Luke 2:8-20
Pastor Robbie Rutherford
New Day Christian Church, SW Florida
December 22, 2024
INTRODUCTION
Today we are going to study an encounter between an angel of God and some ordinary shepherds.
Although these shepherds are just ordinary guys, when they were confronted with life-changing news they didn’t act ordinary. That acted with boldness!
Have you ever had an opportunity to act boldly for God, but you let fear hold you back?
The good news of Jesus is way too important to let fear keep you quiet.
God doesn’t need you to be perfect or polished. He’s been using ordinary, imperfect people to share his messages since the beginning.
The Shepherds in our text today weren’t Bible scholars or preachers. They were just ordinary guys. But God chose them to share the most extraordinary news.
TEXT
A) THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
Luke 2:6-8
6 While they were there,(in Bethlehem) the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. …8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
We have this incredible scene, Jesus is born, the savior of the world.
And then Luke jumps to some shepherds in a field.
The job of shepherd was one of the least impressive, most ordinary jobs you could have.
It is a quiet ordinary night when an angel appears to them.
B) AN ANGEL APPEARS TO THE SHEPHERDS
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10 The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people 11 Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
The angel comes and startles these ordinary shepherds, giving them news that generations of Jews have been waiting for.
This news will bring Joy to all the people.
The sign that this is true is you will find a baby in a manger.
As if the news itself wasn’t crazy enough.
C) A HOST OF ANGELS APPEAR
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
A great company of angels appears. The Greek word used is “Plethos” which means multitude or fullness.
Hebrews 1:6 When God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
All of Gods angels may have been visible to the shepherds that night! All welcoming the savior of the world!
This coming savior brings Glory to God like nothing else ever could.
And he will bring peace to earth like no one else ever will.
God could have chosen anyone he wanted to share this news with, but he chose humble shepherds.
D) THE ANGELS LEAVE
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Could you imagine if these guys just went back to watching those sheep like nothing happened?
No way! They heard the good news and said, “let’s go”! They didn’t hesitate!
Good news needs to be shared. It demands a response.
The shepherds heard the good news and couldn’t move fast enough.
But first they had to find that Baby!
E) THE SHEPHERDS GO FIND THE BABY IN A MANGER AND SHRE WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
They raced off, probably leaving all those sheep, they had to see for themselves if it was true.
They found that stable room where Mary and Joseph were, and there in the manger just like the angel had said was little baby Jesus, the Messiah.
God chose these lowly shepherds, to be the first to witness and share the good news of Jesus.
They couldn’t keep the news to themselves.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (she’s was blown away by all of this, God did all this for her baby…she pondered what this meant for her child) 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Those shepherds didn’t become celebrities, they just returned to the fields from which they came, forever changed by the Good News of their Savior in the manger.
APPLICATION
Those shepherds received good news, but we know that news was only the beginning of the story. Jesus didn’t stay in that manger. Jesus grew up to carry a cross, redeeming and washing away the sins of all who put their hope and trust in him. This is good news.
What will you do with it?
You might think I’m just an ordinary person. I don’t have all the answers. God could never use someone like me to share his Good News.
The truth is we are all ordinary compared to the Good News of Jesus.
God uses the ordinary to share his Good News.
Don’t let fear keep you from the good work God has for you.
Will you respond like those shepherds and share the good news you’ve found in Jesus?
CONCLUSION
This Christmas don’t let the story of Jesus stay in the past. Make it personal.
Let the good news of Jesus Change you.
Let it move you to action.
Let it fill you with so much Joy that you can’t help but share it.
If you want a place to start, invite someone to the Christmas Eve service.
Imagine what could happen if we all lived like those shepherds. Just a bunch of ordinary people with some extraordinary news.
This week lets go beyond simply celebrating Christmas. Let’s spread the Good News of Jesus and praise him for all we have seen and heard.
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