Sermon Tone Analysis

Luke 2:8-14

What about from the angel’s perspective?

This was like a flash mob.

I.

The Concert Preparation (8-9)

A. An Unlikely Concert Hall

This was Bethlehem.

Not too many big names had been there in hundreds of years.

For the shepherds - A Night Like Any Other.

They were just doing their job.

Soft “baa” of the sheep in the background.

The crackle of a fire to keep them warm.

A flock in Israel would graze out in the open pastureland from about Passover time in the spring until autumn.

This casts doubt on the time that we celebrate Christ’s birth.

During that time the shepherds would sometimes build shelters for themselves like the ice fishermen do on the lakes here in Vermont.[1]

It was this open pastureland that served as a makeshift concert hall for this once in a lifetime concert.

B. An Unlikely Audience

What were they talking about?

What they just ate, complaining about politics, weather?

Shepherding had changed from a family business as in David’s time (1 Sam.

16:11) to a despised occupation.

Many shepherds were accused of robbery and using land they had no rights to.

Shepherding was also a lonely occupation, particularly at night, as a shepherd stood his watch, making sure sleeping sheep did not wake up and wander and that prowling predators did not attack and devour the sheep.

Shepherds did have this tender side, counting the sheep constantly (Jer.

33:12–13), lifting the weak on their shoulders (see Isa. 40:11), and creating crude pens where the sheep could sleep (John 10:1).[2]

Maybe these shepherds were caring for the flocks that would provide sacrifices for the temple services.

It was fitting that the good news about God’s Shepherd and Lamb be given first to humble shepherds.

Shepherds are not easily fooled.

They are practical men of the world who have little to do with fantasy.

If they said that they saw angels and went and found the Messiah, then you could believe them.

God selected hardworking men to be the first witnesses that His Son had come into the world.

[3]

Only God would choose them, of such a low occupation, as an audience for this incredible concert and as witnesses to his salvation.

Despite their low occupation, these particular shepherds must have been godly.

There is no doubt, that like Simeon (Lu 2:25), they were waiting for the Consolation of Israel” [4]

C. An Unlikely Entrance

Angel is a descriptive name.

It is a name that tells more about what the creature is doing, than what kind of creature it is.

Like “a singer” (a human being, male or female, who is singing) or a baker.

Angels are messengers, that is, heavenly beings who are called the sons of God because they were directly created by God on the first day of creation like Adam was on the sixth.

And they carry messages for God.

Not repurposed humans who need to earn their wings (like Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life.)

The heavenly sons of God (angels) who were on Advent detail were probably expecting and anticipating this for thousands of years.

Practicing the song?

Memorizing?

Did they work out the staging, “I appear here.

They will be afraid, so I will have to write some dialogue and run it by the Lord.”

The glory of the Lord (like that in the temple) returned to Israel for the first time in centuries.

Better than a laser light show.

Scarier than a fireworks display.

[kids seeing their first fireworks]

Application:

The fact that it was very ordinary people, busy about very ordinary tasks, were given tickets to this glorious concert means, first, that your place of duty (your job, wiping noses, being a mom or a dad, getting groceries, ministering), however humble it is, can be a place of honor where God teaches you about Himself in spectacular ways.

And secondly, that if you have kept to the deep, simple devotions of life and have not lost your childlike heart, then the gates of the Kingdom most readily open to you.

II.

The Solo (10—12)

A. A Joyful Solo

“Good news” – “I evangelize to you mega joy or delight”

What could be more joyful than the birth of a baby?

[when Charis was born, the grin plastered on my face]

This is like a singing telegram to announce a birth.

“All the people” – “All of Israel” the article is included.

Israel was the people waiting for the king.

But since Israel was to be a light to the gentiles, we who are not Israel can now share in their joy.

It was for all the people of Israel, even for outcast shepherds.

A shepherd’s work made him unclean and kept him away from the temple and the synagogue for weeks at a time.

Shepherds were not even allowed to give testimony in a trial.

Application: This joy can be yours too.

No matter who you are.

Rich/poor, educated/uneducated, good upbringing/bad upbringing, moral/most evil of sinners.

There is good news of great delight!

B. An Informative Solo

When? – today,

Where?

– Bethlehem, He was close by.

What? - a baby,

Who? - the Messiah.

To Whom? – You.

This refers to Isa. 9:6, Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.

To you men, not to us angels; he didn’t take on the nature of angels.

[5]

The birthplace of the king (King David) who first united the nation now births the king who offers unity to the world.

The Lord is the title Luke uses most often for Jesus.

This title refers to the holy, unspeakable personal name of God himself[6]

Here we have a theology in miniature.

First, He is a Savior, which is expressed in His name, Jesus.

Then He is Christ, the Anointed of God, the Messiah of Israel.

Finally, He is the Lord, God manifest in the flesh.

[7]

Christ the Lord— “This is the only place where these words come together; and I see no way of understanding this “Lord” but as corresponding to the Hebrew Jehovah” [Alford][8]

How dear to us should be these historic moorings of our faith!

With the loss of them, all substantial Christianity is lost

C. A Curious Solo

They expected to be told, “You shall find him, though a babe, dressed up in robes, and lying in the best house in the town, lying in state, with a numerous train of attendants in rich uniforms.’

a manger—“the manger.”

The sign was to consist, it seems, solely in the overpowering contrast between the things just said of Him and the lowly condition in which they would find Him—Him whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting, “ye shall find a Babe”; whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, “wrapt in swaddling bands”; the “Saviour, Christ the Lord,” lying in a manger!

Thus early were these amazing contrasts, which are His chosen style, held forth.

Application: God is still interrupting people's lives and giving light to darkened men today.

It doesn't matter who you are for this good news is for everyone.

Has your life been interrupted by the good news that brings great joy?

If you are just going through the motions of life and even this Christmas season without much thought as to its significance, then let this be your unexpected surprise.

III.

The Chorus (13-14)