Explores the joy and redemption found in the birth of Jesus Christ, as experienced by shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph, and the prophet Simeon.
Welcome, beloved, to this blessed gathering where we congregate to hear and heed the word of God. Today, we find ourselves standing on the brink of an extraordinary revelation, a revelation that will illuminate our hearts and guide our spirits. We will be turning the pages of the Holy Scripture to Luke 2:8-34, where we will find ourselves in the company of shepherds and angels, a young mother and an old prophet, all rejoicing in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In this passage, we will encounter jubilation, we will meet Jesus, the bringer of joy, and we will witness the joyful response to redemption. In the words of the esteemed Charles Spurgeon, "There is no joy in this world like union with Christ. The more we can feel it, the happier we are."
Allow me to read the passage to you:
[Read passage]
Let us bow our heads in prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your word. As we gather to study and understand it, we ask that you open our hearts and minds to receive your truth. May the joy of your salvation fill us as we reflect on the birth of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Let’s get started!
In our passage today, we find shepherds in the field, ordinary men doing ordinary work. They were not expecting anything extraordinary that night. But then, out of nowhere, an angel appeared to them, announcing the birth of the Savior. This was not just good news, it was great news, news that would cause great joy for all people. The shepherds, in their ordinary lives, experienced an extraordinary joy, a joy that came from knowing that the Savior had been born.
This joy was not just for them, it was for all people: The angel said, "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." This joy was not limited to a select few, it was not confined to a certain group of people. It was a universal joy, a joy for all people, regardless of their status, their background, their past. This joy was for everyone, because the Savior was for everyone.
The shepherds did not keep it to themselves: They went to Bethlehem, found the baby Jesus, and then spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. They shared the joy they had experienced with others. They did not hoard it, they did not keep it to themselves. They shared it, they spread it, they made sure that others knew about it.
What kind of joy?: The joy that the shepherds experienced was not a fleeting joy, it was not a temporary joy. It was a lasting joy, a joy that stayed with them. After they had seen the baby Jesus, they returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen. Their joy did not diminish, it did not fade away. It remained with them, it stayed with them. It was a joy that lasted.
A joy that came from knowing the Savior: It was a joy that came from knowing that God had sent His Son into the world to save us from our sins. It was a joy that came from knowing that God loved us so much that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. It was a joy that came from knowing that God was with us, that He was for us, that He was on our side.
In our lives, we too can experience this joy: We too can know the Savior. We too can share this joy with others. We too can have a joy that lasts. We too can have a joy that comes from knowing that God is with us, that He is for us, that He is on our side. This is the joy that the shepherds experienced. This is the joy that we can experience. This is the joy that comes from knowing the Savior. This is the joy that is for all people. This is the joy that lasts. This is the joy of the Lord.
As we continue to reflect on the passage from Luke, we find ourselves drawn to the figure at the heart of this narrative - Jesus, the bringer of joy ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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