WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS - MARY - SHEPHERDS HONOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD

LUKE 2:8-20 – MARY

SHEPHERDS HONOR

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Shepherds were the least esteemed of the working class in that day. They were on one of the lowest rungs of society’s ladder. These particular shepherds may have been guarding the flocks used for sacrifices in the temple. That God chose to announce the birth of His Son first to this group of people shows that He has no favoritism of class. His interest is solely in the hearts of humanity, not where they are on the socio-economic strata. He invited the shepherds to be the first to worship the perfect Lamb of God. They were allowed VIP access even before the Magi, the wise men, from the east.

Reformation Study Bible:

Shepherds were a despised class because their work prevented them from keeping the ceremonial law, and as they moved about the country it was common for them to be regarded as thieves. They were considered unreliable and were not allowed to give evidence in the courts.

Luke 2:9 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.

When angels appear, the first response is to fall on your face afraid. Imagine how you would respond if you were out in the middle of nowhere on a pitch black night, and suddenly the sky lit up like daylight!

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.

The fact that the good news was for ALL people would be most important to these shepherds who were considered second-class citizens. They were viewed almost as the homeless are today – dirty, unworthy, and possibly criminals.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Angels almost always begin with “Fear not!” because their appearance can be overwhelming. This angel declared he had something good to tell them. Joyful news of the Messiah’s birth. All three names – Liberator (Savior), Anointed One (Christ or Messiah), and Lord (used for God in the Old Testament) (Voice translation) – were used to describe the baby that had been born in Bethlehem. To their astonishment, they were told that this Baby King was born in a stable and would actually be lying on hay where the cattle fed! The shepherds themselves had probably been born somewhere better than a stable. The God-Man who would identify Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10) revealed Himself first to a group of shepherds. They, of all people, would eventually understand the words of the prophet Isaiah as they would apply to Jesus before Pilate and on the cross.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

I imagine the shepherds were now shaking in their sandals. If one angel was terrifying, how much more fearsome would an army of them be? But this army was announcing peace, not war.

Peace had come for all people who bring pleasure to God. You will have peace when you give God pleasure. When you are not a peace, the question is “are you giving God pleasure or are you breaking His heart because you are not being or becoming what He created you to be?” We need to ask ourselves, “What pleases God?” 

Micah 6:8 (VOICE) “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” 

Walking humbly with God would involve surrendering to the Lordship of Jesus, in other words receiving the gift of salvation with the full realization that there is no way you could ever earn it.

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 were eager to go and see what the angel had reported to them, this awesome baby King. They said to each other, “Let’s go right now!”

Luke 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

The shepherds didn’t just talk about going to Bethlehem, they did it right away. They didn’t lollygag but traveled quickly. They found everything just as the angel had described it. 

Luke 2:17 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.

Then the shepherds became a holy news crew spreading the Good News to all who would hear them. I’m sure the people were wondering, “Could this really be the Messiah?” 

Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Mary wanted to file these memories in her heart, perhaps to be able to recount these wondrous things to Jesus as He grew. There were no “baby book albums” in those days, so Mary made a point to commit every occurrence to memory. She was probably still amazed at all that had transpired in her life those last few months since Gabriel had appeared to her.

Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 

The shepherds’ response was to glorify God. They did not chalk it all up to some kind of psychological breakdown but realized they had seen something divine and totally real. At some point they may have wondered, “If we tell people this, will anyone believe us, or are we going to be locked away forever?” But God revealed Himself to them in such a mighty way that they could not doubt the reality of the encounter. No matter what happened they were going to faithfully announce this Good News wherever they went no matter the consequences.

APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE:

1. Make room amid the busyness of this season, for Jesus to break through into your thoughts and actions. Do not relegate Him to the stable of your life.

2. Do not confine Jesus to two or three holidays in your year or even one day a week. Celebrate and worship every day with your entire being!

3. Remember that Jesus revealed Himself to the lowest of society. We should tell His story with words and actions to all people groups.

4. Seek peace with God through a relationship with Jesus, and continue to have peace in your life as you obey God.

5. Spread the Gospel even if people discourage you by their response. As Christians we are here to please the Audience of One. It is our job to present the way to salvation, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw the person.