INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• When we start to dig into the event of Jesus’ birth there are a lot of interesting issues that are recorded in the birth story.
• The circumstance of His birth was unusual. . Usually a King would come with great pomp and circumstance but this was not so with Jesus.
• His place of birth was unusual. Last week we saw how Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room for Him in the Inn.
• As we travel a little further into Luke 2, we see the announcement of His birth was a little unusual.
• When the birth happened, God sent an angel of heaven to appear on CNN and Fox news to announce the birth. NO
• He then went to the kings of the known world to let them know the Jesus had entered the building! NO.
• No, God being God did the unexpected. He sent an angel to a group of lowly, smelly, bottom of the barrel Shepherds?
• So the question one might ask is Why Shepherds? Why not the religious leaders of the time? Why not the government officials? Why not the wealthy and connected?
• No God chose to go to the trouble of sending an angel from heaven to earth to announce the birth to the shepherds?
• I wonder how that went down. God- Hey angel, I have a job for you. The ANGEL. What do you want us to do?
• I want you to announce the birth of the savior of the world! OK, we will head to the temple.
• GOD- Not I want you to go to the field and make the announcement to the Shepherds! ?????
• The truth of the matter is until God tells us so, we will not know exactly why God chose to make this important, history changing announcement to a group of lowly shepherds, but today I want to us to look what the shepherds did with this all-important announcement!
• Let’s begin with Luke 2:15-16
• SLIDE #2
• Luke 2:15–16 (HCSB) 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 feeding trough.
• The first thing the shepherds did with the good news was…
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. The Shepherds investigated what they were told. 15-16
• The angel appeared to the shepherds as they were tending to their flocks in the fields.
• SLIDE #4
• Luke 2:10–12 (HCSB) 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
• The angel told the shepherd to not be afraid! I WONDER WHY?
• The angel; after he calmed the shepherds down gave them a message.
• I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
• The shepherds were not sophisticated people. They were usually pretty simple people who were doing a job that not too many people aspired to, but these simple shepherds were sophisticated enough to investigate the message they received.
• Now this investigation was not one done out of disbelief, but rather out of belief and obedience.
• If and angel of the Lord shared something with you wouldn’t you want to investigate it?
• Besides, if the shepherds did not believe the message why would they take the trip into Bethlehem?
• They went on the trip because they were going to share the message given but to also give the message more power, they wanted to be able to say, the angel told us such and we saw what the angel told us with our very own eyes!
• It does not appear as though the angel commanded the shepherds to go to Bethlehem, but rather these shepherds wanted to see what was happening for themselves.
• After the angel left, the shepherds apparently left their flocks to the care of God and made a bee line to Bethlehem. The original text indicates they wasted NO time in going!
• As a matter of fact, they kept repeating to each other the need to go see this child with their own eyes.
• The enthusiasm in which the shepherds possessed is something akin to what we feel when we come in contact with Jesus!
• They wasted no time going to Bethlehem!
• These men with little education did not sit and argue about the message; they simply received it and went to check it out.
• I wonder if God had made the announcement to the religious leaders how long they would have discussed, dissected and fought over the meaning, the words, and the attire the messenger wore.
• When we look at God’s Word, it is ok to question and investigate it deeper.
• God did not send the angel back to them in anger asking why they were going. It is ok to investigate the message.
• The shepherds did so and look what they found. The message of the angle was true!
• SLIDE #5
• Luke 2:17–19 (HCSB) 7 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.
• Why Shepherds?
• SLIDE #6
II. The Shepherds shared the message they received. 17-19
• Back in verse 10 the angel told the shepherds that he has a message that was for all people, and then he proceeded to tell them about the birth of Jesus.
• Well, what did these humble shepherds do?
• They sought out Jesus then they saw the message was indeed accurate and then being unaffected they simply went home! NOT!
• They shared the message the angel had given to them!
• These men did not know a whole lot, but they shared what they knew.
• We can learn a lesson from this, you may not know everything about Jesus, but share what you know.
• These simple shepherds were willing to tell others what they knew. We too can do the same thing.
• Too many of us feel we do not know enough about Jesus to tell others about Him. That is so untrue; you knew enough to give your life to Him.
• I would encourage you to take the time to learn more, but do not wait for your PHD before you start telling others about Jesus!
• The crowd could be summed up with one word, AMAZED. The crowd was amazed at what the Shepherds said, at the message they shared with all who would listen.
• Can you imagine being a part of the crowd, most likely those who were staying at the inn? These simple shepherds who came with a message and the veracity of the message lying right before them!
• These men were willing to possibly face ridicule over their story. They were so sure of the truth of the message they were willing to risk embarrassment and humiliation!
• One of the reasons we share the message is to help bring encouragement to others. Many people are living in a dark world, they need the hope that Jesus brings to them.
• Mary who had been through a lot already in her young life treasured up what the shepherds had told her in her heart and she meditated on them probably for the rest of her life.
• I would encourage you to tell others what you know about Jesus, you never know where it could lead them! The Shepherds shared the message they received! We are called to do likewise!
• Now as we ponder WHY SHEPHERDS, let’s finish with verse 20
• SLIDE #7
• Luke 2:20 (HCSB) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.
• SLIDE #8
III. The Shepherds returned to their world with joy! 20
• When it was all said and done, the shepherds were changed.
• They lived a life with not a lot of joy, they were on the verge as a collection of people of being outcasts. People did not look at shepherds and tell their children to aspire to become a shepherd.
• The shepherds did something else that is easy to overlook, they RETURNED to their world.
• Verse 20 tells us the shepherds RETURNED!
• But they returned different than they were before they encountered Jesus!
• These men went back to their ordinary lives after witnessing an extraordinary event.
• They returned to their lives with joy! They praised and glorified God. How long do you think they did that for?
• I bet a lifetime.
• When we encounter Jesus, it is my prayer that as we live life we are able to praise and glorify God.
• I prayer we are changed people. I pray that we do all we can to share the message of Jesus and try to bring joy into the lives of those around us.
• When you encounter Jesus, I do not see how you cannot be changed for life!
CONCLUSION
• Why Shepherds? That is a good question.
• Maybe it was to help further the faith of Joseph and Mary, to give them a deeper appreciation for the mission at hand.
• Maybe they were meant to be a witness for the ages?
• Whatever the reasons God had, it was obviously a good choice because these men took the message given to them, they investigated it, then they gave a stirring testimony of the greatness of God and then they returned to their lives with the joy of the Lord being their new motivation for life.
• Have you encountered Jesus? Today is the day!
