Sermon Snippet –More People That You Should Know at Christmas
INTRODUCTION – The unnamed shepherds are an integral part of the Christmas story. Many songs and poems have been written about them. Their journey to Bethlehem was much shorter than Joseph and Mary’s trek from Nazareth, but, as we find in Luke 2:8-20, it was remarkable.
1. THE SHEPHERDS ARE A SURPRISE IN THE CHRISTMAS ACCOUNT
Of course, despite prophecy, the entire story is full of surprises! The shepherds, though, were of the lower class and, because of their profession, were considered perpetually unclean in religious matters. As such, they were among the last people that the Jewish leaders would have expected to receive this message of “good tidings of great joy” (verse 10), for the shepherds would not have been welcome to worship at the Temple. However, they were welcome in the presence of Jesus, God the Son. I often point out and take comfort in the truth that God has His people everywhere. Abraham, a stranger in a strange land, found that a genuine man of faith, Melchizedek, was already there (Genesis 14:18-20). A lonely Ethiopian on the Gaza Road was interested in the Messianic prophecy of the book of Isaiah, and God led Philip the Evangelist to that deserted desert region to present the Gospel message (Acts 8:26-40). Out in the hills of Judah surrounding Bethlehem, shepherds were waiting for the coming of the promised Messiah.
2. THE SHEPHERDS RESPONDED TO GOD’S GRACIOUS CALL
This passage presents the core of Christianity, the fact that “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, [Who] is Christ the Lord” (verse 11). What will we do with this truth? The shepherds evaluated the claim of the angels (verse 15) and “found” (verse 16) that it was veracious. Did they have an advantage over us because they saw the infant Jesus? No, for we have the rest of the story. Christmas is God’s call to the whole world (not the only call, of course): each one must choose what to do with this gracious invitation.
3. THE SHEPHERDS WERE TRANSFORMED
Yes, they went back to being shepherds, dealing with predators, disease, and the neediness of the sheep. However, they had more than an exciting evening; they had the certainty of eternity (verse 20). It is unlikely that these shepherds were ever visited by angels again. It is also unlikely that they ever saw Jesus again, for He was taken first to Egypt and then to Galilee in northern Israel. Jesus would not begin His itinerant ministry for more than 30 years later. Since the shepherds were probably all adults, most or even all of them would have died before Jesus declared that He was the fulfillment of all Old Testament Scripture (Matthew 5:17-18). Still, they evidenced an eternal transformation as they spoke to everyone about the Savior (verses 17-18, 20). They had believed in the promise of the Messiah, and they now knew Jesus was that Messiah.
CONCLUSION – It is fitting that shepherds came to worship the One Who is the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23), the Chief Shepherd (I Peter 5:4), and the Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20). Each one of us must also come to Him, and all of us can – for this message is “to all people” (verse 10). In heaven, these shepherds have already seen Jesus again – the resurrected Jesus. If we, like them, trust in Jesus for the eternal salvation that He (and only He) offers, we will also see Him face to face – and will be welcomed into His everlasting presence.