"Lessons from the Shepherds"

Luke 2:8-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Bruce Goettsche

With the dawn of a new century and a new millennium we have seen dozens of shows listing the top events and people of the last 100 years . . . and even the last 1000 years. And to be honest, it is kind of amazing to see how much has happened in a relatively short period of time. But this morning I draw your attention to the greatest event in all of our history . . . .God becoming man to dwell among us. It's an event that changed the world, altered history, and is still changing hearts and lives today.

Present at such a world changing event you would expect to see Kings, princes, dignitaries. But that is not the scene you see. We see poor parents caring for their new baby in a barn. And what are the first names in the guestbook? It was the names of ordinary shepherds who had come straight from work to see the baby that they heard about from a group of angels.

Nobody paid much attention to these guys who smelled like sheep. They didn't have refined social skills. They couldn't bring expensive gifts. They were regular guys. Just like me . . . .and maybe you. They were bit players in the greatest drama of History. But they serve as an important reminder that the story of Christmas is not for the world's elite . . . Jesus was born for everyday people like you and me.

We have a lot of questions about the Shepherds:

• How many were there?
• Did they all go to Bethlehem or did someone stay with the sheep?
• How many stables did they have to check before they found the one with Jesus in it?
• When they left Bethlehem what happened to the shepherds?

Most likely these shepherds were tending their sheep just outside of Bethlehem and these were probably sheep being prepared for the temple sacrifices. Their job was to guard these sheep from human and animal predators. It was not uncommon for a Shepherd to have to pay for a lost sheep out of his own salary.

The Shepherds would have taken turns on watch during the night. Most likely the watch was three hours in length. It was sometime during the evening that the angels appear. And the first lesson we need to learn is here:

THEY HEARD THE ANNOUNCEMENT

We don't know what time of night it was. Were some of the Shepherds already asleep or were they sitting around the camp fire telling stories and singing Kum-Ba-Yah? We don't know. We have no record of the Shepherds saying anything to the angels. All we know is that they were sacred. Wouldn't you be?

Can you picture their big eyes, their mouths open and not sure whether to run or to fall on their face in worship? They weren't taking notes . . . they didn't have to. They weren't ever going to forget this experience. In fact, they were afraid they were going to die. They were well aware of the fact that they were sinful . . . they thought they were facing their day of reckoning.

Many people smirk at this story because they believe God doesn't speak any more . . . but they are wrong. The problem for many is that they are looking for bright lights and angel messengers while God is speaking to their hearts. God speaks to us,

• through the living words of the Bible . . . .it's a love letter written to us that we can read again and again.
• He speaks through the experiences of life. Sometimes we learn the most about God from the things that happen to us. Often the circumstances of our lives are designed to wake us up . . . and take us deeper.
• God speaks through His Spirit. He might use the teachings of a speaker, a writer, a singer . . . or He may whisper gently to your mind in an unmistakable and Biblically consistent voice.

We don't hear because we are preoccupied and distracted. We are so busy with life that we spend most of our time "on the run". We have obligations . . . commitments. We'd like to rest, but we can't.

The story is told about a young child who was having trouble keeping up in school. He worked really hard to keep up with the others in his classroom, but because of his unique challenges, he kept falling behind. As a result, his backpack was crammed full with homework every night. There was no letup. He no longer could play outside with his friends after school. By the time he had made a swipe at all his school work, it was time for bed. The parents consulted with the elementary school guidance counselor and decided that their son needed to be placed with a class of slower learners. It quickly became apparent that the right decision had been made. The third grader got his childhood back, complete with after-school play; a more positive outlook, and grades that matched the front end of the alphabet.

After several weeks of asking his dad if they could play together after dinner, he grew weary of the same response: "I'm sorry, buddy, I have a briefcase full of work I have to do." One day he simply said, "Well, Dad, can't they just put you in a slower class too?"

If we are going to keep from missing Christmas . . . we are going to have to get into a slower class. Someone has tragically observed that our generation worships our work, works at our play, and plays at our worship. Is it any wonder then that our lives are often spiritually empty?

But let's be realistic . . . a good many of our commitments are important. Much of what we do is necessary. Making time for listening to God sounds good but is a lot easier said than done. So how do we find time to hear? The answer is to intentionally build margins into our lives. We plan to find time to hear from God.

• get up earlier to read and pray
• skip the newspaper or the evening news and read your Bible instead
• block out Sunday mornings on your calendar and treat it like any other appointment
• check your e-mail one or two less times during the day
• turn off the TV and read one of the great books on the life of Christ, such as THE JESUS I NEVER KNEW by Philip Yancey or GOD CAME NEAR or NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM THE SAVIOR by Max Lucado. You don't have to turn off every program . . . . but turn away from the ones you are only watching because nothing else is on.
• At the end of the day have fun sharing with the rest of the family, "Where I saw God today" or "What God was teaching me today."

We find time for recreation, for shopping, for other things we want to do . . . . we must be intentional about making time for God. God still speaks but we have to stop long enough to hear Him. But it is also important that you see that the Shepherds not only listened to God . . . they took the appropriate action.

THEY TOOK APPROPRIATE ACTION

Dr. Clovis Chappell imagines one of the shepherds who had been a youth on the first Christmas night and has now become old. His grandson sits on his knee as he recalls: "A long, long time ago, when I was little more than a boy, I was out on the Judean hills, one night with some other shepherds, keeping watch over the flock. And the angel of the Lord came upon us and the glory of the Lord shone roundabout us. And we were sore afraid, But the angel said, 'Fear not . . .for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. . . .You shall find the babe in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The old man's lips cease to move, and there is silence. Then the lad turns and looks with wide, puzzled eyes into his grandfather's face and says: "But, granddaddy, is that all? What did you do when you heard the good news? Was what the angel said really true? Was the Christ Child ever really born?"

The old shepherd sadly shakes his white head and answers: "I never knew. I never went to see. Some say that it is all a myth. Others say they found in Him the light of God, the power for life. But for me, I could never be quite sure. I never did go to see." [Allen and Wallis CHRISTMAS p. 54-55]

Fortunately, that is not what really happened. (It wouldn't be much of a story if it was what happened.) When the angels left the shepherds, I suspect they all looked at each other with a dazed expression. I imagine one of them may have said, "did you guys see what I just saw?" Maybe they discusses it a little. But then there was a decision to make. Look at verses 15-16.

Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. [Luke 2:15-16]

The Shepherds acted on what they heard. They went to see the baby they were told about.

We might think that we would certainly respond if the angels came to us. But I'm not so sure. I think what might have happened for many of us is that as soon as the angels left we would have looked around to see if anyone else saw what we did. Then we would have debated. Could we really afford to leave the sheep. What if the owner of the sheep found out? What if something happened to them while we were gone? What if we were mistaken about what we thought we heard? In other words, much of the time we talk ourselves out of acting in faith.

Or maybe we would have gone a different direction. Maybe we would have run to town and told everyone that angels appeared to us. Maybe we would have written a book. Perhaps we would have gone on the lecture circuit to give talks titled, "I've seen an Angel . . . so Let's talk about what's Wrong with You." Or maybe we would have formed a new synagogue, one for the truly spiritual (which is of course the person who has had an experience like me.)

I'm being facetious of course. But I do want to make a point, and it's this: we tend to miss the point. The Lord speaks to us and He does so with the desire to get us moving in some direction. What often happens to us is that we know God is speaking but we,

• are afraid of what others will say
• are afraid that what God has told us might not work . . . or we might have been wrong
• get sidetracked . . . we get off on some tangent and miss the point. How many people go through the Christmas season celebrating the celebration and not the Savior? How many of you are doing that?
• don't like what God is telling us. We don't like it because it means change. Or it means doing something that is new or awkward. Or it means not doing something we like doing.

When God speaks it is important that we take appropriate action. The message of Christmas calls us to action. For some, God calls you to the most basic and essential action . . . to give your life to Him. He's not looking for your admiration. He's not calling for your approval. He wants your heart and life. He wants it so much that He came to earth to reach you. He went to the cross to set you free from the sin and stupidity of your past. He rose from the dead to show you that He was telling the truth and to give you a glimpse of what lies ahead for everyone who will follow Him. Are you one of those people?

Are you one of those who has kept faith on the periphery of your life? Are you content to give God a nod every now and again in the hope that you will be on good terms with Him . . . if He's really up there? Christmas is for you! The message of salvation is offered to you free of charge. Will you come to Him or will you continue to run in a hundred other directions?

How does one come to Christ? It starts by being honest. You have to be honest about the way you have lived in the past and honest about the fact that you cannot make it on your own. You must recognize Jesus as the only one who has the right to rule your life. And then you tell God that you want to follow Him. But let me caution you . . . there is nothing magic in the words themselves . . . it must come from your heart. And if it comes from your heart, the words are secondary.

Others of you have taken that first step. For you, it may be that God is calling you to something different.

• Maybe He is calling you to turn away from something you know is wrong. Most people don't need to be told what they should stop doing . . . they know. They often resist. They often make excuses and rationalize why what they are doing is not really wrong . . . . . but they know. They know because God has shown them. Now that He has shown you . . . what are you going to do?
• Maybe He is calling you to mend a relationship.
• Maybe He is calling you to do something to help someone who is in need. If this is the case, I'd bet that you already know who that someone is. You may be well aware of a need but you have been trying to ignore it.
• Maybe He is calling you to stop living in the past. Stop reliving the hurts. Stop making excuses for why you do what you do today. Start over today.
• Maybe He is urging you to ask for help from someone else. It could be that in your pride you are unwilling to ask for assistance. You are waiting . . . hoping . . .someone notices.
• Maybe He calls you to some bold action . . . .to do something, give something, begin something.
• Maybe He is calling you to go and tell someone else about the one who came to die in our place.

Here's what I think: I think you may already have a good idea what God wants you to do. It is likely that God has made it clear through the whispers of His Spirit, even as we have looked at this passage this morning. And maybe you hold back because you wonder if you can trust Him. You may not be able to bring yourself to say it out loud . . . but that's the real issue.

That's why this is the perfect time to act. Listen to the Christmas story. Hear the message. If God did indeed become man to reach out to us . . . He must love us more than we can begin to comprehend. If God did all that to reach you and me He can be trusted to guide us faithfully. Do something bold this Christmas. Follow the example of the Shepherds and dare to act on what God tells you to do.

THEY CELEBRATED WITH JOY

So, the Shepherds were available to hear the message. Then they responded appropriately to that message. And when they did, they discovered a wonder that changed their lives. It was a wonder so great that they couldn't help telling everyone they saw. These shy, backward, smelly shepherds were stopping strangers on the street to tell them about the baby they saw in the manger. Maybe many or most of the people thought they were nuts . . . but they weren't. They were changed.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. [Luke 2:20]

I don't want you to misunderstand what I'm saying. I am not trying to say that from that moment on the shepherds never had problems. I'm sure that there were still days the shepherds hated their jobs. They still had to battle a prejudice that was attached to being a shepherd. They still had disagreements. They may have struggled in their marriages. Many of their outward circumstances didn't change at all.

What did change, was their heart. They found a joy that the world cannot deliver and cannot deny. They found a wholeness they could not achieve through counseling. They found a peace no back account could produce. These men found a love that no person could ever give them. They found the Lord. And you can too.

So, will this be the day you turn to the Lord? Will this be the day you do what God has called you to do . . . not because it is easy, not because it's what you want to do . . . but because you know He loves you . . . and because you trust Him. Why not make this a Christmas to remember? Not because of the gift you purchased or opened . . . but because this was the Christmas you went to Bethlehem and saw the King.

For many people the celebration of Christmas will end in another week. They will start putting things away and their focus will turn to the changing of the calendar and then to other matters. They will forget about Christmas until the madness begins again next year.

The shepherds never forgot. Their lives were changed forever by what they saw in Bethlehem. And I hope yours will be too. I hope you will look past the yearly date on the calendar and begin looking forward to knowing God better. Looking forward to a day when you will stand with others and celebrate the King in person. But let me warn you; when you get there, don't be surprised if you notice the distinct smell of sheep.
Bruce Goettsche