Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Immediately following the account of Christ’s humble birth, Luke pans the camera, as it were, to another part of the Bethlehem area.

In doing so, he sets his sights on a group that may seem a bit odd especially when considering who the Christ is.

Often we focus on the fact that an angel appeared to these shepherds.

But I would suggest that there was a particular reason why the angel appeared to this particular group.

The Heralds of Christ

As we come to Lk. 2:8, our attention is immediately taken away from focusing on the birth of Christ and turned to these Shepherds.

There is nothing special about them in the text.

They are doing the normal things that shepherds do: living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks.

They were not men of renown.

They had not done anything worth taking notice.

They were poor, dirty men whose occupation required not only working with animals, but also literally living with those same animals.

It was also a round-the-clock job that left them isolated from others, thus making them rough around the edges.

In addition to all of this, shepherding was looked down upon in the Roman empire.

Aristotle speaks negatively of the shepherd when he writes that among men, “the laziest are shepherds, who lead an idle life, and get their subsistence without trouble from tame animals; their flocks wandering from place to place in search of pasture, they are compelled to follow them, cultivating a sort of living farm” (Politics, 1.8; cited in Jeffers, The Greco-Roman World, 21).

Some have even suggested that the occupation of shepherding was now also looked down upon by those in the Jewish community due to the necessity of their work making them regularly unclean.

Despite all of this, God chose shepherds as the recipients of the announcement that the long awaited Messiah has now been born.

However, we cannot stop here.

These shepherds were not just chosen to be recipients of this message, but also heralds for it.

Look at what the angel said in Lk. 2:10

The angel said, “I bring YOU good news which will be TO all people.”

The shepherds seemed to pick up on this as well.

For after they witnessed the truth of the angel’s message for themselves, they proceeded to act as heralds of this good news.

There is a sense in which all who profess Christ are to be heralds of His salvation.

Application: Do you understand the Gospel enough to be a herald for Christ?

If not, are you pursuing that knowledge?

So what was this message?

The Message of the Heralds

When the angel appeared before these shepherds, they were “greatly afraid”.

This is normal response anytime an angel appears to men.

Let me chase a rabbit for a moment.

Angels are prime example why we should be more reserved when it comes to the use of illustrated children’s books for Bible stories.

Often angels are portrayed as peaceful and kind looking men whose appearance might startle, but would never terrify even the most stout among men.

The angel appeared to these shepherds, and they were terrified.

These men and boys had confront the most vicious and intimidating animals in the region for the sake of their flocks.

Cowardly shepherds do not remain shepherds for long.

Though despised by society, these men and boys would have been among the most courageous around.

Yet, when the angel appeared, these men were greatly afraid.

So the angel begins his message saying, “Do not be afraid.”

They need not be afraid for the angel is on a peaceful mission.

The message is a gospel message.

It is good news, and specifically, good news that is exceedingly joyful.

This news also not just for these shepherds.

They are the immediately recipients, but this good news is for ALL people.

It is not limited to the Israelite community, but it is for ALL people.

What is this Gospel?

What is this Good News that will be for all people?

It is this: The Savior, the Promised Messiah who is the LORD Himself, has been born today.

The Promised Sin-bearer is here.

Think about the significance of this message.

The Triune God had been promising that a Savior will come.

God told Adam and Eve a seed of the woman would defeat the serpent.

He told Abraham his Seed would bless the whole world.

Moses prophesied that prophet like himself but greater would command the attention of God’s people.

David was promised an heir who would sit on his throne forever.

God told Isaiah that He would bear the sins of His people and rescue them from their sins.

All these promises were given over a period of 4,000 years.

And now, finally, after 400 years of not hearing a single word from God, this promised Messiah has been born.

Application: Do you believe the Gospel?

Are you trusting in Christ for the salvation of your soul?

Or are you trusting your own efforts?

The Responses to the Message

These shepherds, upon hearing the announcement from the angel and seeing the heavenly hosts praising God, they made haste to see the Babe.

They did not debate who would watch their flocks.

They did not discuss the probability that the Christ would actually be born now.

They did not complain that it was too late, and then put it off until the morning.

These shepherds dropped everything to see the Christ.

Their job didn’t get in the way.

Their friends and family couldn’t keep them away.

No one in Bethlehem could have prevented these shepherds from responding the message they had heard.

Once they got to the place where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were staying and saw the babe, they immediately rejoiced.

Our text indicates they were so joyous that they didn’t even visit.

They SAW, then made what was told them known.

They did not need to be convinced that this was a joyous occasion, and no one stopped them from expressing their joy.

In fact, they told people about it.

And kept telling people.

They told so many that Luke can only describe them this way: “they made widely known the saying which was told them.”

Finally, they glorified and praised God for Christ.

These shepherds, though they were of humble means, understood the significance of what they had seen and heard.

They understood that this was all in accord with what was prophesied in Holy Scripture.

And so they praised the only one who could have been responsible, God Himself.

These shepherds provide a living illustration of mature faith.

They made haste to see the Christ.

They did not keep this good news to themselves, but shared it with a great many in the region.

And they praised God for what they had seen and heard.

Application: What is your disposition to Christ?

Is your week structured around Christ and the Church?

Or is Christ lazily penciled in for two hours a week?

For these shepherds, they were willing to drop everything merely to get a glimpse of the long promised Messiah.

May we come to love Christ as much as these poor shepherds.