The shepherds Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

The shepherds Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

Introduction In this brief study we will focus on three individuals or characters involved in the amazing incarnation of our saviour. The three are Mary, Joseph and the shepherds Last Sunday we looked at Joseph, the stand in father. We learnt something of his nature and character. Today we turn our attention to the shepherds who came to worship the infant Jesus. I hope you will find the study interesting and thought provoking. Often the youngest boy in the family would be designated as the family shepherd They usually carried a rod, often made of oak which had a knob on one end. It was used for. protection. Shepherds often carried slings for protection They usually carried a bag called a scrip which contained food, typically bread, cheese, dried fruit and olives. Shepherd life The wild and dangerous animals the shepherd may have faced = lions, hyenas, panthers, wolves and jackals Shepherds usually had a crook or staff. This was sued for protection and to help catch and sort the sheep A shepherds life was hard. They had to guide the sheep, find them food and water, care and protect them and keep them from harm. Today we will be looking at the account given us in Luke's gospel. Luke 2:1-20 Luke 2:1-7 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, 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. Q: What 4 things do we learn here about Jesus birth? 1. Jesus was born in history 2. He was born in David's birthplace 3. He was born into hardship 4. He was born in humble circumstances Jesus as an historical figure Jesus has an historical context; he's neither a myth nor a legend. He is both historical and verifiable.

He is mentioned not only in the New Testament, but by contemporaries and in early documents such as Josephus, Pliny, Tacitus, Suetonius, Bar-Serapion, Thallus, Lucian, and the Talmud. We read here of Caesar Augustus, he was the Roman emperor Octavian who reigned 27 BC - 14 AD. In 27 BC he asked to be called Augustus meaning respected one. He was called in antiquity "the divine saviour who has brought peace to the world." Luke of course is about to reveal to us the real saviour of the world. Quirinius was a military leader and Roman consul in central Asia Minor, and later Imperial Legate of Syria-Cilicia (6 to 9 AD). He served as governor of the Roman province of Syria twice (3-2 BC. And 6-9 AD). The Roman census The purpose of a Roman "census" was to provide statistical data so that the government could levy taxes. The "entire Roman world" means the Roman empire. The census in our passage isn't recorded elsewhere in history but makes sense, perhaps under a kind of extraordinary command Quirinius issued during his military manoeuvres in Cilicia or during a brief earlier stint as governor in Syria. Q: Why is it important to have these historical details? Q: How does this make the bible different from other religious holy books? 2. He was born in David's birthplace 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. Luke 2:3 Joseph took Mary and travelled to his home town of Bethlehem a journey of around 85 miles (see appendix) The Romans required that every adult appear to make a proper assessment of his property. It is highly significant that Bethlehem was the place Jesus was born. Bethlehem was the birthplace of David, Israel's greatest King. Nearly 1000 years before Jesus' birth. God had promised to David through the Prophet Samuel in regard to his kingdom, Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever. 2 Samuel 7:16 The prophet Micah had also prophesied of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2 3. He was born into hardship Caesar Augustus The most glorious event in history is about to unfold, but for Joseph and Mary it will not be easy. 1. It involved a long journey Mary and Joseph live in Nazareth, four days journey north of Bethlehem. 2. Mary is heavily pregnant. A journey late in pregnancy is difficult and dangerous. 4. It may well have been winter, a difficult time to travel. Was Jesus born in December? The date of December 25 goes back to Hippolytus (AD 165-235), and Chrysostom (AD 345-407), who stated in 386AD that December 25 is the correct day.

Q: Why do you think it was important that Jesus be born into hardship? Q: What lessons could we take from this event? Q: What hardships have you faced in your Christian life? How did you cope? 4. Jesus was born in humble circumstances In verse 7 we learn that the infant Jesus was placed in a manger. In first century Palestine most people lived in single roomed houses (see appendices) Sometimes there would be an upper floor. Typically the house would be divided into two parts. One part was for the animals and the people lived in the other part. (stone and wood manger) It is possible therefore that Mary and Joseph had the part normally given to the animals and the manger or animal trough was the best (only) place to put the infant Jesus. Why? Though Jesus was by very nature God (Philippians 2:6), he didn't grasp at his prerogatives or flaunt his rights. Instead, he "made himself nothing (kenoō), taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness..." (Philippians 2:7). Kenoō means "make empty." Jesus literally "emptied himself" of all the privileges to which he was heir. He didn't just take a low place, he took the lowest place. His commission was "to preach good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18; quoting Isaiah 61:1), so he was born among the poorest of the poor. Now we get to the shepherds 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. Some of Israel's great heroes were shepherds -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. However in first century Palestine shepherds were socially looked down upon. Their work made them ceremonially unclean, and they had a reputation for being untrustworthy. So it may surprise us that God sent the first message of the gospel to them. They lived outside most of the year. "Abiding in the field" (KJV) is the Greek verb agrauleō, "live out of doors. Flocks were kept outside in this way from April to November, and, sometimes during the winter in suitable locations. Shepherds were constantly with their sheep, since the sheep were vulnerable to all kinds of trouble. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. One minute the shepherds are talking quietly in the blackness of the night. The next moment the hillside is ablaze with light and booming with the sound of an angel's voice. Q: What is the shepherds response? The brightness is more than just a fire or powerful light. It is the radiance of God's own glory. "Glory" (doxa) refers to "the condition of being bright or shining, brightness, splendour, radiance." Throughout the Old Testament the presence of God is referred to as overwhelmingly bright, burning as fire, such as the cloud above the tabernacle by day and the pillar of fire by night

10 But 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. The angel calms their fears. The angel here is bringing good news. In Greek the verb is euangelizō, from which we get our English word, "evangelize." Here it means, "bring good news, announce good news." Later in the New Testament it is widely used for "proclaim the message of salvation, preach the gospel." Q: Who is the good news for? The angel tells them this is taking place in the town of David this reminds the reader of the Messiah-child's connection with his ancestor David. Prophecy indicates that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2) Q: Who is this baby and what will be be? The saviour The angel also calls this baby "Savior" from the Greek (sōtēr) "one who rescues, savior, deliverer, preserver." In the prophecies about Jesus' birth in Luke 1-3 we observe this theme several times (1:69, 17, 77; 2:30-32; 3:6 from Isaiah 40:5). The. good news = This Savior, Jesus Christ will bring both salvation from enemies and from sin. Not just to the Jews but also to the Gentiles to all people. The Messiah (the Christ) Hebrew = Mashiah (anointed or chosen one) Greek - Christos English = Christ / Messiah The angel's declaration, however, doesn't use the word "Christ" by itself, but in the phrase, "Christ the Lord." "Lord" (kurios) means "owner, lord, master, a designation of any person of high position." Jews were used to reading "Lord" whenever the divine name "Yahweh" appeared in Scripture, so to Jewish ears, these two words, christos and kurios spoke of divinity. The meaning seems to "the highest conceivable and most lofty designation of Christ," that is, "The Lord Messiah or "the Messiah (and) the Lord" with connotations of kurios used of Yahweh himself, rather than just of an exalted personage a Savior who can be regarded as the Messiah-Yahweh (the saviour God). Q: What are the three titles given to Jesus. What do they mean and why are they important? 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Q: What are the two signs they should look for? The phrase "wrapped in swaddling clothes" (KJV) or "cloths" (NIV) translates the Greek verb sparganoō, "to wrap in pieces of cloth used for swaddling infants, wrap up in cloths. These were strips of cloth like bandages, wrapped around young infants in order to keep their limbs straight. This was a common practice for new-born infants. However, the second sign was that the newborn would be found in a manger, that was unique. This baby was to be found in a manger, the Greek noun is phatnē, "manger, crib or feeding-trough.

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. After the angel's startling declaration, the heavens reveal a huge crowd of angelic beings. This heavenly army is praising God. It may have been a heavenly choir as in popular Christmas lore, but the scripture doesn't explicitly say that they are singing as the angels in Revelation (5:11-13; 15:3). Here they seem to be chanting in unison or speaking. The content of their praise is (1) to give glory to God (2) to offer a blessing of peace to men. Q: Who is God's blessing for? We must note here that God extends his peace and salvation to his favoured people, not all people only those whom he sovereignly chooses or elects to favour and save. 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. 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. Q: What do the shepherds do? Q: What can we learn from their response? After the shepherds saw Jesus, they spread the word as evangelists (i.e., reporters of good news). The response of those who heard their eyewitness testimony was amazement (Greek = ethaumasan), not unbelief or belief. Their thoughts were centered upon whether the Messiah really has arrived. This theme of amazement runs through Luke's gospel. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. We see a sharp contrast between Mary's response and the shepherds. Mary has much to think about or consider. "Treasured up" (NIV) or "kept all these things" (KJV) is suntereō, "to store information in one's mind for careful consideration, hold or treasure up (in one's memory). "Pondered" is sumballō, "to give careful thought to, consider, ponder, something similar to our colloquial "get it all together." Q: What do you think Mary pondered? 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. In the final verse of our study we find the shepherds climbing back up the hill to where their flocks lie. The angel had told them what to expect and that's just the way they found it. We leave them glorifying (doxazō) and praising (aineō) God, the only appropriate response to this unforgettable night.

Lessons for Disciples What are we disciples supposed to get out of this telling of the story of Jesus' birth? Let us consider some. 1. God brings Good News to the poor and humble. The shepherds, sometimes despised by their countrymen, were the first recipients of the Good News of Jesus' birth. Since God is no respecter of persons, we aren't to show favouritism either. We are to love all people as they are all created in God's image. 2. The glory of the Lord is powerful and huge. Just because we don't see it visibly doesn't mean that God isn't active. He often works in quiet ways. Only occasionally does he confirm his presence in miraculous ways. 3. Jesus is the heir of David. Jesus is the expected Savior, Messiah-Master-Lord-God in our midst. All this is revealed in the birth narrative. Praise God for sending the saviour. 4. The Good News is for all people, Jew and Gentile alike. 5. Not all people, however, receive God's peace, but only those whom he has sovereignly chosen. 6. Our response. The appropriate response to this Good News includes, great joy (2:10), praise (2:13-14, 20), curiosity to confirm its truth (2:15-16), amazement (2:18), telling others (2:17), and thoughtful meditation (2:19). Nowhere do we see unbelief. Let us therefore be joyful and praise God as we celebrate the birth of our saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father, We thank you for this opportunity to study the wonderful birth story of Our saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. What an amazing night the shepherds had! To have a glimpse of your heavenly glory, to hear a mighty army chant your praise, to see the Messiah-Child, to listen to the angel recite his glorious titles, Savior, Messiah, Lord. Thank you for letting us hear the story again. Write it large and indelibly On our hearts that we might be fervent Good News tellers, too. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Appendices The probable route that Mary and Joseph took from Nazareth to Bethlehem Typical houses in first century Palestine Animal enclosure