The Shepherds Of Christmas Series

Scripture: Luke 2:15-21

Theme: The S of Christmas – The Shepherds

Title: The Shepherds of Christmas

Proposition:

Intro: This is another part of our S Series – The S of Christmas. This time we focus in on the Shepherds – 1. They knew how to Listen and Receive. 2. They knew how to Obey 3. They Knew How to Open their Mouths

Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This morning, as we continue our journey through the S’s of Christmas, I would like for us to focus on the Shepherds that we find in the Christmas Story.

There is something incredibly peaceful and serene about seeing a picture, a video, or watching firsthand a shepherd at work with a flock of sheep.

There is also something very comforting and encouraging about seeing a picture of Jesus holding a lamb while standing or sitting among a flock of sheep.

Shepherds and sheep have been around for a very long time. In fact, aside from farming and caretaking the job of shepherding is one of the oldest jobs that we find in the Bible.

Listen to these words that we find in Genesis chapter 4:1-2

4 Adam was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.” 2 Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. (HCSB)

We don’t have a lot of information about Abel. What we do have tells us repeatedly that Abel was a person of obedience, faith, and righteousness. He was a person who gave the LORD the best that he had to offer. (Genesis 4:4-5; Matthew 23:35; 1 John 3:12 and Hebrews 11:4).

We also know that many of the “greats” in the Bible spent significant parts of their working lives as shepherds.

+Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and Joseph were all shepherds.

+Rachel, Leah, and Rebekah were shepherdesses.

+Moses and David were shepherds.

+The Prophets Ezekiel (ch.34) and Jeremiah (ch.23) spent a great deal of time writing about shepherds. They wrote about what it meant to be a good shepherd and then how to stay away from a bad shepherd.

+In the New Testament, Jesus the Son of God calls Himself the Good Shepherd.

-The Good Shepherd who will lay down His life for His Sheep.

-The Good Shepherd who came to give abundant life.

-The Good Shepherd whose sheep know His voice and follow Him. (John 10)

The story that we read this morning takes place about 5-7 miles outside of the city of Jerusalem near the city of Bethlehem. You could easily traverse the 25-minute walk to Jerusalem or the 10–15-minute walk to Bethlehem.

It was a region of the country where shepherding was one of the main occupations. The Temple in Jerusalem was always in need of young sheep for sacrificing and one could always sell the meat, the wool, and the milk that the sheep provided.

It is highly possible and even probable that the shepherds that we find in the field that night were in fact employed by the Temple. They would have had to be extra careful with their flocks as only the best sheep could be used at the Temple. The sheep had to be without blemish to be accepted by the priests.

While some over the years have tried to paint these shepherds as poor simpletons, the reality they were neither poor nor simpletons.

They were hard workers. They were highly skilled workers. They knew how to lead a flock of sheep, care for them, provide pastures that were green and growing and they knew how to make sure their sheep were ready to be accepted by the priests at the Temple.

I don’t think any of us would like to think of people like Abraham, Moses or David and seriously suggest that they were simpletons. I don’t think anyone who has read the stories of Rachel or Rebekah and have felt like they were simpletons.

No, if you have ever watched, talked with or done a study on sheep and shepherds what you find are people who have keen minds, able bodies, and the skill to make quick and precise decisions. You find men and women who understand biology, agriculture, and economics.

So, this morning as we think about these shepherds what can we learn from their story that Luke shares with us this morning.

I. They Knew How to Listen and Receive.

Now of course they had to be surprised that night. I mean who wouldn’t be surprised.

You are out there in the field at night watching your flocks of sheep. You have just gotten them settled down. You have made sure that they are safe and sound.