HOW TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS LIKE A SHEPHERD

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on December 26, 2021 under 2021 |

Bethany Bible Church Sunday Message; December 26, 2021 from Luke 2:8-20

Theme: The shepherds, who were first given the news of the birth of the Savior, show us how to celebrate.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

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I don’t know about you; but it still feels far too close to Christmas to bring the holiday to an official end. In the providence of God, we have gathered for worship on the very next day after Christmas. And that makes it a very good day to keep the true message of Christmas before us—while it’s still fresh in our hearts and minds.

Many people will have considered Christmas to be over and done by now. But as followers of Jesus, there’s a sense in which we can never consider Christmas to be a thing that comes to an end. Certainly, the traditional activities of the holiday are over. But the significance of it, for us, is to be an ongoing thing. The Word of God has become flesh and has dwelt among us as our Savior. That’s the greatest news in all of history! And we ought to be bringing that truth with us into the work-a-day tasks of life throughout the coming new year; allowing it to permanently impact every single day, and changing every aspect of how we think and live and respond to the challenges of life.

So then; how should we keep on celebrating the birth of Jesus? How can we make the significance of it a reality that we bring with us continually going forward?

I suggest to you that the best way to do that is by celebrating like a shepherd.

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Now; I love it that it was shepherds—of all people—who were the first ones to hear the birth announcement of the Savior. I believe that, on God’s part, that was intentional. There was nothing exalted or sophisticated about a shepherd. They were just common folk. In fact, back in ancient times, they were considered just a step or two below ‘common’. That makes them the perfect ones to represent how best to respond to the Christmas story; because they were of such a humble class of people that they would include every other class of human being in their scope.

Let’s go back on this ‘day-after-Christmas’ Sunday and read the story again of what happened after Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Let’s consider once again the story of the shepherds who first heard the news of the birth of the Savior into the world. Let’s see how they reacted to it all. Luke 2:8-20 tells us;

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them (Luke 2:8-20).

Do you notice how Mary responded? We’re told that she “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart”. And we could spend the whole morning just thinking of Mary’s response alone. What a great example she was of how to preserve Christmas. We would do a great deal toward making the reality of Christmas an ongoing part of our lives if we were more careful not to let it all slip away once the holiday was over; but if instead we—like Mary—“kept” it and “pondered” it in our hearts more often.

But Mary’s circumstance was utterly unique from ours—something that was one-of-a-kind, and that could never again be repeated. She was declared to be “highly favored” and “blessed” among women. She experienced these things, and kept and pondered them in her heart, in a way that we never could—knowing that God had conceived her Child in her womb by the Holy Spirit; watching her holy Son grow; hearing Him preach; gazing upon Him as He was crucified; and being among those who witnessed Him after His resurrection. She responded to the Christmas story as, herself, a key and active part of the story—and in a way that none of us could ever relate to.

Our circumstance of responding to the Christmas story is much more like that of the shepherds; that is, as humble, everyday recipients of the news; who—after hearing about it—must now go about our lives. But what they were told was clearly declared to be “good tidings of great joy which will be to all people”; something intended to be “made widely known”. Their response to it all is meant to be an illustration to us of how we should respond.

These shepherds show us how to celebrate Christmas in a way that lasts for a lifetime. As you look at this passage, you see four things: (1) they responded with awe, (2) they took a closer look, (3) they made it known to others, and (4) they went back to everyday life praising God because of it all.

And dear brothers and sisters in Christ; we too should celebrate Christmas like those shepherds!

* * * * * * * * * *

First, they show us that we should …

1. RESPOND WITH AWE.

Now; to be honest, “awe” is probably not the best way to describe how those shepherds responded. Not at first, anyway.

I have been to the hills that surrounded Bethlehem a couple of times. And when I was there, I tried to imagine what it must have been like for those shepherds. The uneventful quiet of the evening, as the flocks were resting, would have been suddenly interrupted; and those peaceful hills would have suddenly been illuminated by the bright glory of God shining around them. It would have been shocking and confusing and disorienting.

But then, the shock, confusion, and disorientation turned into terror; because there—standing before them—was a mighty angel of the Lord. We’re told “and they were greatly afraid.” As the original language of Luke’s Gospel actually puts it, “they feared a great fear.” Or as the old King James Version puts it, they were “sore afraid”.

Perhaps it was an act of mercy from God that this one singular angel came and spoke to these poor shepherds first—before the heavenly host of angels appeared and sang God’s praises in their sight. It might have been that these men would not have been able to endure that much shock all at once! But that’s when the angel calmed their great fear. He said,

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (vv. 10-14).

And as the angel explained the news that he was bringing them, I suspect that their unspeakable terror and fear began to be transformed into holy and reverent awe; don’t you? This was the announcement of news that only heaven could deliver. It was the declaration of “good tidings of great joy”—not just meant for the shepherds alone—not just for the people in nearby Bethlehem alone—not even for the Jewish people alone—but for all people, living at all times, in all nations, in all cultures, and in all circumstances of life, throughout the whole world.

Just put yourself in the place of those shepherds and think of what astonishing news this was that they were hearing. It was an announcement about Someone who was, as the angel said, “born to you this day”. What an unusual expression that was! When has it ever been the custom to say that someone was born into this world “to” someone else? But this was no ordinary child. Heaven was announcing that this Child was born into this world for a purpose—for us.

We can understand the shepherd’s wonder by thinking of the names that the angel called this One whose birthday it was. He was, first of all, called Savior. Before He was born, the angel Gabriel announced that He would be given the name ‘Jesus’; because that name means “Yahweh Saves”. This Child was given that specific name—not by men, but by God—because He would save His people from their sins. Then, He was called the Christ (which means, ‘The Messiah’ or ‘The Anointed One’). He was the promised King of the Jews that God said would come and sit upon the throne of His ancestor King David. And finally, He was called Lord; because He was the Son of God in human flesh, and because there would be no end to His reign over His kingdom. He truly was born “to” us;

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

But this great announcement of wonder wasn’t over yet. The mighty angel then told the shepherds how they would find the Child. They would be able to identify Him by the humble circumstances into which He was born. He wouldn’t be found in a great castle or a glorious temple. Instead, He would be found wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a very unusual place—in, of all things, an animal trough! Just think of what condescending love this was! The Son of God was not only born into humanity as one of us. He was also born into the most humble circumstances imaginable; so that all people could relate to Him—great and small—even shepherds—even sinners like you and me.

And this great announcement of wonder still wasn’t over. We’re told that these shepherds had barely taken in the news of who this Baby was, and how He would be identified to them, when—suddenly; as if to confirm it all—a mighty army of glorious heavenly angels appeared and sang praises to God for it all! The curtain was pulled back, and the celebration in heaven was seen by human beings on earth! And that mighty heavenly choir sang:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men” …

which meant that they sang in two directions. They sang upward to ascribe glory to God most high for giving His Son to be born into humanity; and they also sang downward to the realms of human beings who experience God’s good favor through the Son He has graciously given. It was a song of praise that encompassed heaven and earth together. Has there ever been any celebration like that that was ever witnessed upon earth?

And for these shepherds, what began as great fear was turned into reverent awe.

And dear brothers and sisters in Christ; that’s how we should respond. When you think of how so many people of the world respond to this news, you realize that it isn’t with the kind of holy awe it deserves. Most people respond with some kind of celebration—with songs and gift-giving and parties. But some people hardly respond at all. And some, sadly, even respond with something closer to irreverence and scorn. But for us, we should revisit the story of His birth, hear it again, become captivated by the wonder of it—and maybe even with just a bit of terror over the fact that the majesty holiness of God had shone forth upon the world of fallen sinners like us—and allow it all to grow into a holy and reverential awe.

May God help us respond like those shepherds!

* * * * * * * * * *

Now; another way that the shepherds teach us is by showing us that we should …

2. TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

When this was all over, the shepherds didn’t run and hide in fear. Instead, they ran to Bethlehem; to where this great event was said to have taken place. They didn’t run from what was announced to them, but rather ran toward it. We’re told in verses 15-16;

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger (vv. 15-16).

Can you imagine what it must have been like when those shepherds came to where the Child was? They would still have been in an emotionally excited state. They had just been given one of the most remarkable visitations from heaven ever recorded in human history; and by which they were told about the most astonishingly good news the world could ever hear. I’m only speculating here; but don’t you imagine that they would have looked at that Baby with the sense of holy and reverent awe still abiding upon them, and then tried their best to stammer out to Mary and Joseph what had just been told them about Him? And don’t you imagine that Joseph would have then told those shepherds what the angel Gabriel had told him about this Child, and that Mary would have then told them about how the same angel came to her and told her that she would conceive this Child by the Holy Spirit—and that He is the Son of God? Mary and Joseph would have confirmed to the shepherds what they saw; and the shepherds would have confirmed to Mary and Joseph what they heard; and together, the sense of reverential awe would have increased between them all the more.

What an amazing conversation that must have been! There weren’t any ‘wise men from the east’ there yet. Those came later. So it was just Mary, and Joseph, the shepherds, and the Son of God in human flesh. What a shared sense of wonder they must have experienced as they gazed upon Jesus. Think of that song that we love to sing; and of how true it must have been at that sacred moment:

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace;
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

And here again, the shepherds teach us how to respond to Christmas in a lasting and life-changing way. As their example shows us, don’t rush away from the holiday now that it’s over. Don’t be superficial about it when you ponder it. Go and learn more. Linger. Stay a while and take a closer look. Gaze, as it were, upon the Child in the manger. Let the truth of the fact that God has become flesh for us sink in. Let yourself dive deeper into it; and let it sink deeper into your inner being.

Be like a shepherd; and take a closer look. That’s how you make it last all year long.

* * * * * * * * * *

Now; a third way that the shepherds teach us is by showing us that we should …

3. MAKE IT KNOWN.

How long was it that the shepherds stayed? We’re not told. They eventually tore themselves away from that holy scene—but they didn’t immediately go back to their flocks. How could they? We’re told;

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart (vv. 17-18).

Mary stayed and pondered—as she should, and as only she could. But the shepherds went and proclaimed. They went into the town and—somehow—told everyone the things that the angel had told them about the Child. It would have been the time of the official Roman census; and so, former residents of Bethlehem would have been coming to town from regions all around in order to be registered. There would have been a lot of people packed into Bethlehem. And we’re told that these shepherds made it ‘widely known’. And what’s more, all who heard it were amazed. The sense of holy awe was being spread by these shepherds.

As the people heard these things, would they have remembered what God Himself had promised back in the old testament prophetic book of Micah 5:2?

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting” (Micah 5:2).

Now; we can’t report the story from out of the same kind of experience that the shepherds had. They saw it all and heard it all with their own eyes and ears. But we can report their testimony to others—just like we’re doing right now. In the midst of the troubles and despair that people are under all around us—in the midst of a world that seems lost and hopeless—we can declare: “Yes; life is hard. Troubles abound. But God has done something about it! He has fulfilled His promises! He has sent a Savior! His Son was born into this world as one of us! He is Christ the Lord! God has given us hope! God has declared His love! Remember what happened on Christmas!” We too can make it widely known—even if we just read this story to others.

May God help us to be like shepherds; and declare the message of Christmas to those around us all of the time.

* * * * * * * * * *

And there’s one more way that the shepherds teach us; and that is that—after encountering all these things—we should …

4. GO BACK PRAISING.

The shepherds were the world’s first Christmas evangelists. They went out and made it widely known. But then, notice what we’re told in verse 20;

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them” (v. 20).

Where did they return to? Back to the sheepfolds, of course. They went back to their lives and their livelihoods and their families, neighborhoods, and friends. But they didn’t go back the same. They didn’t say, “Oh well, the holiday is over.” They went back as transformed individuals. They went back with a new sense of wonder and awe. They glorified God and praised Him for the things that they had personally experienced. They no doubt continued to tend sheep; but I suspect that they were permanently transformed ‘gospel-proclaiming’ shepherds, don’t you?

And that’s how you and I should keep the reality of Christmas going in our lives. We must first have experienced the awe and wonder of the fact that God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son—the fact that God has been born into the human family and has given us undefeatable hope—that

… the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14)

And then—as we look deeper into it all and let it all sink in—and as we declare it to others—then we allow its implications to spread into every area of daily life. We go back praising! We can’t help it!

* * * * * * * * * *

So, dear brothers and sisters; now that the holiday is over, let’s let the reality of it keep on going and growing and being a permanent part of our daily lives. Let’s (1) respond with awe, (2) take a closer look, (3) make it known, and (4) go back praising!

Let’s celebrate Christmas just like shepherds!

AE