Shepherds & Angels
Notes
Transcript
Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
The following is from a message by Pastor Allen Perkins entitled “Shepherds”:
“Let me tell you a bit about shepherds.
They were the last people you’d expect God to take notice of.
First of all, they were religious outcasts.
According to Jewish religious law, these men 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 watch the sheep.
When everyone else was making the trip to Jerusalem to make sacrifices at the temple, or to participate in one of the annual feasts, they were out in the fields, watching over the sheep.
A modern day example might be a trucker or a shift worker, whose job keeps them from regularly attending church...
They were looked down on, from a religious point of view.
Whatever might have been in their hearts, they weren’t able to participate fully in the religious life of the community.
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Not only that, but shepherds were borderline social outcasts.
Since they were constantly on the move to find new pasture for their flocks, they were looked on with suspicion.
Kind of the way people today might look at gypsies, or carnival workers.
They were often accused of being thieves.
If something came up missing – it must have been those shepherds.
They were not permitted to give testimony in a legal proceeding, because their word wasn’t considered trustworthy.
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And 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’.
This was not a 40-hour a week job.
They didn’t come home at night.
They were with the sheep 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
During the day, they led the sheep to grass and water.
They watched while the sheep grazed.
They kept an eye out for predators like wolves.
And at night, they actually slept in the sheep pen with the sheep to guard against theft and animal attack.”
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Yet, despite these facts, Church...
We see that God often describes Himself as a shepherd and His followers as His Sheep.
Jesus is even known as the Good Shepherd.
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The man after God’s own heart, David was a shepherd...
And as we will see with our message today...
It was shepherds whom God chose to have angels appear to and announce the birth of His Son...
The birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
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So, please turn your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke.
We will conduct our study in Chapter 2 and focus on verses 8 through 21.
Our message this morning is called, “Shepherds & Angels”
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As you are finding your place in God’s Word...
I would like to share that this message will focus on the New Testament’s first evangelists...
Evangelists whom the world saw as outcasts...
Yet whom God used to spread His message of hope.
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Our passage today has three main points...
The Good News...
The Savior...
And...
The Evangelists.
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Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we consider our text, please join me in prayer...
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Heavenly Father...
May your name be praised forever...
For there is no one like you Lord.
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May your kingdom come in its fullness at your timing...
And may you will and desire be carried out in this world...
All in the same manner it would be carried out in heaven.
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On this very day and everyday, Lord, we come to You and ask for our nourishment and sustenance...
For all that we now have is because of you.
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Forgive us...
Your children...
Your followers...
For all the senseless sins we have foolishly commited...
And at the very same time, Lord...
Forgive those who likewise have fallen short and sinned against us.
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Heavenly Father protect us from all manners of temptation...
And shield us from evil...
Giving us the strength and endurance to withstand the fiery arrows of the Evil One and his demons.
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May all the glory and honor go to you, Lord...
Now and forever and ever and ever.
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And it is in Jesus’s name we pray all these things...
Amen.
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Let’s turn to our text for today:
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
So, let’s look at our first point...
1) The Good News
1) The Good News
Verses 8-12: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
So, let’s start with a little more background information on shepherds...
The shepherds in Bethlehem were close to Jerusalem so many of the sheep used in the temple sacrifices came from there.
This is ironic since shepherds were a despised class by the time of Christ due to their work which often rendered them ceremonially unclean.
In fact, the Pillar New Testament Commentary on Luke says this:
“The announcement begins with the introduction of shepherds, who represented one of the meaner demographic elements in Palestinian society.
Luke mentions two characteristics of shepherds:
Living outside in open country and taking turns in night watches.
Nomadic shepherds who were separated from human communities and culture for long periods of time were inevitably subjected to suspicion and scorn.
Popular lore accused them of failing to observe the difference between “mine” and “thine.”
Because they could prey on lonely travelers, they were often suspected of practicing “the craft of robbers”.
Their prolonged absences—and ill-repute—disqualified them from being legal witnesses.
A third-century rabbi, commenting on Psalm 23, said, “There is no more despised occupation in the world than that of shepherds.”
Along with gamblers and tax collectors, herdsmen were regularly listed among despised trades by Mishnah and Talmud.
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In contrast to this negative assessment, the New Testament holds shepherds in generally high esteem.
Indeed, the shepherd becomes a symbol of God himself in Luke 15:4–6 (as earlier in Ezek 34:11–16).
The radical re-presentation of shepherds in the New Testament may, as Jeremias suggests, be due to the life of Jesus himself, the Good Shepherd, who knows the sheep by name (John 10:3) and lays down his life for the flock (John 10:11–13).”
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Next our passage says, “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them”...
The angel who first appeared is not identified, but in light of his earlier appearances to Zacharias and Mary, it may have been the angel Gabriel.
Adding immeasurably to the shepherds’ shock and terror at the angel’s unexpected appearance,...
Luke goes on to say, “And the glory of the Lord shone around them”...
So, the glory of the Lord blazed forth out of the darkness and shone all around them.
Church, keep Exodus 24:17 in mind which says:
17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.
The glory of the Lord is described as a devouring fire...
So it is no surprise that the shepherds, “were filled with great fear.”
Yet the angel reassure them they have nothing to fear for he has come to declare, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
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The phrase “good news” in our passage is the Greek word “euangelion” and is commonly referred to in Luke’s Gospel to the saving message that the Savior of humanity has come into the world.
Additionally the phrase “that will be for all the people” reveals this “good news” is not just for Jewish people only, but that it will also be for non-Jewish people such as the Gentiles.
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The Good News that the angel declares is that, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Beloved, the Good News is all about Jesus!
Humanity was without any hope of saving themselves...
When sin entered the world...
We had no way to overcome it...
And all the Law did was reveal that we could not keep it.
But...
As the angel said...
A Savior was born!
The long promised Messiah has finally come!
Everything Luke shared in his Gospel account so far was all pointing to this crucial moment in the history of mankind.
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This Good News...
This Gospel message...
This was the heart of Jesus’ earthy ministry...
Look with me at Mark 1:14 as see what it says:
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,
And look with me again at Mark 1:33-38:
33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.
34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him,
37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”
And remember what it says in Matthew 4:23:
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.
Jesus’ earthly ministry included healing but that was not the main point...
Jesus’ earthly ministry included casting out demons but that was not the main point...
Jesus’ earthly ministry included miracles of all kinds but that was not the main point...
Jesus Himself said that the purpose for His coming was to preach and proclaim the Good News!
For all of Jesus’ healings, and exorcisms, and miracles would be in vain if one did not know that only genuine saving faith in Christ would lead to eternal life!
That is why we call Jesus our Savior...
And that is why the angels call Jesus “Savior” as it says in verse 11 of our passage.
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It is interesting to note that this is only one of two instances in the Gospels that Jesus is called Savior...
The other being John 4:42 which says:
42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
However other parts of the New Testament call Jesus Savior along with Luke himself in Acts 5:31:
31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
And again in Acts 13:23:
23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.
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You see Church, Roman emperors commonly ascribed the title “savior” to themselves...
However, the one true God of the Bible insists that He alone is Savior as seen in Isaiah 43:3:
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
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The word “Christ” in our passage or “Christos” is Greek for the Hebrew term “Messiah.”
So, it is a title rather than a name...
And means God’s anointed Davidic-King.
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The word “Lord” that is paired with the word “Christ” emphasizes His sovereign authority.
In fact, the word “Lord” in Greek is “Kyrios” and can mean “master”—but it is also the word used to translate the covenant name of God, “Yahweh” from Hebrew to Greek as seen in the Septuagint.
Here and in most of its New Testament occurrences, it is used in the latter sense, as a title of the deity of Jesus.
Additionally, Luke uses the title “Lord” interchangeably to refer to both Yahweh and Jesus...
This indicates that Luke intended to refer to Jesus as Yahweh...
Again further proving that Jesus is fully God and showcases Luke’s high Christology that we see throughout the New Testament.
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We see the authority and Lordship of Christ in passages like Luke 10:22 which says:
22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Additionally, it is important to note what it says in passages like 1 Timothy 2:5–6 that says:
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
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Next in our passage we see appearance of a great multitude of angels...
And this takes us to our second point.
2) The Savior
2) The Savior
Verses 13-16: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
Initially a single angel appeared to the shepherds but now a host of angels all appeared suddenly.
The word “host” in verse 13 describes an army encampment...
And the number of the angelic host would have been be too large for the human mind to even fathom based on the description of the size of the armies of heaven found in Scripture.
The amazing fact about this all is that this heavenly army was not coming to engage in a battle but brought a message of peace.
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You see, Beloved...
Scripture records angels rejoicing over the affairs of man...
Especially in relation to salvation.
Look with me at Luke 15:10:
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Additionally, we see angel not just announcing the birth of Jesus...
But they also announce the resurrection of our Lord and Savior as seen in Luke 24:4–7 which says:
4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.
5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
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The phrase “and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” from our passage is better translated: “among men who are the objects (or recipients) of God’s good pleasure.”
So, salvation peace belongs to those to whom God is pleased to give it...
It is not a reward for those who have good will...
But it is a gracious gift to those who are the objects of God’s good will.
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So, the “peace” that is being mentioned here is peace with God...
And it is a peace that only Christ can give and only He will bring it about.
Therefore, God’s gift of “peace” will come not to all humanity but to those whom God is pleased to call to Himself.
Additionally, the word “peace” in Greek is “eirēnē” and is similar in meaning to the Hebrew word for “peace” which is “shalom.”
Those terms mean “peace,” “wholeness,” or “completeness” and it carries connotations of well-being, harmony, and security.
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The Faithlife Study Bible has a great note I came across in my study that I would like to share with you:
“At first, it seems that the idea of Messianic peace contradicts Luke 12:51, where Jesus declares that He will bring division rather than peace.
For reference Luke 12:51 says:
51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
He is explaining that people will have to make a decision about Him which may cause division.
Ultimately, those who choose to follow Him will receive peace.
Jesus brings peace to the whole world upon his second coming.
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Luke likely intends a contrast between the peace offered by God through His Messiah and that offered by Rome through the emperor.
The idea that peace came from Caesar Augustus was prevalent throughout the Roman Empire at the time of Jesus’ birth.
During his reign from 27 BC – 14 AD, Augustus ended the civil strife and widespread warfare that dominated the reigns of other emperors.
Consequently, people erected shrines to him with inscriptions hailing him as savior of the whole world.
For example, an inscription found in the city of Priene (located in modern-day Turkey) declares:
‘The birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning of the good news for the world that came through him.’
In contrast, Luke portrays Jesus as the true Savior of the world, the authentic bearer and proclaimer of good news (the gospel).
Jesus’ words divide people as they choose allegiances, but unlike Augustus, Jesus can offer true salvation.”
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So let us remember the words of our Master as He said in John 14:27:
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
The peace Jesus gives is a peace that the world can’t offer you and me...
Jesus is the only person you can run to...
Jesus is the only person you can look to...
Jesus is the only person you can believe in and trust in that will give you true peace.
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Who here is heavy laden?
Who here is tired of the seemingly endless labor we must do in order to just survive in this world?
Who here is sick and tired of the evil in this world?
Who here is tormented by the curse of sin and all of its ramifications?
Who here is tired of senseless violence and demonic wickedness that this world has to offer?
Who here just wants rest?
Then here the words of The Christ in Matthew 11:28–29:
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
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Since Jesus is the only option for those who desire rest...
Then we only have one thing to do, Church...
We have got to share hope with others...
Just like the shepherds did...
Even while Jesus was only just born into this world and took on flesh...
And this takes us to our third and final point.
3) The Evangelists
3) The Evangelists
Verses 17-21: And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
New Testament Scholar James R. Edwards has this to say regarding our passage:
“Ironically, the shepherds, who were disqualified from serving as witnesses in legal cases in Judaism, are qualified to be the first witnesses of the gospel,...
Not because of any innate abilities, but because of ‘the word that had been told them.’
It is not witnesses who invoke the word, but the Word that calls, creates, and empowers witnesses.”
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So, the shepherds thus became the first New Testament evangelists.
Once they had heard, believed, and acted on the truth, the shepherds could not help but tell others about it.
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Please note the seminary degrees that the shepherds had...
None!
Please note the religious training they had from the religious elite...
None!
Please note the influential status and all their followers...
Again they had none!
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So Beloved...
What excuse can any of us give for not sharing the Gospel with those who desperately need to hear it.
Your neighbors are drowning...
Your friends are drowning...
Your family members are drowning...
They are drowning if they do not savingly and genuinely know Jesus.
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Many of us don’t share the Gospel with others because we are scared...
We fear what others will think about us...
We fear what others will say...
But we should look to the courage of the apostles as seen in Acts 4:18-20:
18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,
20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
And those shepherds...
The social outcasts...
The ones who weren't even allowed to serve as witnesses in court...
These shepherds“made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.”
So, you too...
Share what you know from the Word of God...
Share what you know to be true and essential for eternal life...
Share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
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As Mary heard the shepherds share of their amazing experience...
Luke reveals to us that, “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
This is not the only time Luke records Jesus’ parents as marveling and pondering about the about what they would hear and see regarding their Son...
Take a look at Luke 2:25-33 as it says:
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
As Jesus grew we see this same pattern again in Luke 2:46-51 which says:
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
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Then our passage says that after eight days Jesus “was circumcised”...
For you see, Beloved, Jesus was not just fully God...
But He was fully man...
And as a man He came in all likeness of men...
Or as Romans 8:3 puts it:
3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
And Hebrews 2:17 would be appropriate to mention hear too:
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
So, when the time was right...
Jesus was sent into our world...
And was even placed under the law as Galatians 4:4 says:
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
And since Jesus volunteraly came in the flesh and was perfectly obeident to the Father and was without sin...
He followed all the requirements of the Law...
That also included circumcision as it says in Leviticus 12:3:
3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
Although Jesus was without sin He still needed to be circumcised...
And although Jesus was without sin He still needed to be baptised by John the Baptist who was shocked...
As John said in Matthew 3:14:
14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Yet Christ replied in Matthew 3:15:
15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
Jesus came to fulfill all righteousness and since He was born under the Law that ment circumcision too.
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Finally, Luke ends this section by saying, “He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”
As we already previously ciovered in our study...
Luke 1:30-31 says:
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
And the parallel text in the Gospel of Matthew includes the reason for the name “Jesus” as seen in Matthew 1:21:
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
The name “Jesus” in Greek is “Iēsous” and is the equivalent of “Yeshua/Yehoshua” or Joshua in Hebrew...
And the meaning of His name is “Yahweh saves” or “the Lord saves.”
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This is quite appropriate for Jesus is the only name in which one can turn to for salvation.
Closing Illustration
Closing Illustration
As this message comes to a close...
I would like to share this:
In the lead up to the 2012 highly publicized NFL playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh’s Mayor Luke Ravenstahl made a bet with Denver’s mayor.
For his part of the wager, Ravenstahl agreed that—If the Bronco’s won, he would don a Number 15 jersey and publicly posture himself Tebowing in homage to the victorious team.
Tebowing was named after then starting quarter back Tim Tebow who wore #15 for the Denver Broncos...
And who gained much media attention as he publically displayed his faith and would drop to one knee after scoring a touchdown to say a prayer to God.
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Well, the Broncos did win, and Ravenstahl kept his part of the bargain, albeit a bit begrudgingly.
“This is not something I ever thought I'd have to do,” he mused, “and it certainly wasn't something I was looking forward to.”
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Well, a day is coming when the entire world will be called to bow to the King of Kings and Lords of Lords.
This culminating act of homage will be something the world will not “looking forward to,” and it will be an act they never thought they would “have to do.”
But do it, they will, as they finally acknowledge the King of Glory’s victory over the powers of sin and death.
As the Word of God says in Philippians 2:9–10:
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
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Today is the day of salvation!
If you have not done so already...
Put your trust in Jesus...
Surrender to Him now...
For one day...
Every knee will bow down...
Some in joyful thankfulness...
And others in dreadful misery as they realize what they put their trust in was futile.
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Again I say it...
Today is the day of salvation!
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To God be all the glory.
Amen.
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Please join us for one more song from the Praise Band.
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