What happens when you meet Jesus — the shepherds of Luke 2

From a Christmas sermon · Luke 2:8–20

Luke spends thirteen verses on a handful of shepherds and what happened to them on the first Christmas. It's worth asking why.

The night shift (v. 8)

Shepherding was often the youngest boy's job — David was the youngest of eight and got the sheep. These men were working the night shift in a field. We're not told whether they owned the flock or were hired to watch it. It wasn't a job anyone looked up to. A shepherd kept the sheep fed, watered, comfortable, and safe — Psalm 23 is the description — and he knew his sheep well enough that they knew his voice (John 10:27). He carried a rod for protection, a staff for guidance, and a sling for predators and strays.

Here's the first thing to notice: the shepherds were doing what they were supposed to be doing, when they were supposed to be doing it. They were in the right place at the right time, doing their job. God found them there. Think of the shepherds of Scripture — Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his sons, Moses, David. God has a habit of showing up for people who are faithfully doing ordinary work.

Told first (vv. 9–10)

God chose to tell these men first. Not the priests, not Herod, not Caesar — shepherds. "Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise... that no flesh should glory in his presence" (1 Corinthians 1:26–29). And the angel says the good news "will be for all the people." These men were likely looked down on by their own countrymen, and God did this miraculous thing for them to make it plain: this news is for anyone.

Savior, Christ, Lord (v. 11)

"Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord."

Three titles in one sentence. Savior — deliverer, preserver, the one who rescues from danger and destruction. It's the noun form of the word in Romans 10:13: "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Christ — the Anointed One, the Messiah; "thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Lord — the title the scribes gave to God in the Old Testament, now given to this child. The One who said "I AM" to Moses (Exodus 3:14) said "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58), and Thomas called Him "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Revelation calls Him "Lord of lords and King of kings" (17:14; 19:16). These are His angels announcing His birth. Families sometimes hired a herald to announce a firstborn son. Mary and Joseph were poor and far from home — and there has never been a herald like the one they got.

The sign (v. 12)

"You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger." Every underdog story ever told pales next to this one. God became man. The Creator became creation. The richest became the poorest. The sinless became sin.

A piece of heaven (vv. 13–14)

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!" It's the only response that could be uttered. These angels were bringing a piece of heaven to earth — the same "holy, holy, holy" Isaiah heard around the throne (Isaiah 6:3) and John heard in Revelation (4:8). For thousands of years mankind had been separated from God by sin, and suddenly Jesus steps into history to reconcile us.

What the shepherds did (vv. 15–20)

They went — "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see." What other response is there? They found Mary and Joseph and the baby. And then Luke records three things.

They told. "After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed." When you meet Christ, you share the message.

Mary pondered. "Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them." When you meet Christ, you think about it — you turn it over, you weigh what took place.

They glorified. "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard." When you meet Christ, you give Him glory — the kingly majesty that belongs to Him as supreme ruler. "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:12). Glorifying God is the theme of all time. Take part in it.

One more outline, for the fridge

If you like to remember a chapter by its shape, Luke 2 runs like this: taxation (vv. 1–2), traveling (3–5), travailing (6–7), terror (8–9), tidings (10–14), trip (15), triumph (16), telling (17–18), thinking (19), truth (20), tradition (21–24), thanksgiving (25–38), thriving (39–40). And the things in the story tell it too: swaddling, straw, sheep, sacrifice.

Three things to do this Christmas

Share the gospel with someone. Ponder the Christmas story and why it happened. And give glory to God.

Looking for a church in Big Rapids this Christmas? Here's who we are — and we'd love to hear from you.

God told the night shift first

Look at who got the announcement. Not the priests. Not the palace. Men in a cold field who smelled like sheep and answered to nobody important. That tells you what God thinks of people who assume they're too far down the list to matter to Him. If that's you, the word the angel gave them is still the word: a Savior has been born, and He was born for you. He grew up, He died for your sin, He came out of the tomb, and He saves anyone who asks. You don't clean up first and then come. The shepherds went exactly as they were and found Him lying in a feed trough.

For those who already know Him, take the three things and do them small this week. Tell one person the story and why it had to happen. Sit ten quiet minutes with it until it's true to you again. Then thank Him out loud. Notice the shepherds went back to the same field and the same sheep. Nothing about their circumstances changed. They just went back glorifying God.