Ezekiel 34:22-24, 30-31
Revelation 7:9-17
Luke 2:8-20

Advent is the season when we prepare ourselves to receive God's gift of Jesus. It is a time of "getting ready" for the celebration of Christmas.  Last week Rocky covered the 2nd week of Advent that relates to Angels and Peace, this week we are going to focus on Shepherds and Joy as it relates to the Christmas season.

Who really are Shepherds? The Shepherd of the New Testament time were not exactly like the sweet innocent ones you have seen in Charlie Brown’s Christmas special. Those Shepherds had fake beards and bathrobes and paper staffs. But the shepherds of Luke’s story were more like the trash-talking, hard-working, rough-looking guys who after a long day’s work go out and drink their way through the night. They spent most of their time in the fields alone carrying very simple equipment-a heavy cloak, a rod and staff, a bag for food, and a sling. And yes, even in the biblical times, dogs were used to help manage sheep

So in Sunday school one Sunday the teacher was sharing the story of Shepherds in Luke. He told the children that sheep needed lots of guidance, that a shepherd’s job was to stay close to the sheep and protect them from wild animals and keep them from wondering off. He pointed to the little children in the room and said that they were the sheep and needed lots of guidance. Then the teacher put his hands out to the side m palms up in a dramatic gesture, and with raised eyebrows said to the children, “If you are the sheep then who is the Shepherd?” There was an awkward silence. Then Mary, a young second-grader, said, “ Jesus is the shepherd.” The young teacher obviously disappointed, said to her, “Well, then who am I?” She thought for a minute, and then said, “ I guess you must be the sheep dog.”

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been “scared to death” by something that catches you off guard?  This has happened to most of us. 

     Almost 2000 years ago there were some shepherds watching their sheep at night.  It was very dark at night out in the middle of nowhere.  Suddenly, a light appears and a voice from the sky starts talking to these shepherds.  I wonder if they were scared?  I think you know the answer!  No wonder the angel said:   “Do not be afraid.”

     However, they were not scared simply because they were caught off guard.  You see, Luke tells us that the glory of the Lord shown around them.  The Shepherds thought they would literally be scared to death because the Old Testament teaches that sinners will die if they stand in the presence of God’s glory.  They were probably expecting to be consumed by God’s wrath.

     But that didn’t happen!  Instead, the angel said:  “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”  At these words their fear faded and I’m sure smiles came upon their faces as they watched the angels who were not laughing at them but were singing to them:  “Glory to God in the highest!”
Why did God choose to tell a bunch of shepherds about the birth of Jesus? We don’t know all of God’s reasons, but we do know that God wanted people to believe that Jesus is the Savior of ALL people. 

You see, Jesus didn’t come to save only those who were popular, or those who were rich, or those who were moral examples in their communities.  Jesus also came to save people who were unpopular, who were poor and who were viewed as sinners by others.

     God is showing us that all the labels, categories and barriers we use to separate people into different classes really mean nothing.  Simply put, we are ALL sinners who deserve death and damnation.  No person can live in the presence of God’s glory because each and every one of us is a sinner who deserves God’s wrath.

     The shepherds understood this.  That’s why they were so afraid.  But then they heard these words that filled their hearts with joy:  “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you:  he is Christ the Lord.”  Let’s examine those words.

     First, the angels mention the town of David.  We know that God used His prophets to proclaim that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem – the same town where King David had been born.

     In our Old Testament reading from Ezekiel God made this promise about the future Savior.  Listen:  “I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.”  Maybe that’s another reason God sent the angels to the shepherds.  They understood what it meant to be shepherds of sheep, and that it was now their turn to be the sheep who follow the Shepherd – the new King David who is Christ the Lord!

     That word “Christ” comes from a Greek word that translates the Hebrew that goes into English as “Messiah”.  The Greek word “Christ” and the Hebrew word “Messiah” both mean “The Anointed One” which is the title of the Savior God had promised to send for all people.

     However, the angels added another bit of information the shepherds may not have understood.  The angels told them that their newly born Savior was not only the Christ but also the LORD!  Simply put, their Savior, the Christ, is GOD HIMSELF in human flesh!  That baby in Bethlehem is the Creator of the heavens and the earth.  What a Savior!  No wonder the angels said:   “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

     This good news about Jesus is for ALL the people.  Remember our 2nd reading from Revelation chapter 7?  The Apostle John was given a vision of the final Day when Christ will return, and John was moved to write these words:  “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!’ “

Today we behold the light shining from the 3rd candle of Advent - the pink candle.  Pink is the color of “joy” - the joy that comes from knowing that we no longer have to be afraid.  Even though we are sinners who deserve God’s eternal wrath, we have been given the good news that we will live forever in God’s glory because of the Savior who was born in Bethlehem – Christ the Lord!

We call this pink candle the Shepherds’ candle.  Today we heard how God honored some shepherds who were ignored by most people in their society.  Even though they were sinners who deserved God’s wrath, they were not killed by God’s glory.  Instead, they were given great joy as they listened to the angels sing about their Lord and Savior.
God has given us the same message.  Just like those shepherds, we live in a world filled with darkness and there are many things in life that give us reason to be very afraid.  But today God appears to us and says:  “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy…”
Jesus was born in Bethlehem almost 2000 years ago.  Today Jesus is born in you as you hear and believe His Word.  Your sins are forgiven.  Do not be afraid.  Rejoice!  Rejoice with the shepherds!  Amen!