It is that time of the year again a time of giving and a time of receiving gifts. God gave us the gift of His Son so let us REMEMBER the reason for the season. amen.
Please read Luke’s Gospel Ch2 vs 8-20, it is the night of our dear Saviours birth. Vs 8 The Shepherds were abiding in the fields near Bethlehem tending the sheep when something amazing happens.
Vs 9 The Proclaimer of the message.
Our verse tells us the angel of the Lord came upon them. This angel was God’s special messenger more than likely Gabriel (1:19) himself. He does the Fathers bidding. His name means ‘the mighty one of God’. Let us be a Proclaimer of the advent of the Christ child to.
Vs9 The Place of the Message.
See the words ‘Came upon’ , it is believed that the Shepherds were residents of Bethlehem and they were abiding in the field watching over the sheep in close proximity of the town . Tradition has the place being at Eder translated as ‘ the tower of the flock ‘. It was here that the flock of sheep, lambs without blemish or spot were pastored who were destined to be the sacrificial animals to God in the temple. Jesus born in Bethlehem, the Lamb of God destined to be God’s sacrifice.
It was here the angel of the Lord ‘Came upon’ the Shepherds.
Vs9 The People of the Message.
See the word ‘them’ the message did not come to great men, mighty men, wealthy men or scholars it was not to their ears that this great news came it was to a group of God fearing Shepherds. Reading through our text tells us these were men of faith. God knew these men would give Him the glory and praise Him for what He had done(vs20) and that these men would make it known abroad what had come to pass. Are we people carrying this message.
Vs9 The Preface of the Message.
See the words ‘and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:’ consider this God not only sent His Angel from heaven to put His Divine stamp of approval on what had come to pass but He attends Himself. The glory of the Lord was that symbol of the Divine presence. As the Shepherds gazed upwards towards the angel of the Lord his radiance would be overshadowed by God’s Glory which shone round about them. Yes God attended the birth and announcement of His Son. The Shekinah glory that had departed from the temple between the cherubim of the mercy seat appears once more and encircles them to let those Shepherds (and us) know that the message and the birth of the Christ child was the highest Revelation of God to man. And the Shepherds received Him as such. Each true Christian has received that message to.
The Piety of the Message.
Vs9 ‘And they were sore afraid’.The Greek wording tells us these Shepherds were ‘mega phobeos’ ,sore afraid, greatly alarmed, greatly frightened, greatly in awe, revered greatly. This was much more than being scared this was men in awe of God. This was men knowing that they had experienced an encounter of the first kind. How do we know they were just not petrified. Because of what they did, they obeyed. They weren’t full of hysteria they were full of the Holy Ghost. Amen
Vs10 The Persuasion of the Message.
‘And the angel said unto them Fear Not’. The first bidding sent unto these Shepherds was Fear Not. The love of GOD shines forth in deed and in word. Gods messenger the angel knew their reverential fear and the love of God that was in the angel went forth to the Shepherds. This was no new message these words had been spoken to Abraham, to Isaac , to Gideon, to Daniel, to Zacharias and would come in the future from the lips of the God man. ‘Fear Not’.
When your ship is sinking, when a tempest comes hard at you in life where you don’t know which way to turn. Fear Not . Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. I am with you alway.
Vs10 The Pleasantness of the Message.
‘For behold I bring you good tidings of great joy’
This was a message of joy because Christ is the source of joy. This message was a message of good news because Christ is the only good news for sinful fallen man. Is there joy in our hearts today because of Christ?
Vs10 The Parish of the Message.
‘Which shall be to all people’.
Who was the message for? Was it just for the Jewish people – no it was for the whole world. The world is full of people. ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ‘. Gods glory, God’s message was not just for those reverential shepherds it was for all people. Have you received the message into your heart?
Vs11 Particulars of the Message.
According to prophecy Christ was to be born in Bethlehem and according to our scriptures he was. In looking at verse 11 it says ‘For unto you is born this day’. Who. There is born a SAVIOUR…the Shepherds hearts must have been filled with joy at hearing this…..at last The Saviour; glory to God, the one of whom the prophets foretold, the one who would save them from the penalty of their sins. This was good tidings indeed.
There is born the CHRIST. He was the Messiah, the anointed one of Israel. To Israel He came fulfilling the ancient covenant promises and bringing with Him the tender mercies of our God. He is that seed of a woman. He is the one who Abraham saw afar off. He is the sum and substance of all the ceremonial sacrifices and feasts of Jehovah.
There is born the LORD. The angels words climb steadily upwards, the Saviour the Christ and now the Lord. From the cradle to the throne EMMANUEL God with us. What impact the angel had on the Shepherds. What impact Gods glory had on the Shepherds. What impact t the angels message had on those Shepherds. And what impact God’s Son had on those Shepherds. They went with haste to see the Christ child.
What impact has the Christ child had on us? Is it EMMANUEL.Z Oh yes.
Remember then the reason for the season
God bless
Michael Whitehouse