I wish it could be Christmas everyday

Boxing day can sometimes feel a bit like beginning of the end. Start to think about tidying up. Putting down Christmas tree. First thoughts about new year. Celebrations start to fade. Hoping to make most of a quiet few days off perhaps, or maybe not, some might be at work tomorrow.

Christmas done for another year? Back to the humrdum? We’ve sang out carols, enjoyed our mince pies, rejoiced at the bith of Jesus. What now?

Short time - waht are we do now Christmas day is done?

Continually celebrate the Son!

READING

Luke 2:8–20 NIV

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

A history changing event.

Going about ordinary lives. Shepherds - outsiders, workers, in for a surprise

image of angels appering

Good news that will cause great joy

Birth of baby Jesus. Not just good news to Mary and Jospeh, or a select few. Good news for all people. News that will bring joy to those who accept it. Such good news that God sends whole company of angels. Angelic choir.

picture of company of angels

Luke 2:13–14 NIV

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

think of any celebration on international scale

VE day unconditional surrender Germany 8th May 1945c

1953 2nd June westminster abbey coronation of queen elizabeth 2

crowds of people. no angels.

But with birth of Jesus is a world changing moment. Because in Jesus arrival, comes the one to end all wars, to fix all brokeness, to stop all suffering - by coming to bring people back to the God who made them.

He would be called Jesus - God saves. has dealt with our greatest problem - behind all the wars, and illness, and suffering and death, is a broken relationship with God. Jesus came to fix all of it, by entering in as a baby, experiencing humanity, and brokeness, and shame and scandal, and by dying in our place dealing with our sin, that we might hace relartionship with God through faith in him.

He would be the King who sits on Davids throne - God’s promise to send a perfect King from David’s anscestory - one who would rule with justice, and would rule forever.

He would be Immanuel - God with us, living in this world, and in his death sending his Spirit to dwell in the hearts of all believers until he returns to bring us home

no wonder angels were singing. What a shock for the shepherds, but what an incredible surprise. The news that all the jews had been waiting for. Answer to all of God’s promises and worlds problems. Now born in Bethlehem. How should we respond? We how did they respond.

We are going to spend time thinkin about shepherds.

3 responses from shepherds

Meet Jesus

Luke 2:15–16 NIV

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

No wonder they were in a rush! They wanted to meet this most important baby, to pay their respects, and to worship i’m sure. They wanted to go and enjoy being in his presence. What a joy to be given this honour to meet the King of Kings - the Saviour!. We have an even greater joy. We can’t meet Jesus physcially, but we can meet him in a very real way spiritually, through his word preserved for thousands of years, and by his Spirit given to all who will believe. Why we gather together today, because we can meet Jesus. Because his Spirit dwells in us, he is with us wherever we go. Will we make the most of the chance to meet with him and spend time with him not just at Christmas but whenever we meet, and not just Sundays but in our every day lives.

Proclaim Jesus

Luke 2:17–18 NIV

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

its christmas image

I don’t know what it was like in your house yesterday. But often Christmas morning is time of great exciment. Kids annoucing - its Christmas! Wake up. Can’t wait to enjoy the day, can’t wait to tell you. And as they open their presents - can’t wait to show everyone.

Shepherds had most incredible news, to exciting to keep to themseves. Wasn’t just something new, but thing that they and God’s people had been waiting for for centuries. All of God’s promises were about to be worked out.

News of a King, news of a Saviour, news that God had entered in to be with his people. News that God was beginning to make all thigns right. And they told everyone. It’s natural. As we hear the gospel, and as we remember the gospel, and as we appareciate the gospel, we will share the gospel. The news of Jesus is too good to keep to ourselves. Will we keep inviting others to meet him once Christmas is done. Will we keep telling others about him in to the new year.

Celebrate Jesus

Why does Luke tell us shepherds returned? Worried we would be anxiously asking - what happened to the shepherds?!

Wants us to glimpse somethign of the every day life of those who had met Jesus. They went back to the shepherding - but I’m sure things were never the same. The a sense in which the celebrations and the joy continues - just as the angel said that news would bring joy for all people, theres a sense its a joy that doesnt stop at Christmas.

Luke 2:20 NIV

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

picture of shepherds continuing worship on journey home

What did the shpeherds do? On the long journey home after all the festivities - after the celebration, they continued to praise God. Something on going about their worship. What is it they are praising God for? Jesus is just a baby when they meet him - its’s the promise. With the announcement of Jesus, comes the anticipation - God is about to do something that will change things forever. With the news comes the excitment that God is going to fulfil his promises.

I wonder how often we get captured by Christmas, the festivities, only to find our joy dissapearing with the new year. But as meet Jesus at Christmas, and as we keep him central, then we find that our joy will continue into the new year. As we continue to praise God for his Son, the Saviour, the promised King. It’s as we look back to what he has already done - entering the world to save us and give us new life. It’s as we look at what he is doing, daily depending on His Spirit to empower us, equip us, and trasnform us into his likeness. And it’s as we look forward with excitment to what he will do - when he returns and makes all thigns right, and when we will enjoy his perfect rule forever.

What do we do now the festivities are over? Keep celebrating Christmas. Keep celebrating the Son.

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