The unlikely Recipient of the Glorious Announcement
Turn in your bibles to Luke 2:8-20
John Hamby
The telling of the Christmas story can be such a familiar and common experience that we miss the significance of it. With the annual repetitions the [knowledge] of the story of the shepherds can cause us to take it for granted, to overlook just how amazing this incident is.
Lets try to take a closer look at it this year
Hamby goes on to say, “Who does God announce the birth of his son to? Too whom would you expect the announcement to go? We could see how God might choose to announce the birth of Christ to Herod the king. …. To announce the birth in a splendid ceremony in the Temple led by the High Priest. But no, and we question why he would choose a ragtag band of shepherds.
The only invitation from God to anyone to come and visit Mary and Joseph and the infant Jesus is to a group of shepherds. At best the shepherds were common, ordinary folks. They were not the socially elite. Most likely these shepherds were tending their sheep just outside of Bethlehem and the sheep they were tending were probably sheep being prepared for the temple sacrifices. They were the last people that you’d expect God to take notice of.
Lu 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Lu 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Lu 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Lu 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Lu 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Lu 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Lu 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Lu 2:15 And 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, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. {the shepherds: Gr. the men the shepherds}
Lu 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Lu 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Lu 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
Lu 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
Lu 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
1. The shepherds were the Disgraceful of Society
2. The shepherds received the Declaration from the Angels
3. The shepherds were Dependable in proclaiming the News
1. The shepherds were the Disgraceful of Society
a. Lu 2:8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
i. JFB - abiding in the fields--staying there, probably in huts or tents.
One Writer
b. There were shepherds . . . in the fields nearby. The joyous event was not announced to dignitaries in palaces but to lowly shepherds working the night shift. This is in keeping with what Mary says in Luke 1:52, that God "has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble."
c. These shepherds would also be looked down upon by their countrymen. Shepherds, as you will recall, were “[disgusting]” to the Egyptians (Gen. 43:32; 46:34); they were also poorly thought of by their own brethren “Shepherds were despised people. They were suspected of not being very careful to distinguish ‘mine’ and ‘thine’; for this reason, too, they were debarred from giving evidence in court” (Strack-Billerbeck, in loc.).
Bruce Goettsche
Also says, It is possible that these Shepherds took care of the Sheep that were used for sacrifices in the temple in Jerusalem. These sheep had to be especially cared for because the lamb had to be “without blemish”.
Shepherds didn’t have the best of reputations. Because they were out with sheep and often had to kill predators, they were almost always “unclean” so the seldom (if ever) were allowed to worship at the temple. Their social skills were not very good since they spent their times in the pasture talking to sheep. They had a reputation as being untrustworthy in court and many said Shepherds had a difficult time being honest.
Goetts goes onto say, Here’s how I imagine the scene that night. The guys were probably sitting around the fire eating [talking about things going on in their life] All of a sudden there is this bright angel in front of them. The brilliance is painful. They are caught off guard and this angel scares the stuffing out of these guys. I’m sure their first thought was, “Uh Oh! This can’t be good!”
Even though they were the “low life” of that time, God chose them to announce his birth.
2. The shepherds received the Declaration from the Angels (9-14)
a. Barnes – vs. 9 So the glory of the Lord here means an exceedingly great or bright luminous appearance
Life Application Study Bible
b. God continued to reveal his Son, but not to those we might expect. Luke records that Jesus’ birth was announced to shepherds in the fields. These may have been the shepherds who supplied the lambs for the temple sacrifice that were performed for the forgiveness of sin. Here the angels invited these shepherds to greet the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the whole world forever.
c. What a birth announcement! The shepherds were terrified, but their fear turned to joy as the angels announced the Messiah’s birth.
Goetts says The angel announced that a “Savior”, the “Christ” (or Messiah) was born to them in Bethlehem. The long-awaited Redeemer was born in Bethlehem and they could find this baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. There may have been other newborns in Bethlehem but there was certainly only one who was spending his first night in a manger.
After these words from the Angel we are told that a great company of the heavenly host appeared. A multitude! This was not just a few angels! It could have been thousands upon thousands of angels. It is possible that all the angels in Heaven join in this multitude.
The Angels said (or sang) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Too often we hear these words and think the angels are longing for an absence of war on the earth. The word for “peace” is shalom” which is a much deeper, internal peace. The word means well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness and completeness. It points to an internal change. The angels were celebrating a new depth and dimension that was being brought to life.
Put yourself in the shoes of these Shepherds. What must it have been like? They were never more afraid, yet never more alive. They were never more paralyzed by fear but also never more excited. They were never more anxious and yet never did they know such a sense of peace and goodwill.
Coffman Commentary
Verse 11
For there is born unto you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.Three titles of the Son of God were announced by the angels.
Saviour ...
has reference to Jesus’ office as the sinbearer, the procurer of salvation for the sons of men, a salvation which, preeminently above everything else, was the remission of their sins and restoration of the fellowship lost in Eden.
Christ ...
identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, the Shiloh, Anointed, Suffering Servant, and Messiah foretold of old. Although the term had been corrupted by the base and foreign elements of meaning imported into the title by the carnal and malignant secularism of the religious hierarchy, it had the true meaning that Jesus was the divine head of the theocracy, the lawful ruler of Israel, the promised Son of David who would usher in the great kingdom, misunderstood by the Jews as a mere resurrection of the low kingdom of Solomon.
The Lord ...
This Gospel was written only thirty years after the events related; and the widespread use of "Lord" as a title of Jesus Christ, as evidenced by the writings and preaching of Paul, with whom Luke had been a traveling companion for many years, results there being a cause for such widespread acceptance of the title; and that cause is evident in the event here, in which the angels of God called Jesus "Lord."
Vs. 14 In the highest. This is capable of several meanings:
Barnes -1st. In the highest strains, or in the highest possible manner.
2nd. Among the highest--that is, among the angels of God; indicating that they felt a deep interest in this work, and were called on to praise God for the redemption of man.
3rd. In the highest heavens --indicating that the praise of redemption should not be confined to the earth, but should spread throughout the universe.
4th. The words "God in the highest" [equivalent to] saying, "Let the most high God be praised for his love and mercy to men." Which of these meanings is the true one it is difficult to determine; but in this they all agree, that high praise is to be given to God for his love in redeeming men. O that not only angels, but men, would join universally in this song of praise!
From one of the lowest in the culture that day they were called on for a high calling to proclaim the birth
The shepherds were Dependable in proclaiming the News.(17-18, 20)
Life Application Bible
First the shepherds ran to see the baby; then they spread the word. Jesus is your Messiah, your Savior.
Do you look forward to meeting him in prayer and in his Word each day? Have you discovered a Lord so wonderful that you can’t help sharing your joy with your friends?
The greatest event in history had just happened! The Messiah had been born! For ages the Jews had waited for this, and when it finally occurred, the announcement came to humble shepherds. The good news about Jesus is that he comes to all, including the plain and the ordinary. He comes to anyone with a heart humble enough to accept him. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can have Jesus in your life. Don’t think you need extraordinary qualifications - he accepts you as you are.
Some of the Jews were waiting for a savior to deliver them from Roman rule; others hoped the Christ (Messiah) would deliver them from physical ailments. But Jesus, while healing their illnesses and establishing a spiritual kingdom, delivered them from sin. His work is more far-reaching than anyone could imagine. Christ paid the price for sin and opened the way to peace with God. He offers us more than temporary political or physical changes - he offers us new hearts that will last for eternity.
The story of Jesus’ birth resounds with music that has inspired composers for 2,000 years. The angels’ song is an all-time favorite. Often called the Gloria after its first word in the Latin translation, it is the basis of modern choral works, traditional Christmas carols, and ancient liturgical chants.
Jirair Tashjian They were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Amazement or wonder is a normal response.
ACC - Verse 17. They made known abroad the saying] These shepherds were the first preachers of the Gospel of Christ: and what was their text? Why, Glory to God in the highest heavens, and on earth peace and good will among men.
Barnes - Having seen the child themselves, they had now evidence that would satisfy others; and accordingly they became the first preachers of the gospel, and went and proclaimed to others that the Messiah had come.
LifeApplicationBible
With a heightened sense of excitement and determination, the shepherds rushed off to the baby’s side.
Then they "spread the word" and became the first evangelists of the Christian era. Luke’s observation that those who heard them "were amazed" is the first of his many comments on the enthusiastic response to the messianic proclamation. (Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary)
Bruce Goettsche
The Shepherds wasted no time. They went to Bethlehem to see the baby. Did they draw straws and leave someone to stay with the sheep or did they all go trusting God would take care of the sheep? We don’t know.
As the Shepherds approached Bethlehem they certainly must have gotten stares from the people. Shepherds were usually not welcome in town. I wonder, did they walk up to people and say, “We saw angels in the sky and they told us that a baby had been born who was going to be the Messiah. We were told to look for Him in a manger. Can you point us in the right direction?” I wonder how many people walked by them never slowing their pace at all ignoring them completely. I wonder how many people thought these Shepherds were nuts. How many people rejected them before someone pointed them in the right direction?
……. What did the Shepherds do once they found the baby in the manger? …... We aren’t told anything about the Shepherds. Did they just stand around and say things like, “you have a very beautiful baby” or “where are you guys from?”. Or, did they tell the story to Mary and Joseph? Did they …… [take] their turn at holding the Christ child.
We aren’t sure about what all happened, but Mr Goettsche goes on to say, “What we do know is that these men were changed. This encounter with the Messiah transformed them. The socially awkward Shepherds told everyone about the baby that they had seen.”
Lu 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. The Foretold Gospel The gospel story excites wonder; the more we ponder it the more wonderful it becomes.
God used ordinary shepherds, God can use you to do his work, announcing his coming…..and announcing that there is a God that can take away your sin. There is a King that came to save the world. There is one to bear your burdens. This King can help you to go on into a sanctified life or live a pure life.
