A Shepherd's Perspective On Christmas

A Shepherd’s Perspective on Christmas

Luke 2:1-20

Good morning.

I read an attorney’s website about eyewitnesses to an auto accident that said…

“Eyewitness testimony is valuable evidence in a car accident case. It can provide critical insights into the circumstances surrounding the collision.”

“Don't limit yourself to just one eyewitness account. If other people were present at the scene who saw the accident, try to collect their information as well.

Multiple credible witnesses can strengthen your case and provide a more well-rounded understanding of the events leading to the collision.”

But one former trooper said this about multiple eyewitnesses to an accident, “People usually want to tell the truth.

But, when they really don’t know the whole truth, they try to fill in the blanks as they make up details, which can be problematic.

Although all the witnesses saw thew same accident, they tell the story of what took place differently, which makes the reporting officer have to discern the truth of what really happened.”

Please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, as we take a break, out of our Mark study for a Christmas mini-series.

I. Travel during pregnancy.

Read Luke 2:1-7

Caesar Agustus ordered a census to be taken of all the people, so Joseph and his pregnant fiancé traveled back to the town of his original family linage.

This census was issued in order to count the people for taxes.

The historian Kenneth Latourette said, “Augustus and his successors had not solved the basic problems of the Mediterranean world.

What appeared to be a failure in government they had substituted more government and government was not the answer.”

Because of the failures of man’s governing for years and years, the world was ripe for a Savior to be born.

The journey for Joseph and Mary was about 80 miles distance, which would have taken a lot of time and money to accomplish during those days.

Roman Law did not require Mary to make the journey with Joseph, but I am sure he was concerned for Mary’s safety and for the unborn child she was carrying, so she went with Joseph.

When Joseph and Mary arrived in the city, they were in for a big surprise, a baby was going to arrive that very evening.

“Her firstborn son”, seems to indicate that Mary had other children later, contrary to some religions that teach she was a perpetual virgin for life.

Then we are told they, “Wrapped Him in swaddling cloths”.

The Savior of the world was wrapped in strips of cloth, and He was laid in a manger, which was a feeding trough for animals.

John Trapp said, “The word translated swaddling cloths comes from the ancient Greek word meaning “to tear,” meaning they were torn strips of cloth wrapped around Jesus”.

The Lord had planned this very day to occur from eons past; this would be the day God the Son was going to appear to mankind.

Galatians 4:4 when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Galatians 4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. NKJV

Notice, there was no room for them in the Inn. God the Father foreknew there would be no room in the Inn for His Son.

William Barclay said, “That there was no room in the inn was symbolic of what was to happen to Jesus. The only place where there was room for him was on a cross.”

The question for every person ever born is this: Will you make room for Jesus in your heart and life?

II. A not so silent night for the Shepherds.

Read Luke 2:8-9

I want to give a have a proper picture of a shepherd from biblical times.

How do you picture these shepherds. Do you picture a cute little boy out in a field somewhere with some docile sheep?

Think back to the story of David when Goliath was challenging the army of Israel and blaspheming the name of God.

1 Samuel 17:32 David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

1 Samuel 17:33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."

1 Samuel 17:34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,

1 Samuel 17:35 I went out after it and struck it and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.