Shepherds: A Window into the Mind of God

Introduction:

From the outset of his gospel, Luke emphasizes to Theophilus that God’s gives grace to the lowly, to the humble.

In the opening two chapters, we are introduced to individuals or groups who remind us of that point:

Zachariah and Elizabeth

Mary

Shepherds

Simeon (Lk. 2:25)

Anna (Lk. 2:36)

This morning, as we look at the passages about the shepherds, we will be reminded that all of these events occurred according to God’s plan for God’s glory and that we are the beneficiaries of his merciful and gracious person.

We will also see in a small, summary form, that God wants us to believe based upon investigating the evidence.

Incongruence is built into the narrative because the young lady who is about to give birth to the Messiah, the Son of God is following an order of the Roman emperor, and they cannot find a place to stay in a travel lodge.

Notice we are told of two conditions after she gave birth in Lk. 2:7 “καὶ ἔτεκεν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον, καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν ἐν φάτνῃ, διότι οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τόπος ἐν τῷ καταλύματι.”

Shepherds: Unlikely Inventions

In Lk. 2:8, the author introduces the shepherds into the narrative.

He describes two things about them, both relative some action.

They were living out of doors in that region, but Luke has in mind a specific piece of pasture land.

They were guarding their flocks/fold at night.

The Talmud, in Sanh. 25b. states that “the Sages further added the following to the list of those disqualified from bearing witness: the shepherds, who shepherd their animals in the fields of others and are therefore considered like robbers.”

Shepherds were generally considered unclean.

At a minimum, they were generally poor. Few were landowners.

They are an unlikely group for a credible story.

Like the women who were the eyewitnesses to the resurrection.

Notice the interaction between the shepherds and the angels.

Something much more important for all the people than registering for paying taxes to Rome was taking place in Bethlehem.

God’s will was coming to pass.

The Angelic Host: A Reminder of God’s Glory

Notice the parallel statements in Lk. 2:14 “δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας.”

This expresses the for the “praising God” took.

Two aspects must be meant in the last line:

One characteristic of those who trust the Messiah is the presence of peace among men who come to meet with God’s approval.

We also have peace with God.

We should never forget that events came to pass in the way they did for God to demonstrate his own person to us.

The result should be the glorification of God.

Shepherds and Mary: Two Examples of the Kind of People God Invites

The shepherds were not given an ultimatum to take or leave.

They were given very specific evidence about how to identify the Messiah.

They were not told turn by turn directions to find him.

They were only told what he would look like when they did. Hint: it would not be conditions anyone would expect the Son of God to be found at his incarnation.

The shepherds showed eagerness and made inquiries (Lk. 2:16).

Notice how the message they heard and the evidence that had confirmed that message becomes common knowledge. (Lk. 2:17-18).

But, the key issue here is the confirmation to Mary.

This will happen again with Simeon and Anna.

It happened earlier with news of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.

Luke says she thought very deeply about these things.

Christianity is not a religion of laws. Neither is it a religion of experience. Instead, the word of God presents to us reality and gives us physical, historical evidence in real time and space for us to consider. Like the angels and Mary, God wants us to investigate the evidence and weigh it carefully. Our personal views do not make something true. Instead, God, through his word, gives us the weight of physical, historical events for us to consider. He invites us to trust Him, and to trust His son, based upon the careful consideration of the facts of the case.