsible to the owner of the sheep, would have to pay for losses

Loyal

Sheep and shepherd enjoyed a close relationship

The sheep’s very lives depended on the work of the shepherd

Fearless

Out in the fields, it was them against whatever wanted to get them

Understood their job

Boring, tedious

Alert

“Keeping watch over the flocks at night”

Someone had to stay awake

From perspective of culture around them

Unclean-possibly similar to some feelings toward homeless - unclean because their profession kept them away from spiritual duties - couldn’t just leave work

Some had reputation of being thieves

One of those jobs where people just expect that it’s getting done

Unimportant to most people

They were unworthy of this great privilege, hearing God’s announcement and revelation

Yet God told them FIRST - that’s grace

These shepherds asked nothing from society, and society gave them little

Their faith was based not on what they could get, but a mindset of service

Some interesting pieces of this account

Time of year - most likely not December 25, likely Fall, possibly Spring, but likely after the harvest

The sheep - possibly special sheep, reserved for temple sacrifice (located between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, 6 miles distance)

The angels (show picture of Daniel angel) - Daniel 10:4-6 description - “Don’t be afraid”

Good news shared with least deserving (that should show us something)

Excitement to share the news with others

But, perhaps the biggest reason the announcement went to shepherds...

Jesus, the Good Shepherd!

John 10, Psalm23, and so many other passages, a constant picture of Jesus

Characteristics of our Good Shepherd

Loves His sheep - close, intimate relationship with us

Understands our needs

Understands what threatens us

Works tirelessly to protect and provide security (even when asleep)

Pursues sheep when they stray (uses the church to do this, too)

Prepares the path ahead of the sheep (He already knows where we are going, what we’ll be doing, and what He has in store for us)

Disciplines the sheep, corrects them (the rod and staff)

Comforts the sheep when they fear or are hurt

Continually nourishes, even if that means changes are necessary (like moving to new pastures)

Keeps sheep from fighting and hurting each other

Sacrifices His life for them! (explain sheepfold, literal for shepherd and for Jesus)

THIS IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD - WHO CAME IN PERSON FOR US!

CLOSE

As amazing as the announcement was, the shepherds were never told to go to prove to them what had been said

They went to see what they knew, what they believed - FINALLY, Messiah had come! (They went right through town)

Their response? TELL EVERYONE!

Why tell shepherds? Good question. Why tell you?

People need the Savior. That’s why.

God’s grace was for lowly shepherds, as well as for everyone

That includes you, and me.

That’s GRACE - undeserving, unworthy, but important enough to the LORD to tell.

And all He asks in return?

Accept the gift - Have you?

Live for Him - “God first” - Is that you?

Tell others - Have you? Will you?

Accept Him, live for Him, and tell others - like you REALLY believe this miracle we call salvation