The Shepherds experience
The first thing I wish to say here, is: I have always been amazed at the choice of people God made to show the birth of His Son.
The birth of Christ was the miraculous beginning to a life, foretold from the beginning (Genesis 3:15).
The birth of Christ was just as His life was….humble yet triumphant…..obscure yet manifested “abroad”…..according to prophesy, but not according as people thought.
The most amazing people were the shepherds.
Luke 2:8-9 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.”
First let me explain that these shepherds were just ordinary men, doing their jobs….but that God sent the messenger to them…..to enlighten and give them His Word.
Fear was their first thought…..then reasoning to themselves about the Word (Isa.1:18)….
then…
Seeking the Lord…till they found Him.
All through scripture, the Lord has loved good shepherds….those that would put their life down for their flocks.
These men, staying with their sheep, out in the open at night….were such men.
Why they were not in a fold….for they would not be feeding them at night….but giving them rest…keeping them together…and “keeping watch over” the sheep….
…is not known.
But to these men, the angel of the Lord came….and heralded the good news of our Savior’s birth.
Luke 2:10-12 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
Jesus was not born a normal King…in a palace or large home….but was given no room in the very city He was prophesied to come to….Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:5-6).
Luke 2:6-7 “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Now there was a “reason” for the city being full….and that no room was given to Mary for His birth.
The whole world was to be taxed…and everyone had to return to their ancestral city. Both Mary and Joseph were of the line of David, and so they had to go to Bethlehem to be counted, and “taxed”.
(I find this amazing also….the whole world was moving, being unsettled,….at the time of the birth of Christ Jesus. Plainly, nothing would ever be the same again….for the Savior of the world is come….whether they knew it or not…
…..and God was shaking up things….and making every circumstance to do His Will.)
But the fact that Mary and Jesus was in a stable, was very convenient for those that God called to “come and see”.
Luke 2:15-16 “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
Again, how amazing that God chose shepherds to “come and see” that very night….
…..for it would be several years before the wise men came. (the wise men came into a house, and saw a young child…not a babe. Matthew 2:11)
So the shepherds came with haste….and found.
“found” is an interesting term. It does not say,….”they saw”…..but “found”.
It suggests first that they really searched the city’s stables till they “found” Mary and Jesus.
It also suggests that these men “found” the Savior that night personally….and received Him into their hearts and lives as Christ the Lord….
…for the next thing they did was:….they went out to tell all about Him.
Luke 2:17-18, 20 “And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
The Shepherd’s Testimony was:
We have heard the Word of the Lord….and we have “found” it to be true.
Therefore we are telling you what we have heard….what we have seen….
….and that the Lord’s Word is true…..Christ the Messiah has come.
What a testimony….but can not we say the same? Have we not heard of Jesus Christ, Who came to save us from our sins? (Matthew 1:21)
And have we not “found” HIm to be exactly what the Word has said?
Let us also, then, be as the shepherds….and “make known abroad” HIs Word….so that others may find HIm as well.
“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard…..and seen, as it was told unto them.”
Let me mention here….that they returned to their flocks. The Holy Spirit made note of this…they had flocks to tend…and they did not desert them.
But they were not the same men….they were glorifying and praising God!
How precious a Word that leads us to Christ….how precious that we can return that Word to God in praise and adoration for all that He has said, and shown, and done for us!
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 