Text: Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 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.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David
Why shepherds?
Why not the church leaders or the political leaders? Actually it was all of these.
God spoke through the shepherds and he spoke through Zacharias the high priest who was the father of John the Baptist and you could say he spoke to Herod the governor.
God could have spoken to those on the Sanhedrin court but they wouldn't have listened.
God speaks to those who will listen. The upper class is not exempt from the voice of God.
The message is great joy
Merry Christmas, happy holidays or Seasons greetings is lame compared to the words of the angles, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY. These words really excited the shepherds. Their response was immediate. They went without delay to see this great event.
The message is personal and to everyone
Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Notice the good tidings of great joy were to THEM. This thing is personal and to all people.
The Lord spoke to the shepherds and the wise men.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said; of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.
The Christmas cards, food and gifts as well meaning as they are can not compare to the joy that Jesus gives.
1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
How did they react?
Luke 2:15 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.
The shepherds didn't hesitate.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
The shepherds couldn't hold it in what they had seen.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
When you place the star on top of the Christmas think of the wise men. If it's an angle on top of the tree think of the shepherds and when you see a nativity scene think of the bringing together of God and man.
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