Reference

Luke 2.8-20

THE SHEPHERDS AND THE ANGELS

Luke 2.8    In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2.13    Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

Luke 2.14    Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

Luke 2.15    When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Luke 2.16    They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told. 

WE NEED A SAVIOUR

  • Where do we go when we need a saviour from life’s problems?
  • For the Christian the ‘correct’ answer is Jesus but often we don’t
  • Or we expect him to act in a certain way
  • The shepherds probably expected a spectacular saviour but got a baby

AMAZEMENT AT SPECTACULAR STORIES

  • Everyone the shepherds told was amazed
  • But amazement doesn’t always bring faith
  • Your spectacular story doesn’t help my circumstances
  • The angelic spectacle wasn’t a sign, just an announcement

THE SIGN OF GOD’S SALVATION

  • The sign was the baby lying in a manger
  • This baby is the sign who points to himself because there can be no greater sign

John 12.32 “If I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.”

  • It’s Christ’s weakness in death that draws people, not his power
  • We want to attack our problems with a ‘bigger dog’
  • We don’t need a bigger dog, we need a saviour
  • When we come humbly before the Saviour in weakness we go home rejoicing