Luke 2:8–20 (NIV)
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” 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. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 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.
Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage
Read the Passage
Who is in the passage?
What action verbs do you see?
What other words stick out in your mind
Why would God appear to shepherds over others? Why not a king or the religious leaders of the day?
Do I live my life differently because of verse 10? Do I act like the world is different because of this birth?
Look at the three responses we have from the people, the shepherds, and Mary. What can we take from their responses to make our own?
Notes
Shepherds - stand for the average guy. Interesting who God chooses to first tell the message.
vs 8 Living out -shepherds often kept the herd out at night from March to November ( so much for Christmas being in December)
fields nearby- this event is not far from the birth
vs 9 Angel appears - note unlike Zech and Mary's angel appearance this describes the glory of the Lord around as well. (Glory of the Lord - God's presence observed on earth Ex 24:16-17, also a fulfillment of the Isa 40:5 passage?)
Terrified- Note reaction matches Mary and Zech. The appearance of angels is startling. Why? not of this world, reflect holiness of God?
vs 10 GOOD NEWS GREAT JOY- FOR ALL PEOPLE- Do I live my life believing that?
vs 11 sign given to for shepherds to believe (not many babies born in a feeding trough in the small town), also the shepherds become a sign for Mary that all this is true (vs19)
Born to you- not born to Mary and Joseph but to us!
vs 12 As if this wasn't enough to convince the shepherds BOOM the angels show up all over the place. Why? Revelation not just for the shepherds or us. All heaven rejoices at God's revealing His ultimate Glory on earth (Luke 15:10) This is a celebration of God's glorious work. This isn't just the presence of God's glory shining around. This is God! John 1:14 This is a new thing!
Vs 13 It is about praising God for what He does and what he brings to earth(peace, reconciliation w us)
God's favor rest- it is about God's work causing the peace, not me
Vs 16-17 Shepherds see the sign fulfilled and share their story
Note three responses to this glorious event
Vs 18 - all who heard amazed- what amazed at?, How is God going to use this child born in low circumstances as the Christ? How will this Child bring peace? The angels? That God would reveal this shepherds? Note in all their amazement would they even be close to being right in how God would use Jesus? I doubt it- some would see him as a warrior King (like David) that would bring peace through victory over Rome. No one would see Jesus dying on a cross or would they? (isa 53:5-6)
Mary - treasures and ponders -for Mary many of tha same thoughts as others but it is also another validation that God is at work using her. If I wonder how to bring up a child you bet Mary wondered how do I raise the Christ? What will this Child be?
Shepherds - glorying and praising They didn't have the answers for how Jesus was the Christ and Lord but it didn't stop them from praising God for what had been promised now being revealed and being deemed worthy of seeing God's Glory both in Heaven and now on earth.
Note: the information we have on Mary is very personal. If Luke doesn't get it from Mary herself he definitely gets it from someone close to her.
Prise the Lord that our peace comes from the author and finisher of the real peace. We have no lasting peace whithout him no matter how hard we may work and strive toward it. Priase his mercy and grace to supply this peace. You know Mary`s peace, in her social situation, could only have peace through the Lord. We so miss this in our life, miss where to get peace and the bliss of experiencing it.
ReplyDelete