Those Lowdown, Dirty Shepherds [Luke 2:8-20]
Last Sunday, we explored Luke 2:1-20… it’s a monster of a message, but listen to it anyway at: http://thecrossing.cfcchayward.org/sermons1009.htm. It’ll provide some context as you read the passage on your own, & as we share some thoughts together for reflection. As we examine another aspect of the incarnation (God coming in the flesh), we want to dispel any rumors that the virgin birth was borrowed from outside sources or pagan myth. Do you know when the earliest prophecy with intimations about the virgin birth appeared? Way back in Genesis 3:15: After the Creation of the world & mankind, Adam & Eve choose sin & death over God & life. So after the Fall, God tells them what the natural consequences of their choices are, but also promises that there will come a Savior child, a boy, who will be born of a woman… note: no mention of a dad. If you know anything about Jewish culture and history, this is highly unusual and very significant in a patriarchal book that typically traces family history through the male lineage. But there is a promise of a child born of a woman who will be wounded by Satan, but He’ll crush Satan completely, victoriously. Death on a cross? Excruciating and horrendous, but Jesus considers it simply a heel wound. Overcoming the power of sin, death, and Satan’s grip on the world? Crushing Satan’s head completely. So let’s turn back to the announcement of this coming Savior. Read Luke 2:8-20 on your own again.
[Luke 2:8] So we have an unidentified angel who shows up in a field to announce Jesus’ birth to shepherds. To who? Shepherds are very unlikely to be chosen for important stuff. If you ever played the role of one in your church’s Christmas play, you got the worst part. It’s like being a background tree; you’re lucky if you get a speaking line. See, shepherds are weird: They live by themselves, outside of town, they sleep out in the open instead of a house, with animals all the time; it’s weird. Think you’re an outdoorsy kinda guy, that the life of shepherd sounds good? Try life under the heat of the Palestinian during the day, and sleeping out in the bitter cold at night. It’s just a step above being homeless; at least you get a little spending cash, but you only pal around with animals. A lot of times, they were simply hired-hands, low-wage workers taking the undesirable, leftover work. This is not a job you shoot for; it’s the job you end up with. They couldn’t make it to church [temple] for worship, sacrifices or feasts because they can’t abandon their flock, so they weren’t able to maintain their religious devotion as the rest of God’s people. Many regarded them as crooks and thieves, a suspicious bunch. They couldn’t even testify in court, since they were perceived as weirdos of shady character with poor social skills who interact better with animals than people. They were considered lowest of the low. So when the angel shows up, it’s surprising; no one ever showed up to hang out with shepherds. When he proclaims good news has come, they’re the last people in the region to expect to hear a message from God via angel. Yet they do.
Let’s take a look at another shepherd. The angel mentions that there is “good news of great joy for all people… born this day in the city of David,” (referring to Bethlehem, in Luke 2:10-11). Dave is the most famous Israelite king in history. To this day, archaeologists are still uncovering remnants of the influence & impact of this God-fearing, God-loving, God-anointed ruler. Despite his great failings (as God doesn’t hide from us Dave’s sins of adultery & murder, and the consequences & repentance that follow), he stands as a spiritual giant who politically & spiritually guided Israel to turn the corner from a ragamuffin band of immigrants into a mighty nation belonging to God. And like Jesus, he started out humbly: Jesus started off as a humble carpenter; and Dave? You guessed it: Lowly shepherd boy. He was the youngest of his brothers, the runt of the family. So while the big boys were off training & fighting as soldiers in King Saul’s army, David’s kicking around with sheep. Where? His family settled in Bethlehem [1 Sam 17:12-16]. Ahhhh, now the picture’s starting to come together, all that prophecy stuff [Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14]. What did God do with this shepherd? Dave grew to be a great king, like Jesus grew to be great King. David was anointed king before he was appointed king. He had to fight for his throne; it was a great battle. Prior to Dave’s appointment to his throne, he was king but not yet ruling & reigning from a throne. So during that season, he collected faithful followers, members of his kingdom, preparing for his inauguration as visible king. Jesus is just like that. He's the Anointed King (which is what “Christ” or “Messiah” mean), and right now there’s a great battle between Satan/demons/kingdoms of the world, and King Jesus. He’s gathering His faithful subjects, saving men and women from sin, death and Satan; we call that the Church. And one day, He will fully assume His throne here; He’ll return to establish His Kingdom here forever, where Satan, sin and death are no more. We’re citizens of His Kingdom here in the midst of a horrendous battle on earth. And what we think of this man, Jesus, determines how we’ll live (including how we deal with suffering in this life) & how we’ll die. Jesus’ coming is good news; it causes great joy; and God wants to get this good news out to you and all the people, that Jesus (like Dave) is anointed King, and he’s coming again to be appointed King.
And then there’s Jesus, who the angel calls “Savior (Hero, rescuer), Christ (King) the Lord (God)”. But despite His mighty heritage, Jesus also chooses to call Himself the "Good Shepherd” [John 10:1-18]. C’mon Jesus, why would you associate yourself with “those kind” of people? Sure you were born in a backwater, hick-town, in a feeding trough, amongst stinky animals. Sure, Your family was poor, uneducated, blue-collar. Yeah, you were blue-collar too, working as a humble carpenter and becoming a homeless preacher. Oh. Well, how are You a “good” shepherd, then? [John 10:1-6] Like a good shepherd, He makes Himself known to His sheep (people who follow Him); He wants to be your safety, comfort, security; He wants you to be familiar with Him; He’s speaking to you, and if you’ll listen, you’ll come to know His voice. [John 10:7-10] As a good shepherd, He lays across the doorway to the sheep-pen to protect the sheep & give them freedom to explore. While other false shepherds try to lure you away to steal your devotion and destroy you, Jesus came to give you the fullness of life as it was meant to be with God. [John 10:11-14] He’s not just a hired hand/rent-a-shepherd, who doesn’t care about a flock that’s not their own; He’s a good shepherd who cares for and loves His flock. [John 10:15] So much so, that He will lay down His very life on a cross, & not just for some people, but all kinds of people, backgrounds, nations, languages and cultures [John 10:16].
It’s fascinating how God comes in a humble way (born in a manger) to humble Mary, and announces His coming to humble shepherds. God takes lowly people & lowly things, and works with them for His glory, by His grace. Moses was a shepherd; King David started out as a shepherd boy; Amos the prophet asked God: “Why do you want me to preach; I’m just a shepherd?” And Jesus comes as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. Peter calls Him the Chief Shepherd [1 Peter 5], the senior pastor of the Church. So God redeems this unpopular, insignificant profession, and shows He’s humble and willing to look after us sheep, not the most brilliant of animals. They’re altogether defenseless; no one’s ever been scared of sheep. The Bible tells us we’re like that: Defenseless, silly, wandering, not real sharp. Some of you think: “I’m pretty smart & proficient.” For a sheep, you are. And just like a good shepherd tends to his sheep, is devoted to his sheep, and is willing to lay down his life for his sheep, Jesus comes as the Good Shepherd. Is this good news to you? What do we do with it? How should we respond to it? Here’s some thoughts to wrap up: Jesus is the Savior, the Christ, the Lord, i.e., the Hero/Rescuer, King, God. And as we hear about this (like the shepherds in Luke 2:10), it’s good news, isn’t it? “Of great joy.” So our response to this good news, then, is joy. Let’s see how others respond to Jesus’ coming:
[Luke 2:13-14] After the announcement, a multitude of other angels burst on to the scene, singing of His goodness & grace; they worship Him. They’re not even getting saved; they never sinned, but they worship the coming of God as the Christ. Mighty ones sing just because Jesus is so great, greater than them; He’s the Savior, Christ the Lord.
[Luke 2:19] Mary sang previously (in Luke 1:46-55), but here, she’s just overwhelmed. It dawns on her that her hero, her rescuer, deliverer, dragon-slayer, kingdom-giver, “He’s here in my presence; my son Jesus, Immanuel, God’s here, to be with us & to save us.” And she’s a contemplative one (like some of you who are reading), so she just dwells on those thoughts & treasures them with heartfelt joy. It’s mind-bending, heart-wrenching, history-altering; we need to sit down and think about it and treasure it and give thanks & praise. That’s worship in deep joy. Contemplative ones ponder and treasure all this good news about Jesus in their heart.
[Luke 2:20] Then there are our boys, the shepherds, who “returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” about Jesus. They’re not as contemplative at the moment; they’re active, full of joy: The Savior’s here, our sin forgiven, the King and Kingdom have arrived! So they celebrate with gladness and joy, because it is good news for them and “for all the people.” They worship too. Lowly ones celebrate the Hero who has come to rescue them, who is King & God.
The Savior, Christ the Lord has come; worship the Hero, King, God with joy, because it is good news! We’re excited about Jesus; we love Him; we want other people to meet Him; we want to live like Jesus, for Jesus, through Jesus, to Jesus. So we respond to Him by worshiping with joy: Sing, ponder, treasure, celebrate the good news!
Reflection Questions:
(1) How are you a lowly shepherd?
When have you felt outside, unrecognized, unappreciated, unwelcome? How does it make you feel, knowing that God loves lowly ones: He welcomes them, knows them, loves them; He lifts them up & makes them great (like David), and even becomes one of them (in the person & work of Jesus)? How has God exalted this lowly position in your own life to become one of His shepherds… to tend & care for someone else as His sheep?
(2) How has Jesus been the Good Shepherd in your life?
How does Jesus make Himself / His voice known to you? How has He protected you personally? From what has He set you free? How has knowing Him brought more fullness of life? Be specific; journal it somewhere and/or share these thoughts with others. What is the significance of Him laying down His life for you?
(3) Who do you see as a lowly shepherd, one of “those people” in your life?
Everybody does it; it’s easy to reject people who are different from you. Yet, Christ creates a new community (called “Church”), where weirdos/shepherds of all backgrounds get together, worship together, grow together, do life together, rub each other the wrong way and then have to reconcile & forgive each other together. How do you need to accept, forgive, and/or love someone who’s like a shepherd (an unlikable outsider) in your eyes? Do you need to repent and make it right with Jesus & that person?
(4) Whether you are feeling like a mighty one, a contemplative one, or a lowly one, how will you respond to the good news about Jesus’ coming by worshiping with joy today?