#BibleLesson Expressions of Faith: Advent 2 of 3 - Angels and Shepherds, an Unexpected Pairing
Special Advent Post #2
Imagine being one of those shepherds. Remember that shepherds were
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| Read on to find out why I chose this version of the angel's appearance. |
Angels and Shepherds and Magi, oh, my! – Angels and Shepherds
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 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. 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those 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. 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Luke 2:8-21
The appearance of angels in Luke’s gospel is the third appearance of angels in the Christmas story. For those of you keeping score in your program, the three previous appearances are to
1. Joseph: Matthew 1:20
2. Mary: Matthew 1:26
An angel also appears to Zachariah (Luke 1:11), but that appearance is not directly related to the birth of Christ.
Imagine being one of those shepherds. Remember that shepherds were
- LOW on the social scale.
- Poorly educated.
- Smelly.
You’re sleeping or taking your turn watching the sheep—your choice.
- Watching sheep has to be boring.
- Watching sheep at night has to be beyond boring.
- Watching sheep at night in the hills away from any semblance of civilization—what’s beyond ‘beyond boring’?
Regardless of what you’re doing at the time as a shepherd, the appearance of one angel and the accompanying “glory of the Lord shone [that] around them” had to be frightening.
These shepherds were terrified. This is why I chose the opening photo.
Angels almost always speak some version of “Fear not!” when they appear to humans
- This angel did that.
- It must have worked.
- The shepherds listened.
What the shepherds heard that night were the words that the nation of Israel had been listening for since the prophet Isaiah wrote
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
Shepherds heard these words.
- Not the religious establishment.
- Not politicians.
- Not any person of significance or power on this earth.
That was intentional.
- It demonstrated God’s purpose of the gospel for all.
- It foreshadowed Jesus' earthly ministry.
- It reminds us of what our role as Christians is—taking the Gospel to all.
Then it got more terrifying because
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Vv13-14
That would have been enough to cause the words of the one angel to be forgotten.
- Not so with the shepherds.
- What they did is amazing.
- They
said to one another, “Let’s 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.
Vv15b-16
In and of itself, that’s incredible.
Despised, smelly, unsophisticated shepherds went into a town overflowing with people from all strata of society.
They went into town, found the right manger—probably no easy task that night—and worshiped their Savior.
What they did next is even more incredible.
- As they left Bethlehem they told everyone they saw about their experience!
- Remember that they lived in the hills surrounding Bethlehem, not in the town itself.
- That’s an example of God’s transforming power.
- It’s why Jesus came to Earth.
Next Expressions of Faith: Magi: Men of Mystery and Misinformation.
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Fear not....a message for the ages!
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