Sermon: Why the Shepherds?
Scripture Ref: Luke 2:8-20
Introduction:
This is the SEASON of STORIES & I LOVE STORIES; especially STORIES about CHILDREN who begin to WORK all of us as we APPROACH the CHRISTMAS SEASON.
I thought that was OVER WITH when MY CHILDREN GREW UP but I found that GRANDCHILDREN KNOW HOW do WORK US as well.
I heard the STORY of a LITTLE BOY who was ASKING his PARENTS for a BYCYCLE. He wanted a BYCYLE so BADLY & his MOTHER told him that perhaps he should PRAY about it. So one NIGHT he was up in his ROOM & he was PRAYING about his BYCYCLE & he was SCREAMING at the TOP of his LUNGS.
Finally his MOTHER went upstairs & told him: SON you don’t have to SCREAM when you PRAY. GOD is NOT DEAF. He said, “I know Mommy, but GRANDMA is.”
Open our BIBLES to Luke 2: 8-20
Try to LISTEN to this STORY as if we have NEVER HEARD it BEFORE. Try to put OURSELVES in that FRAME of MIND.
‘& there were in the same country shepherds abiding the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. & lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, & the glory of the LORD shone round about them, & they were sore afraid. & the angel said unto them, fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David a Savour, which is CHRIST the LORD. & this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. & suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising GOD, & saying, Glory to GOD in the highest, & on earth peace, good will toward men.’
On that NIGHT when the SAVOUR was BORN --- WHO RECEIVED the INVITATION to GREET HIM?
Was it the WORLD’S EMPERORS? Was it the PREISTS? Was it the PROPHETS?
Was it the THEOLOGIANS? Was it the SOLDIERS? Was it the SCHOLARS?
That was an HONOR that was RESERVED for the LOWEST of the LOW.
For the LEAST EDUCATED of MEN.
For RANCH HANDS who were DESPISED by the LOCAL PEOPLE.
For MEN who’s SKIN GLISTENED with SWEAT.
For MEN who’s CLOTHES gave off the STENCH of the FIELDS.
For those who LACKED the MOST BASIC of MANNERS.
For MEN who’s LANGUAGE would be UNFIT for our CHILDREN’S EARS.
For MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS if you will; who were UNLIKELY to be ADMITTED to ANY EVENT of ROYALTY or NOBILITY in their day.
They had NAMES but we have NO IDEA what they were.
Yet, wherever their NAMES were MENTIONED in THAT DAY & whenever they have been MENTIONED without their NAMES in THIS DAY they have GRACED the GUEST LIST for the MOST JOYFUL MOMENT in HUMAN HISTORY.
In his BOOK, GOOD TIDINGS of GREAT JOY WILLIAM BARKELY, the GREAT HISTORIAN & COMMENTATOR writes about the WONDER & HOW it should have been DISPLAYED 1ST of ALL to the SHEPHERDS.
It’s a WONDERFUL THING that the 1st ANNOUNCMENT of GOD came to some SHEPHERDS. SHEPHERDS were DESPISED by the ORTHODOX PEOPLE of the day. They were UNABLE to KEEP the DETAILS of the CEREMONIAL LAW & they could not OBSERVE all the MOST METICULOUS HAND WASHINGS & RULES of the strict PHARISEES. Yet it was these SIMPLE MEN of the FIELD that GOD’S MESSAGE 1st came.
JESUS’ 1ST VISITORS were those whom RELIGION had REJECTED & SCORNED.
So WHY THESE SHEPHERDS
HEBREW SCHOLAR ALFRED EBERSHINE says:
The FLOCKS near BETHLEHEM were NO ORDINARY SHEEP. But here the SHEEP that were being USED as SACRIFICES in the TEMPLE were being RAISED. These were SACRIFICAL SHEEP.
& these SHEPHERDS were SHEPHERDS of these SACRIFICAL SHEEP that were being RAISED for ONLY ONE PURPOSE They would ONE DAY be LED to the ALTAR of GOD & there SHED THEIR BLOOD & GIVE THEIR LIVES & for the SINS of GOD’S PEOPLE..
GOOD SHEPHERDS developed a HEART for their SHEEP. WATCHING over them DAY & NIGHT they DEVELOPED a RELATIONSHIP with them. These SHEEP would GIVE their LIVES because of the WILLING SINS of PEOPLE.
The PICTURE of a LAMB is the BIBLE’S MOST CONSISTANT PICTURE of CHRIST.
& WHO would be a MORE APPROPIATE AUDIENCE to SHARE the GOOD NEWS of the BIRTH of the LAMB of GOD than these SHEPHERDS?
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As we read the STORY of CHRIST COMING & 1st being PRESENTED to the SHEPHERDS in BETHLEHEM we see a PATTERN that we NEED to EMULATE today.
Let us ASK GOD to help us to APPLY the EXAMPLE of the SHEPHERDS to OUR OWN HEARTS as we once again FACE the MESSAGE of the SAVOUR’S BIRTH.
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#1: The 1st Thing we Notice About These SHEPHERDS is that
They RECEIVED the MESSAGE they were GIVEN.
Luke 2:9-11 ‘& behold the angel of the LORD stood before them & the GLORY of the LORD shone around them, & they were sore (greatly) afraid. Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings, of great joy which shall be to all people. For there is born to you, this day in the city of DAVID, a SAVOUR, which is CHRIST the LORD.’
Just try to IMAGINE for a MOMENT the WONDER of that EVENING for those HUMBLE SHEPHERDS. ONE MOMENT the SKIES were DARK & their SPIRTS were EVEN DARKER & the NEXT MOMENT the ANGELS from HEAVEN were in THEIR PRESENCE. These ANGELS had some AMAZING NEWS to BRING.
Surely these SHEPHERDS SHARED these QUESTIONS in their OWN HEARTS:
WHY HERE?
WHY US?
WHY NOW?
& they were AFRAID & TREMBLING but they HEARD the MESSAGE the ANGELS BROUGHT & they RECEIVED it.
‘For unto you this day, in the city of David, a SAVOUR is born:
A SAVOUR:
If we had LIVED in THOSE DAYS we would have REFLECTED over the TRUTH of the HISTORY of ISRAEL. They had MANY SAVOURS if you will. They had many DELIVERERS who had HELPED THEM during their TIMES of CRISISES.
The ISRAELITES seemed to FOLLOW a PATTERN. Much like the PATTERN of OUR WORLD TODAY: They would FOLLOW the LORD for a WHILE then they would GET in TROUBLE with the LORD then they would CRY OUT unto the LORD then the LORD SENT SOMEONE to HELP them.
& for a PERIOD of TIME they would be RESTORED to the LORD & then AFTER a WHILE they would be BACK in TROUBLE with the LORD again. & they would CRY OUT unto the LORD & the LORD would SEND SOMEONE to HELP them.
In fact in the book of Nehemiah 9:27 we have a WORD about that:
‘Wherefore you delivered them from the hand of their enemies who oppressed them & in the time of their trouble they cried to YOU & YOU heard from heaven & according to YOUR abundant mercies YOU gave them deliverers & saved them from the hands of their enemies.’
So the PEOPLE of ISRAEL were ACCOUSTOMED to having SAVOURS & DELIVERERS.
& the REASON we ALL NEED SAVING is that we KEEP MESSING UP. AMEN?
& they were ACCOUSTMED to having SAVOURS come & DELIVER them.
But they had NEVER had a SAVOUR come like THIS ONE!
They had NEVER had a SAVOUR COME like this one who was 1ST ANNOUNCED to these SHEPHERDS. They had had HUMAN SAVOURS but they had NEVER HAD a DIVINE SAVOUR sent from HEAVEN.
This was GOD’S GIFT to HIS PEOPLE. John 3:16
A GIFT is SOMETHING GIVEN UNDESERVINGLY.
The PAIN it must have COST GOD to send this BABY!
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A: A HELPLESS SAVOUR:
& that MESSAGE they had RECEIVED that night from the ANGELS was a MESSAGE 1ST OF ALL about a HELPLESS SAVOUR.
Luke 2:12 “& this shall be a sign to you; you sh
all find a babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes & lying in a manger.’
I dare say that NOT ONE PERSON in ISRAEL EVER THOUGHT their SAVOUR would COME to them 1ST as a BABY.
They were LOOKING for SOMEONE who would COME & DELIVER THEM from their BONDS of ROMAN SLAVERY.
They were LOOKING for SOMEONE like RAMBO or like HERCULES, STRONG & MUSCULAR. The THOUGHT that THEIR SAVOUR would be BORN in a MANGER did not ENTER into their MINDS.
MAX LACADO describes the HELPLESSNESS of the SAVOUR:
‘HE looks like anything but a king. HIS face is prunish & red. HIS cry although strong & healthy is still the piercing & helpless cry & HE is absolutely dependent upon Mary for HIS well being. HE is MAJESTY in the midst of the mundane. HE is HOLINESS in the midst of sheep manure & sweat. HE enters the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager & in the presence of a carpenter.’
This BABY had once OVERLOOKED the ENTIRE UNIVERSE.
HIS GOLDEN THRONE ROOM in HEAVEN had been ABANDONED in FAVOR of a DIRTY SHEEP DEN. & WORSHIPPING ANGELS had been REPLACED by KIND & BEWILDERED SHEPHERDS.
When JESUS came & was PRESENTED 1ST to the SHEPHERDS HE was a HELPLESS SAVOUR LYING in a MANGER.
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B: HE was a HELPLESS SAVOUR:
&
HE was also a HUMBLE SAVOUR:
Luke 2:1.‘….lying in a manger.’
This was indeed the HUMBLEST of CRIBS.
A MANGER is a FEED TROUGH.
HIS 1ST VISITORS were SHEPHERDS & they were the HUMBLEST of PEOPLE.
If JESUS had COME like the JEWS had EXPECTED HIM, HE would have COME like a KING in GREATNESS & POWER & SITTING upon an EARTHLY THRONE in JERUSALEM.
But if JESUS had COME as a KING in GREAT POMP & MAJESTY as the SAVOUR of the WORLD then ALL of those who FELT THEMSELVES BENEATH that STATUS would have FELT UNQUALIFIED & would NEVER have COME to HIM.
JESUS CAME in the LOWEST POSSIBLE WAY
HE CAME HUMBLY & HELPLESSLY so there would be NONE who could say;
I am TOO SINFUL or I am TOO POOR & TOO LITTLE for HIM.
JESUS OPENED the DOOR for ALL OF US no matter WHAT or WHO we may be.
This BIRTH set the TONE for HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
GOD brought a GROUP of SHEPHERDS to be HIS 1ST WORSHIPPERS.
Someone said: JESUS was only a FEW MINUTES OLD but HE would have LIKED that the SHEPHERDS were there.
This was the ONE later on that would ENTER INTO HOMES of DESPISED TAX COLLECTORS & KNOWN SINNERS.
This was the TEACHER with so LITTLE TIME ALONE & yet HE ALWAYS HAD TIME for PEOPLE who THRONGED to be with HIM.
HE TOUCHED the LEPERS.
HE HEALED the SICK & DISEASED.
HE TOOK AWAY the BLINDNESS from EYES that had NEVER SEEN the SUNRISE in the MORNING.
There was NOTHING TOO INSIGNIFICANT about us that would HINDER HIM from COMING to us.
LOOK at HIM:
LOOK at HIM in the MANGER.
WATCH HIM throughout HIS LIFE.
& even though HE was GOD in ALL of HIS POWER & in ALL of HIS GLORY, what the WORLD SAW was a HUMBLE & MILD & LOVING & CARING & SERVING & WEEPING & PRAYING & COMPASSIONATE & KIND & GENTLE SAVOUR.
HE began HIS MINSTRY by being HUNGRY yet HE is the BREAD of LIFE.
HE ended HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY by being THIRSTY yet HE is the LIVING WATER.
HE was WEARY yet HE is our REST.
HE paid TRIBUTE to CEASEAR yet HE is our KING.
HE was ACCUSED of having a DEMON yet HE CAST DEMONS OUT of OTHERS.
HE WEPT yet HE WIPES AWAY our TEARS.
HE was SOLD for 30 PIECES of SILVER yet HE REDEEMED the WORLD.
HE was brought as a LAMB to the SLAUGHTER yet HE HIMSELF is the GOOD SHEPHERD.
JESUS DIED yet by HIS DEATH HE DESTROYED DEATH for OTHERS.
DO YOU SEE IT?
From the MEEKNESS of a CHILD to the GREATNESS of a KING:
WRAPPED UP TOGETHER in the PERSON of our SAVOUR the LORD JESUS CHRIST:
This was the HUMBLE SAVOUR the SHEPHERDS came to WORSHIP.
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C:
HE was the HELPLESS SAVOUR:
HE was the HUMBLE SAVOUR:
&
HE was the HEAVENLY SAVOUR:
Luke 2: 13-14 ‘& suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising GOD, & saying, Glory to GOD in the HIGHEST.’
This GIFT came from GOD in the HIGHEST.
This BABY lying in the MANGER is a GIFT sent from HEAVEN.
Philippians 2:6-8 ‘Who being in the form of GOD thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD; But made of HIMSELF no reputation, & took upon HIM the form of a servant, & was made in the likeness of men.’
HE came from HEAVEN to EARTH BECAUSE it was IMPOSSIBLE for us to GO from EARTH to HIM:
WE don’t have WHAT IT TAKES to DO THAT.
HE CAME DOWN because we COULD NOT GO UP.
Aren’t you THANKFUL HE DID COME DOWN so that we could GO UP?
Give HIM PRAISE & GLORY:
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So 1ST the SHEPEHRDS RECEIVED the MESSAGE but
#2: The SHEPHERDS RESPONDED to the MESSAGE:
Luke 2:15-16. & it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, & see this thing which is come to pass, which the LORD has made known unto us. & they came with haste & found Mary & Joseph & the babe lying in a manger.’
These SHEPHERDS RSPONDED to the ANGEL’S INSTRUCTIONS:
They made their way to BETHLEHEM & they took part in an EXPERIENCE that CHRISTIANS throughout TIME have ENVIED.
They were WITHOUT DOUBT the 1ST CONVERTS to CHRIST recorded in the BIBLE.
The SHEPHERDS were the 1ST PEOPLE to RECEIVE CHRIST AS SAVOUR.
It was NOT ENOUGH for the SHEPHERDS to REECEIVE & to HEAR the MESSAGE they RESPONDED to the MESSAGE.
STUNNED they could have STAYED THERE & REJOICED at WHAT HAPPENED!
EMOTIONAL EMOTIONAL EMOTIONAL
They could have BRAGGED about being VISITED by the ANGELS & LEFT IT at THAT.
But they BELIEVED.
BELIEVING is MORE than HEARING.
BELIEVING is RESPONDING to WHAT we HEAR.
We have NOT TRULY BELIEVED UNTIL WE RESPOND to the WORD of GOD.
There is a STEP of OBEDIENCE they had to TAKE.
These SHEPHERDS had to LEAVE their SHEEP on the HILLSIDES of JUDEA & JOURNEY into BETHLEHEM.
If they had NOT OBEYED they would have MISSED THEIR BLESSING.
They RESPONDED & they OBEYED what the ANGELS told them.
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#3: They RECEIVED the MESSAGE:
They RESPONDED to the MESSAGE
& now
They RETOLD the MESSAGE:
Luke 2:17 ‘Now when they had seen HIM, they made widely known the saying which told them concerning this CHRIST.’
These SHEPHERDS had had QUITE A NIGHT.
A VISITATION from HEAVEN by the ANGELS:
The DISCOVERY of the SAVOUR, the BABY in BETHLEHEM
& when they LEFT the MANGER they COULD NOT KEEP QUIET about WHAT they had SEEN. They TOLD EVERYBODY.
Their LIVES would NEVER BE THE SAME.
They NOW KNEW – that JUST as they had KEPT WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCKS
NOW there was SOMEONE KEEPING WATCH OVER THEM.
THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON let us TAKE ADAVANTAGE of EVERY OPPORTUNITY to SPREAD the MESSAGE of JESUS & of HIS LIFE CHANGING POWER which HE POSSESSES.
NEVER has the WORLD NEEDED to KNOW the MESSAGE of the ANGELS to the SHEPHERDS in BETHLEHEM over 2000 YEARS AGO like they NEED to KNOW TODAY.
IT IS UP TO US WHO HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED the MESSIAH’S LIFE CHANGING POWER in OUR OWN LIVES to SPREAD the GOOD NEWS.
The DEVIL’S CROWD is BUSY TODAY!
SPREAD the JOY of CHRIST!
There OUGHT to BE a JOY INSIDE OUR HEARTS that MATERIAL GIFTS CANNOT COMPARE WITH.
