The Shepherds

If you wanted to make a big announcement that would changed the world for ever. I’m talking a big announcement, the kind that would change what we believe about ourselves, and how we treat other human beings, it would change the trajectory of the human race and what we value.  It would inspire scientist and inventors and artist and it affect how we raise our children. But most of all it would give humanity the greatest hope. that this is not all there is. there is much more.

Where would announce this, the Whitehouse, congress maybe at a global summit. or would you choose group a guys on guard duty watching some sheep. Well that’s what happened 2000 years. for some reason God chose angels to make this huge announcement to shepherds.

• To give you a little background on shepherds during that time 
• A. Shepherds were socially marginalized
• Shepherds were considered lower-class laborers, often despised.
• Rabbinic writings from later centuries suggest shepherds were viewed as:
• Untrustworthy (their testimony was sometimes inadmissible in court).
• Ceremonially unclean due to constant contact with animals.
• Rough, uneducated, transient.

God chose the humble ordinary people of this world to reveal himself to, rather than kings or priest or wealthy or people that are important by human standards. this is how it happened that night.

(8) That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. (9) Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, (10) but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. (11) The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! (12) And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

(13) Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (15) When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (16) They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And

there was the baby, lying in the manger. (17) After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. (18) All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, (19) but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. (20) The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Luke 2:8-20 – NLT

1. The Good News is Accessible to everyone –God bypassed the elite, the powerful, the wealthy to bring his message straight to the people. You will notice in the Bible that God often calls the regular ordinary everyday people. to serve him. Those who humble themselves and are willing to listen
   1. Jesus said that is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God because they trust in their worldly wealth. but you know who really has a hard time accepting the good news of Jesus Christ and the gospel of salvation in him?
   2. the prideful- Those who think they know better, those who think Christianity is a scam, the arrogant, the boastful, those who claim they have tried Christianity until someone hurt their feelings. they have hardened their hearts toward the gospel that could save them.
   3. And yet many others around the world are coming into the kingdom of God often the least expected ones. You will notice this theme constantly in scripture.
2. A Savior is born in Bethlehem– Jesus was born in the place specifically prophesied by Micah 8 centuries earlier
   • Micah 5:2 (NLT)
     “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
     are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
     Yet a ruler of Israel,
     whose origins are in the distant past,
     will come from you on my behalf.”
   • This prophecy not only points to the place and the people Jesus would be born from but also his preexistence.
   • Bethlehem is in the land of  Judea which is why they were called jews. The romans renamed it Palestine as a slight to the jews. but even to this day Christmas is celebrated in the city in the Westbank by about 50,000 Christians.
3. Peace on earth with who God is pleased– What does this mean? we don’t see a stopping of wars. their is still violence on the earth and pain and suffering and heartache. But what is the source of this strife. it originates within us who are at war with God. but when we are humble and open to his message we experience peace.
   • (1) Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
     Romans 5:1 – NLT
   • When you have peace with God you can become a peace maker.
4. Go tell Everyone!
   • (16) For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
     Romans 1:16 – NLT
   • The shepherds were not concerned with what people thought about them,
   • Who did God entrust with delivering this good news? Not the top theologians, the Sanhedrin, the scribes and scholars. Nope! ordinary folk.
   • What does that mean for you and me? that we need to trust in the power of sharing Jesus with our family and friends and stop worrying about if we know enough.