The Testimony Of The Shepherds Series

Alba 12-18-2022

THE TESTIMONY OF THE SHEPHERDS

Luke 2:8-20

Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents' house the week before Christmas. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers. The younger one began praying at the top of his lungs:

"I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE..."

"I PRAY FOR A NEW NINTENDO..."

His older brother leaned over, nudged him and said, "Why are you shouting? God isn't deaf." To which the little brother replied, "No, but Grandma is!"

Sometimes a message is too important to be quiet about. That is what we learn today from our text in Luke 2:8-20. In this section of scripture there is the wonderful news the angels bring about a Savior born in Bethlehem. And there is also the testimony of the shepherds after seeing with their own eyes that the angels' message is true.

Turn with me to Luke chapter two. I will begin reading at verse eight.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

A few miles outside of Bethlehem some shepherds had gathered their sheep together for the night. Luke tells us that just when everyone was settling down and getting warm around their fires the skies suddenly opened up. Suddenly, it was no longer a silent night.

Perhaps, at first they thought a storm was brewing but they quickly realized that this was no storm. It wasn't thunder they heard or lightning they saw, but it was God's Holy Angel who began to speak to them.

What happened to these Shepherds was no campfire yarn. We are told “and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.” (KJV)

These events read a lot like a modern day “close encounter of the third kind”. The Shepherds respond in a very normal way, “they were greatly afraid.” Luke 2:9

Can you imagine what that was like? Can you imagine after a full day of watching sheep, getting together with some of your friends to get some needed sleep, when all of a sudden the sky is filled with one angel, and then a host of angels?

But the shepherds are quickly told there was no need to be afraid. So why should the shepherds not be afraid? It is because the message from the angel was “tidings of GREAT joy”. Good news from God!! Immeasurable joy.

And it was “to ALL people”. Universal in scope! No is one left out. “Born to YOU”. A personal in application. A gift! And finally, “A SAVIOR”. One who meets our need.

The angel wanted to share the good news! It was news for all people that a Savior was born that day. All of Israel in that day wanted a savior, one who would deliver them from the domination of Rome.

But this Savior had a different and better task, to save us from the punishment we deserve because of the wrong and sinful things we all have done. He would do that by taking that punishment on Himself on that cross so that God's justice could be met. But also so God's mercy could be given.