|
DATE |
CHURCH |
SUBJECT |
PREACHER |
BIBLE
REF. |
|
27.12.08 |
All Saints Church |
The Generosity of
God |
Tony Higton |
Luke 2:8-20 |
|
The Christmas card version of Christmas is
somewhat misleading. It is virtually certain that the birth of
Jesus didn’t take place on December 25th. In Israel, flocks
were kept outside from April to November, (although occasionally
during the winter in suitable locations). Moreover the Romans
wouldn’t have held a census in bad weather which could include
snow, when some roads were impassable.
Also the shepherds are deemed to be
respectable, honest working men. Actually, they were far from
it. This shows that:
God honours and
uses the humble
“And there were shepherds living out in the
fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” (verse
8)
Shepherding was one of the "despised
trades" in ancient Israel. Because they worked in the desert
shepherds rarely bathed or changed their clothes. They certainly
weren’t kosher according to Jewish cleanliness rituals. In fact
they were dirty, smelly, scruffy outcasts.
One ancient Jewish commentary states:
“There is no more disreputable occupation than that of a
shepherd.”
But these are the people to whom God
miraculously revealed the Incarnation.
It also shows that:
God blesses and
welcomes sinners
One Rabbinic writer said that "most of the
time they were dishonest and thieving; they led their herds onto
other people's land and pilfered the produce of the land."
Because they were often months at a time without supervision,
they were often accused of stealing some of the increase of the
flock. Consequently, the pious were warned not to buy wool,
milk, or kids from shepherds on the assumption that it was
stolen property.
They were not above appropriating sheep
from other flocks. They were dirty, thieving nomads. Little
wonder they were not allowed to fulfil a judicial office or be
admitted in court as witnesses.
The Bethlehem shepherds fields are called
“Beit Sahour” which means “house of whispering.” It is said that
this was because shepherds were notorious gossips and
slanderers.
Yet these are the people to whom God
miraculously revealed the Incarnation.
The story shows how:
God reveals his
glory through earthen vessels
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and
the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. 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.” (verses 9-10).
We can note here:
A Prophetic Association
Every firstborn male lamb from the area
around Bethlehem was considered holy, set aside for sacrifice in
Jerusalem. Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred
flocks. The Temple authorities had their own private flocks just
outside Jerusalem, in the Bethlehem hills. The Bethlehem
shepherds looked after both their own flocks and the flocks of
the temple authorities, always looking out for the perfect lamb
to be sacrificed in the temple.
We can see the symbolism here as prophetic
of the birth of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world.
Also we see:
A Profound Revelation
The angel said: “Today in the town of David
a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord.” (verse
11).
The close association of Christ and Lord,
is unique in the New Testament in exactly this way. The baby is
“the Messiah (and) the Lord” He is a Saviour who can be regarded
as the Messiah-Yahweh.
We can see here a reference to the divinity
of the baby to be born.
Finally we see:
A Pronounced transformation
“When they had seen him, they spread the
word concerning what had been told them about this child.”
(verses 17)
These dirty, smelly, scruffy outcasts and
thieving nomads became the first evangelists. Instead of
gossiping slanderously, they gossiped the Gospel. Do you
“gossip the Gospel” i.e. tell others informally about your
faith?
Verse 18 says “All who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all
these things and pondered them in her heart.”
These untrained, unsophisticated witnesses
amazed their hearers. They had had a dynamic experience of Jesus
and gave their testimony.
“The shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which
were just as they had been told.” (verse 20)
As the hymn writer puts it, they were “lost
in wonder, love and praise.” Are you “lost in wonder, love and
praise” at the wonder of the gospel.” If not, ask God to renew
this in you so that you too can gossip the Gospel to others. |
