Luke 2:8-20 says:
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.
Most scholars agree that the time of Jesus’ birth was probably not Dec 25th. In his commentary, Adam Clarke suggests a fall time frame due to the fact that the sheep were in the fields at night.
It is very possible that these Bethlehem shepherds were watching over the temple flock – taking care of the sacrificial lambs. I think it’s cool that some of the first to see the true Lamb of God were the humble folks who took care of the sacrificial lambs from the temple.
9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid,
Angels are NOT little babies with wings.
for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors!
In ancient Jewish culture, when a boy was born, local musicians congregated at his home to greet him with music. Since Jesus was born in a stable, the angelic choir had to take the place of the local musicians.
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
Personal story: Depression – feeling like I wasn’t making a difference. I felt like a failure. The things I had dreamed about weren’t happening and I was beginning to feel like maybe they never would. I was coming to terms with my average Joe identity. Mid-life crisis? Covid?
Shepherds probably felt this way. It wasn’t the most glamorous job. Some of them were young, but the old guys who were there probably felt even more of this.
They did the same thing every day.
Moved sheep from field to field bringing them to food and water
Went after lost sheep and protected them from predators
They were lonely most of the time and probably talked to the sheep
The sheep knew the shepherds voice
To the sheep, the shepherd was important, (even life and death) but no one else thought much of them. It was a humble job.
This is how teachers feel. The world doesn’t think too highly of us (partly due to some bad teachers.) It’s not a glamorous job and certainly doesn’t pay very well. Definitely not highly regarded. However, our hope and prayer is that we can make a difference for our sheep, our students.
Anyway, the shepherds probably felt some of the same things I was feeling earlier this year – like they didn’t matter much. No one really noticed them or patted them on the back very often. They probably hadn’t dreamed about being shepherds and thought their lives could have been something more.
But think about it. No matter what they felt, this is more than 2000 years later and we’re still talking about them. This is the message I needed during my dark moments earlier this year. Why did God choose to reveal His Son first to these shepherds? What are they like? What is it about them that God makes this choice? What does He see in the lowly shepherds that no one else sees? What did they do? What made them stand out?
- They listened to God. (vs 15)
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
When the angel appeared that night in the field, there were lots of voices
1) The voice of Doubt saying “You must be hallucinating. It was something you ate.”
2) The voice of Duty “You can’t go into Bethlehem. You’re responsible for these sheep.”
3) The voice of Laziness “You’re tired. It’s been a long day. Just stay here and rest.”
4) The voice of the angel. “The Messiah is here! He is a baby!”
Last night:
Voice of Chad “I’ve got Covid. I need you to preach.”
Voice of fear “Tell him to come preach anyway and just stay away from people.”
Voice of Doubt “Tell him to take another test. He’s not really sick.”
Voice of Inadequacy “I’m not prepared for that.”
Voice of Laziness “You’ll be up all night trying to get something together.”
Voice of God (By the way, this one is more of a whisper) “I’m still in control. I know what I’m doing and I want you to do this. I’ve got your back. I’ll be with you.”
God’s voice later on “I’ve orchestrated this whole thing so someone can hear this message.”
I’m hanging on to that one and praying that is why I’m standing before you today. I believe God can use me in spite of my own insecurities and quirks. As His tool, my only goal is to be open and to remain in His hands so He can do with me whatever He chooses.
- They hurried to Jesus. (vs 16)
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger.
Once they decided they were going to listen to God, they had a sense of urgency. They didn’t waste time. They allowed their own Godly curiosity to dictate their pace.
Lately, I’m the slow one in our family. I’m not sure when it happened. I was always the first person ready when the kids were younger, but now. . . I just don’t know what’s happened. Can I say I’m just getting old? I still hate being late, but
“When Harry Met Sally” Quote
“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
Miranda and I got engaged in September, and were married in January. We wanted to begin our life together as soon as possible.
A relationship with Jesus is even more sure than our love for one another. If you haven’t begun a relationship with Him, you should start it today!
- They told everyone about Jesus. (vs 17-18)
17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
When they had seen Jesus, they didn’t keep it to themselves. News spread quickly ’cause they were so excited. Matthew 12:34 says “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” The shepherds couldn’t contain themselves.
A woman’s engagement – You can’t contain the excitement. News spreads quickly.
People were “amazed” at what they heard. Shepherds in that culture were considered to be unreliable and weren’t even allowed to give testimony in court, so you see a picture of God’s sovereign hand when they believed them and were amazed. Shepherds may have been thought of as unreliable, but these were not just shepherds. They were shepherds who were following the Word of God
- They worshiped Jesus. (vs 20)
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
The shepherds worshiped with their mouths, but also with their lives as they told others and spread the news of Jesus.
Calvin says “If the cradle of Christ had such an effect upon them, as to make them rise from the stable and the manger to heaven, how much more powerful ought the death and resurrection of Christ to be in raising us to God?”
This is how we should respond. I wonder what our lives would look like if we truly listened to God and God alone, if we felt an urgency to be with Him, if we told others about Him, and if we worshipped Him with both our mouths and our lives?
Here’s the good news!
Jesus, the object of the shepherds worship, truly is the promised Messiah! He is savior! Ancient and strong! Holy and anointed one! He is light and He has come into our darkness! He is here among us! Although we celebrate Him as the baby, He is also the Healer of the brokenhearted, the living water, the bread of life, and the Lamb who died in our place! He is the One who has conquered death and sin! He rose from the grave and offers us new life in His name! He is worthy of our worship.
He is the one we can trust and should listen to.
He is the one who deserves our sense of urgency.
He is the one we should tell others about.
He is the one who is worthy of our worship.
He is Jesus.
He is Jesus.
He is Jesus.
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