Christmas Story #4 – The Shepherds
Introduction
Church attendance is declining
Where is the next generation?
There are encouraging signs
The Church of Jesus Christ can never decrease – an absolute truth
Those who are saved can never be lost
The Church will only increase
Christ will rule forever
This should spur us to evangelism
The critical questions – who do I become a follower of Jesus Christ?
Not to do with family – having family members who are Christians
Though this is a blessing – Example of Timothy
There are many brought up in Christian homes who do not come to faith
Not to do with a strong Christian culture – Example of Brazil
Not to do with baptism or confirmation
These do not make you Christian
They can create outward conformity to religious ideas
External things do not bring salvation
Jesus said the true Jew is internal – i.e. faith
Considering the shepherds
To see them as a pattern of what it means to follow Jesus Christ
The steps of them coming to faith
Their experience is not normative – we do not see angels
There are many parallels for us
God’s Choice
The first to hear of the God-man (Jesus Christ)
Not rich people or not religious people
Instead the rough and ready, the lowly, those considered untrustworthy, those looked down upon
God announces the birth of the Saviour of the World – to the most unlikely candidates
But God is not a respecter of persons
God has chosen the poor to faith
God’s choice of the shepherds should encourage us
They were brought good tidings (v10)
The birth is not just for Mary and Joseph, but to the shepherds and to all people
God’s Glory
The angel appeared to Zacharias in the temple – no mention of glory (though this was likely present)
Likewise with Mary and Joseph
With the shepherds – the glory of God shone around them (v9)
The shepherds were working a ‘night shift’
Suddenly an angel appears
Something of God’s glory is manifested to them
There reaction is tremendous fear
Some people saw manifestations of God: Example of Isaiah and John
The shepherds saw too
How does this relate to people coming to God?
We do not see angels (only in extra-ordinary circumstances)
There is always a wakened conscience – our spirit is troubled as God’s word penetrates our heart
People begin to fear God and see the need of a Saviour
God’s Message
The angel brings a revelation
"Do not be afraid" (v10)
Are you afraid of the name Jesus?
Does this trouble you?
Do you feel hostile to this?
Not just good tidings
Good tidings of great joy (v10)
The best message you can ever hear
A gospel of peace
A Saviour who is born (v11)
A deliverer, a rescuer, a Saviour
One who provides atonement for our sin
One who restores our relationship with God
Christ the Lord (v11)
The anointed one – the Messiah
The gospel first to the Jew and then the Gentile
A sign (v12)
God’s graciousness to help their unbelief
God’s kindness – a manger perfect for shepherd
God is taking away obstacles – the obstacles are in our hearts
We are to come as we are (as the shepherds did)
The shepherds needed to embrace this message personally – to go to Bethlehem
There are only two reactions to the message: accept or reject
The shepherds went to Bethlehem with haste (v15)
They went directly with desire
"Today is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2) – not tomorrow
After seeing Jesus, they testified of Him to the people (v17-18)
The people marvelled – but it did not necessarily alter their hearts
Yet the shepherds could not hold back
They passed on the message
We should be passing on the message of Jesus Christ
There was no command to do so
They did this spontaneously
When we first become a Christian – we want to tell others
They glorified and praised God (v20)
They knew great joy
Their desire was to praise God
Let this be our desire too
Let us not stay away from Church or God’s people
Ponder these things in your heart (v19)