Joke: Every Christmas morning, when my kids were little., I read them the nativity story out of the big family Bible.
When my daughter was old enough to talk, she asked me what a stable was.
I thought for a moment how to explain to her in terms she could understand, then I told her, “It’s something like your brothers room, but without a stereo.”
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We started this series lighting the candle representing hope, then last week as we looked at Herod's role in the advent we lit the Bethlehem candle and on this third Sunday in our Christmas Advent series we will light the Shepard candle also known as the candle of Joy.
Today as you may have guessed we are going to look at the Shepherds and the role they played during this first advent.
Picture this for a moment: You’re in inner city Chicago.
Every prediction about the big blizzard has come true. It’s 3:00 a.m., and it’s 0 degrees. In a small building somewhere connected to a giant garage is a group of snowplow drivers. Big guys. Heavy coats. Leather gloves, scarves and wool hats that make them look even bigger.
They are standing around in a circle near the coffeepot, sipping coffee from Styrofoam cups. They each refill and then as one group walks out the door toward the garage where a few dozen snowplows and salt trucks are warming up. Suddenly there is a bright light. . . .
The angels are not going to be on television. The angels are not going to the White House, not visiting Governor Whitmer.
These men are on the outskirts. They are in the margins.
Most of us don’t even acknowledge they exist until we can’t get out of the driveway or they’re holding up traffic as we try to get to the office.
These are the ones God wants to know first.
Now imagine the most emotion-laden experience you have ever had, multiply that exponentially in number. That volume of emotional fervor just begins to paint the picture of what the shepherds must have been feeling on the night they were not only visited by the angel of the Lord, but they also found themselves in the presence of the multitude of the heavenly host.
What began in the shepherds’ minds as just another ordinary night on the late shift, watching their sheep, soon would unfold into the most extraordinary evenings of their lives.
This blue collar, minimum-wage group of men were about to get front row seats to the Hallelujah chorus along with backstage passes to see the King.
Only Luke shares the story of the shepherds among the four Gospels.
Let’s look at Luke 2, beginning in verse 8, and see how he sets the stage of the shepherds, including their initial emotional state in the midst of the night:
Luke 2:8–9 (NIV): And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
These men simply were doing their job like they did every day. It was neither a glamorous job nor a job that was viewed in high regard by the more sophisticated in first- century Jewish society.
In fact, it was the bluest of the blue-collar jobs and considered by many to be the lowest rung on society’s ladder in that day.
However, it was steady work, and somebody had to do it—even if they were considered the social outcasts during that time.
But the outcasts quickly would become the insiders on what God was up to on the other side of the hills where their sheep were grazing and bedding down for the night.
This insider status, however, immediately filled them with understandable fear. Not only were they in the presence of the angel of the Lord, but also they were standing in the middle of the glory of the Lord, which surrounded them on all sides.
Sensing their fear, the angel of the Lord immediately spoke to that fear before ever delivering any subsequent word of good news.
Notice how the scene of the angel and shepherds progresses from appearance to feeling to first words:
Luke 2:9–10 (NIV): An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. . .
Let me pause that Scripture there for just a moment. . .
Other translations use the words fear not instead of do not be afraid.
It continues. . .
I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
The angel of the Lord wasn’t mad at the shepherds for the way they felt in that moment. They simply acknowledged their feelings and helped them realize it was ok to feel a different emotion than fear in the midst of their surprise.
The angel pointed them toward joy, but first the angel uttered a phrase that comes with a sense of déjà vu—the angel used the most-uttered command in the entire Bible:
“Fear not.” That phrase is used 365 times in Scripture I believe it’s because God wants us to face every day of the year without it.
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV): For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Need a day to fear? I think not, but if you can’t live without it choose the extra day in a leap year.
This same command do not fear was given by an angel in previous days with characters involved in the Advent Christmas story.
Zechariah and Mary felt the same fear the shepherds felt—and like the shepherds both were commanded not to be afraid.
Notice how Luke records first the encounter of the angel with Zechariah and then the encounter with Mary.
Both are found in Luke 1.
We looked at this last week but let me revisit it here for just a moment. . .
Luke 1:11–13 (NIV): Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
That was Zechariah's visitation now look at Mary’s. . .
Luke 1:28–30 (NIV): The angel went to her and said,
“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds all felt fear when encountering the angel of the Lord, and they all received the message not to fear.
The difference is that the angel told Zechariah and Mary about their special firstborn sons on the way. The
shepherds received a message that one of those special births had just happened that very day!
It not only was simply news—it was “good” news.
It was so good that the angel’s news quickly would replace their emotion of fear with that of great joy!
This good news would begin with the shepherds, but it certainly was not intended to end with them.
Notice how the angel made this exhilarating announcement to the shepherds beginning in verse 10. . .
Luke 2:10–12 (NIV): But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
God decided to make a statement about who would receive the good news first.
The angel of the Lord was sent to the shepherds. The good news first went to the outcasts of society on the lowest rung of the ladder who were out in the fields rather than to influential people on the top rung.
Yes, this message of good news in the form of a Savior would be for the privileged of society, too. But it started at the bottom and on the margins of life rather than on the top and in the middle of the city’s center.
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The shepherds’ occupation and their way of life made it troublesome for them to meet all the religious ritual requirements leading to ceremonial purity, and so they were not qualified to even worship at the temple.
However, the fact that they were chosen by God to be the first to receive the good news helps shape from the start
this long-awaited message of hope.
This Savior, embodying good news, was meant to include the socially despised, economically depressed, and religiously shunned in the world.
Later the Apostle Paul would tell us. . .
1 Corinthians 1:26–28 (NIV): Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential;
not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
Let me read that once more from the Passion Translation...
1 Corinthians 1:26–28 (TPT): Brothers and sisters, consider who you were when God called you to salvation. Not many of you were wise scholars by human standards, nor were
many of you in positions of power. Not many of you were considered the elite when you answered God’s call. 27 But God chose those whom the world considers foolish to shame those who think they are wise, and God chose the puny and powerless to shame the high and mighty. 28 He chose the lowly, the laughable in the world’s eyes—nobodies—so that he would shame the somebodies.
For he chose what is regarded as insignificant in order to supersede what is regarded as prominent,
This good news would extend to all people—but the good news is that nobody gets left out of this joyous news of salvation.
This theme of shepherds playing a vital role in an event that would shape the lives of the multitudes is seen not only here in the New Testament, but it also is recorded in the Old Testament.
In fact, it foreshadows the birthplace where the Savior of all peoples one day would be born: the city named after a shepherd boy turned king, maybe you have heard of him
David.
First Samuel 16 depicts the prophet Samuel anointing David, the shepherd boy, as the new king:
1 Samuel 16:11–13 (NIV): So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
I love that Samuel had went through all the brothers thinking surely one of these men must be the next king, but God told him no keep looking, he goes through all seven and asks are there anymore. Just one but all he’s doing is that menial task of tending the sheep.
Let me back up a few verses, watch the search. . .
1 Samuel 16:6–7 (NIV): When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Let’s pick up our story. . .
Second Samuel 7 records the later event where the Lord’s instructions to the prophet Nathan led to him giving the covenant responsibilities to David, who would become the Messiah’s ancestor on that first Christmas night.
Notice again how the Lord specifically reminds the prophet where his servant and now king, David, had come from before ascending to the throne:
2 Samuel 7:8–9 (NIV): Now then, tell my servant David,
‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.
Skip down to verse 16. . .
2 Samuel 7:16 (NIV): Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”
As you may recall last week when we looked at Herod, I mentioned that he was simply given the name King of the Jews by the people, whereas, Jesus, he was born from the linage of David, as we just read whose throne will be established forever.
A great king with a messianic lineage that would lead to the birth of the Savior in the city named for David:
Bethlehem—the city of David.
But before David would become king, we must not forget he dwelled with the flocks in the pastures and hills around Bethlehem.
God consistently has made sure those on the outskirts who are perceived to be the small and lowly have a significant place in the story that leads to salvation.
Thus, what we see and hear unfolding in the fields on the borders of Bethlehem with the shepherds is consistent with how God has chosen to work and move the narrative forward throughout the ages.
After the angel of the Lord finished making the announcement of good news to the Shepherds about the Savior, we see the singular angelic messenger being joined by a multitude of the heavenly host proclaiming their praises to God:
Luke 2:13–14 (NIV): Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on
earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
This part of the story completes the mesmerizing and emotion-filled announcement from God to the shepherds from the angel of the Lord and the heavenly host.
The words in this section have been studied and carefully examined, researched, and written about by biblical scholars throughout the centuries.
Eight specific words that Luke records embedded within the message from the angel of the Lord have been identified as major themes seen throughout the gospel of Luke that go beyond the other two Synoptic Gospels of Matthew and Mark.
Note once again these important words the angel spoke that are recorded in verses 10-14:
Let me read those verses once more than I will spend a few moments looking at those eight specific words.
Luke 2:10–14 (NIV): But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
First we have the word Evangelizomai it is the Greek word for “bring good news.”
Have you ever pulled into your driveway and saw a package sitting at your door. You aren’t expecting anything.
Something has just shown up. That happened to me this fall, I came home from work and glanced over to see a package sitting in the chair on our front porch. That feeling. That moment between when you park your car and when you walk over to get the package. That feeling of anticipation . . . that’s what we should feel when we’re sharing the good news. Even more than that actually.
There was a movie called Bed of Roses released in 1996.
Christian Slater played a florist who hired himself to be the delivery boy. He hired a manager to run the business, but he wanted to deliver flowers just because he liked the look on people’s faces when they saw him coming.
Every time the word evangelize appears in the gospel of Luke it refers to a verbal sharing. This reminds people
that although good news can come in the form of other means—such as demonstrating love through good deeds—it also must have a verbal component.
Let me pause and ask you a question, when was the last time you shared, verbally, the good news.
The next word is Chara it is the Greek word for “joy.” This word occurs in Luke more than it occurs in Matthew and Mark combined.
Do you remember when you were a child and joy was just a natural state? Little kids can get excited by breakfast cereal, and happy meals, and snowflakes.
I think part of the reason they do this is because there’s no one saying “Stop being joyful! Life is hard. Then you die!”
We let kids be joyful, and we say, “Gee I wish I could be like that again.”
So let me pose another question to you, What’s stopping you?
You can look at a beautiful tree in autumn and see the colors and wonder—or you can see the trunk and think that if you ran into it hard enough you’d kill yourself.
Why is it people watch reality TV? What happened to story?
What happened to fantasy? By the way reality TV isn’t all reality just in case you were wondering.
You do realize you’re standing on a rock right at this minute, that’s hurtling through space at a million miles an hour on the outer spiral arm of a galaxy that’s flying through the universe! You do know that right?
(Pause, and then throw your arms in the air.)
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!
You need to try that with me. Ready? Wheeeeeee!
Doesn’t that feel good? I for one have just ran out the door in the rain at times and spun around and said wheeeeee!
Sometimes I’ve even sang that song from the musical, Singin’ in the rain.
I’ve jumped in the snow and done the same thing. Ok not the singing part. Way to cold to stand out there that long.
Scripture tells us the joy of the Lord is my strength. Feel weak? Wheeeeeeee!
Another word used is Laos that’s the Greek word for
“people.” This word is used thirty-five times in Luke whereas its used only fourteen times in Matthew.
And It’s not used at all in Mark’s gospel. However, Luke
also wrote the book of Acts and uses this word forty-seven more times there.
The point of this word usage is that the gospel is intended to go beyond only the Jews. Jesus is the Savior for all people and is a major theme of Luke’s writings, because it was a major theme in the angel of the Lord’s original announcement to the shepherds.
Galatians 3:28–29 (NIV): There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Romans 3:29 (NIV): Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
What may help you understand is that Matthew’s gospel is written for the Jewish people of his time. He was writing to say, “This is the guy we’ve been waiting for.”
Luke is writing with the full understanding that his words will go beyond the current generation. Laos refers to the group—to the assembly of people—to all of us. Together.
This event is what brings us together as a people.
Next up we have Semeron it is the Greek word for “today.”
This word occurs more in Luke than it does in Matthew and Mark combined.
The emphasis of this word is used to help the reader understand that what has been foretold throughout the ages and has been waited upon for centuries is here now:
Today!
This is not so much a message about the past or the future
—although both timeframes are deeply affected. Rather, Luke is writing for the moment that people are living in right now: Today!
God exists in an eternal now. You know that feeling you get when you drive down the road in the summer and the absolute perfect song comes on the radio?
That absolute all-is-right-with-the-world feeling. You know it.
I can see some of you smiling. You know exactly what I mean. That now—that perfect moment—you needed that and it came right on time that is what Luke is writing about.
That’s what Jesus brings: a perfect now.
Okay, I want everyone to put both hands on their chests like this (make two fists and place them over your chest).
Now I want you to imagine beneath whatever you are
wearing there is a big, red S. You know it’s there, but no one else does.
Now, when I say, “Help, help!” you’re going to pretend to rip open that shirt and reveal that big red S.
Ready? “Help, help!”
See? Some of you even tilted your chin up like you were ready to take off.
The word Soter is the Greek word for “Savior.” Among the Synoptic Gospel writers, only Luke uses this word. It’s an unusual title when understood in its historical and cultural context.
In the ancient world, a savior primarily was a deliverer from disease, danger, or other predicaments.
Both Greek and Roman rulers were referred to as “saviors.”
Small s. It also was a title given to the Greek gods and to those divinities of the mystery religions in that era.
As Broadman notes, “To proclaim Jesus as Savior in a Hellenistic environment of the Gentile mission was to affirm that he was the universal Deliverer for whom people longed, who could do for them what neither their rulers nor their gods could accomplish.
Only Jesus could truly release people from their bondage to evil, fate, death, and corruption.” It’s not just savior. It’s ta-daaaaaaaaa—SAVIOR!
The next word is Kyrios it is the Greek word for “Lord.” Out of the 166 times this word is used in the Synoptic gospels, Luke uses the word 95 times.
The seventh and eighth words are similar, there is Doxa it is the Greek word for “glory,” and doxazo which is the word for “glorify.”
It must be pointed out that when used in verse 14, “Glory to God” that it comes first. “Peace among [humanity]” comes after glory is given to God.
Glory to God comes first—then peace. God first . . . then peace. I don’t think this was accidental. This was an instruction. Recognize God—then you can have peace.
Thus, in this announcement from the angel of the Lord, Luke takes these eight words and continues to use them as major themes throughout his writings that we find in the Bible.
They help all people who would read and hear his
message to understand that the time of fulfillment for this messianic prophecy has happened and is available to all people today!
That’s the good news the angel proclaimed. Something happened that would cause everything from that glorious and joy filled moment to be different forever after.
New Testament scholar and author N.T. Wright has written the following concerning good news:
What good news regularly does, then, is to put a new event into an old story, point to a wonderful future hitherto out of reach, and so introduce a new period in which, instead of living a hopeless life, people are now waiting with excitement for what they know is on the way. The Christian good news is supposed to be this kind of thing. The gospel of Jesus Christ comes as news within a larger story. It points to a wonderful new future. And it introduces a new period of waiting that changes our expectations (N. T.
Wright, Simply Good News, p. 4).
What the shepherds experienced that first Christmas night was the good news of an arrival, the first advent, the annunciation that revealed a long-awaited Messiah that had been born just over the hills in Bethlehem.
What had seemed out of reach was now just a short walk away that would lead to fresh hope today and into the future.
Everything could be different now because of this good news. Everything would be different now. Not just different for Jewish people—different for all people.
What we wait for today is a second advent—a second arrival of the Messiah when Jesus returns to earth just as the Scriptures have said.
But the shepherds were focused on the first arrival on that first Christmas night—and rightly so. This was good news worth doing something about:.
Luke 2:15–16 (NIV): When the angels had left them and
gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
However, although the shepherds clearly heard the message of the angel of the Lord and experienced the heavenly host worshiping at full volume, there still was a choice regarding what the shepherds would do next. They chose to “go with haste,” according to verse 16.
We can learn a lot from the obedience of the shepherds.
How many times do we hear and understand what God wants us to do, but we delay action? Delayed obedience is disobedience.
The Bible is full of people who clearly heard what the Lord wanted them to do but responded with skepticism, delay, and disobedience.
For times sake I’m not going to read all them but if you
would allow me here are just a few accounts in the Scripture where you can see those who responded with skeptics, delay, or disobedience. Genesis 3:6, 8-21, 24; 2 Kings 2:15-18; Luke 1:20-22; John 20:24-25, 29.
But we do not find delayed obedience with the shepherds in Luke 2. They responded to the message with haste, and rushed to Bethlehem to find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger:
Luke 2:16–20 (NIV): So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
I can’t imagine that seeing the baby wrapped in swaddling
clothes made shepherding easier. Sheep are sheep.
Sheep are going to do what they want to do.
But the shepherds were forever changed. You might go back to the same job, but you were never again going to be the same.
The shepherds found what they were looking for: Jesus.
They met his mom and dad and looked at the the baby Jesus all wrapped up in swaddling clothes in the manger—just as they had been told.
When the shepherds told these things to Mary and the others who they came into contact with, it put them in the position of being the first evangelists in the history of the world.
They were ordinary people with an extraordinary message of good news. It’s a theme we must take to heart today.
What’s especially interesting is that shepherds in that day
were considered untrustworthy.
In verse 18 it talks about how the people they shared with
“wondered at what the shepherds told them.” Some must have been thinking to themselves: “Oh, it’s only a shepherd’s tale, you know.”
But notice how Mary received the information in verse 19:
Luke 2:19 (NIV): But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Such news of an angelic being visiting and giving these shepherds a birth announcement certainly was not beyond Mary’s understanding, the message was credibly to her.
After all, She had experienced the same type of messenger and wild news some nine months earlier.
Perhaps a smile of understanding broke forth upon her face.
Some scholars believe Mary later would be instrumental in telling and validating the shepherds’ story over and over to the early church.
Luke had to have received the contents of the story from somebody.
Yes, the shepherds were the first to share the Christmas story with others.
It may have been these same shepherds—or others they had told about that glorious Christmas night—had shared the news with the magi from the east who would come seeking to worship the newborn king, that we talked about last week.
Somebody must have told them this good news if they were seeking to find this newborn king. Whoever told the wise men, it started from the lips of the shepherds who left the manger that night with hearts and lives full of joy as they were “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them”
Thankfully, they didn’t keep it to themselves. They shared this good news with all they came in contact with as they returned to their hills and pastures with the sheep.
Who else could have been there? The innkeeper maybe?
We only know Mary and Joseph were in the stable because there was no room in the inn.
The Scriptures doesn't even mention an innkeeper. But the city was packed—people must have heard a young woman in labor.
I can imagine that a group of older mothers who had done this many times before might have packed the stable to try and help. Other than these possible visitors, the only others there that night were the shepherds.
They started this. We’re here in this now because of the shepherds: the ones we take for granted until they’re in our way. The ones who live in the margins who get up on ice cold morning to make sure the rest of us get to the office.
We don’t know what the shepherds did with the sheep that night they received the news from the angel. Perhaps they took them with them. Perhaps some went and others stayed behind.
The Bible is not specific with that detail. But we do know that they experienced the good news of the Savior’s birth on that first Christmas night.
Prayer
Join us next week as we look at Joseph and Mary
