THE MESSENGERS AND THE MESSAGES
OF CHRISTMAS
Luke 2:8-20
Introduction:
Perhaps the best known of all Christmas stories is found in text today. Christmas was not Christmas in our life until this story had been read aloud and savored.
We will discuss today the TWO IMPORTANT WORDS related to the birth of Christ: first is the MESSENGERS OF CHRISTMAS and; second is THE MESSAGES OF CHRISTMAS.
I. THE MESSENGERS OF CHRISTMAS
Lets talk about the messengers of this Christmas. Who are these messengers chosen by God to deliver His messages?
The text clearly identified these messengers as the SHEPHERDS.
Max L. Lucado once said:
"The announcement of CHRISTMAS went first to the shepherds. They didn’t ask God if he was sure he knew what he was doing. Had the angel gone to the theologians, they would have first consulted their commentaries. Had he gone to the elite, they would have looked around to see if anyone was watching. Had he gone to the successful, they would have first looked at their calendars.
So he went to the shepherds. Men who didn’t have a reputation to protect or an ax to grind or a ladder to climb. Men who didn’t know enough to tell God that angels don’t sing to sheep and that messiahs aren’t found wrapped in rags and sleeping in a feed trough.
A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high alter in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by silver lamps.
You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can’t go in standing up.
The same is true of the Christ. You can see the world standing tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees.
So....
while the theologians were sleeping
and the elite were dreaming
and the successful were snoring,
the meek were kneeling.
They were kneeling before the One only the meek will see.
They were kneeling in front of Jesus."
Someone has said that “If you want to hear from God become a shepherd!” [Not a Reverend or a Doctor]
A. The shepherds, WERE RELIGIOUS OUTCASTS
It is very interesting to know that God chose to announce the birth of His Son to the most ordinary of ordinary people, shepherds. Shepherds are the last people you’d expect God to take notice of. First of all, they were religious outcasts. According to Jewish religious law, they were “unclean.” Their line of work prevented them from participating in the feasts and holy days that made up the Jewish religious calendar. Why? Well, somebody had to tend the sheep. When everyone else was making the trip to Jerusalem to sacrifice at the temple, or to participate in one of the annual feasts, the shepherds stayed behind, out in the fields watching the sheep.
A modern day example of this might be a truck driver; someone whose job keeps him from regularly attending church. It wasn’t the shepherd’s fault that they were looked down on from a religious point of view. In other words, whatever might have been in their hearts, they weren’t able to participate fully in the religious life of the community.
B. The shepherds, WERE SOCIAL OUTCASTS
Not only that, but shepherds were also social outcasts. Since they were constantly on the move to find new pasture for their flocks, they were always looked on with suspicion. A modern day example of this would be a carnival worker. Shepherds were often accused of thievery. If something came up missing blame often fell on the shepherds. In fact they were so mistrusted they weren’t even allowed to give testimony in a legal proceeding. On top of all that, they really didn’t have much contact with other people. Most of the time, they were “living out in the fields”. Shepherding is not a 40-hour a week job. They didn’t come home at night. They were with the sheep 24/7.
What I’m trying to say is when God chose to reveal the arrival of His Son, he didn’t choose to do so through Kings or Queens or high society. He did it through a bunch of uneducated, smelly, low-class, social and religious outcasts. He did it through the most ordinary of the ordinary of their day, shepherds.
"Now, among the Jews at that period shepherds were held in low estimation among the people. In the Talmud we read they were not to be allowed in the courts as witnesses…no help will be given to the heathen or to the shepherds…Thus these men at the bottom of the social scale in Israel, were chosen as the first preachers of the new-born King."
The Pulpit Commentary
Probably the men who raised the lambs for the temple sacrifices is appropriate that they would be the first men to meet the Lamb of God!
LET’S SEE WHY GOD CHOSE SHEPHERDS!
1. THE SHEPHERDS ARE FAITHFUL WORKERS...
The shepherds were not lazy, idle, pleasure seekers.
Luke 2:8 shepherds abiding in the field.
2. THE SHEPHERDS ARE FAITHFUL WATCHERS...
Luke 2:8 They were not all asleep, they had their eyes open...
3. THE SHEPHERDS ARE GOOD LISTENERS...
Luke 2:10-12, And the angels said...
How blessed we are when we have ears that hear the word of God!
These words the angels spoke were hallowed words, these were the Promise of the Father.
Can you hear the Promise today?
4. THE SHEPHERDS ARE ACTION MEN (THEY DID NOT PROCRASTINATE)
Luke 2: 15 Let us NOW GO
Luke 2:16 they made haste
5. THE SHEPHERDS ARE GOOD COMMUNICATORS
Luke 2:17 they made known abroud ... the saying which was told them.
The shepherds never enlarged the message, nor did they shrink the message, they shared what the angels told them.
Will we share our testimonies? Great test make great testimonies.
6. THE SHEPHERDS ARE GOOD WORSHIPPERS
Luke 2: 20 the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God...
[By: Wade Hughes, Sr]
Now, let’s look at some important shepherds in the Bible!
Exodus 3:1-2 "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian…And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush."
Psalms 78:70 "He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds."
Amos 1:1 "Amos, who was among the shepherds…"
Jesus described Himself as… John 10:11 I am the good shepherd.
II. THE MESSAGES OF CHRISTMAS
Now, lets talk about the CONTENT of the GOOD NEWS. Let’s try to know if the messages given are really good news for the recipients.
A. A MESSAGE OF HOPE (V.10)
First and foremost, this message is said to be GOODNEWS because it is a MESSAGE OF HOPE.
“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."
Israel was under foreign occupation 400 years of prophetic silence. Many of the religious leaders were bound in tradition.
Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.
We need a message of hope today!
Tragedy surrounds us, our nation is in turmoil, the economy is uncertain, morality seems to be bankrupt, families are torn.
Isaiah 61:1-3 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
B. A MESSAGE OF DELIVERANCE (VS.11-12)
Secondly, this message is said to be GOODNEWS because it is a MESSAGE OF DELIVERANCE.
"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
Threefold titles given to Jesus:
1. Savior - Deliverer; Pictures Him as the sacrifice.
2. Christ - The Anointed One, The Son of God. Pictures Him as the fulfilment of all the promises and prophecies beginning at Eden, Gen. 3:15.
3. Lord - Sovereign God! The One to be served, worshiped and adored!
Note: Jesus is called Savior!
The world’s problem is not… A lack of education, insufficient health care, poverty but a Savior! If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent an entertainer. If our greatest need had been military, God would have sent a soldier. If our greatest need had been for justice, God would have sent a judge. But, our greatest need was forgiveness and redemption, and, therefore, God sent a Savior!
Our problem is sin!
Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
And there’s a SIGN given:
"And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." (v.12)
Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a SIGN: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."
CONCLUSION
Long ago, there ruled in Persia a wise and good king. He loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was their ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Then he left. Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, "I am your king!" The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn’t. Instead he said, "You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!" (Author Unknown)
As we think about these Christmas Messages, we need to be sure that we also receive the Good news message like the shepherds. That we too can come to know Jesus and go away praising Him and glorifying His Name.
God bless!
