SERIES: Advent
TEXT: Luke 2:8-20
MESSAGE: “Our Restless Search”
What are you searching for this Christmas?
Do you picture God searching?
“But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” — Genesis 3:9
“Religions are man’s search for God; the Gospel is God’s search for man. There are many religions, but one Gospel.” — E. Stanley Jones
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” — Luke 2:10-11
TEXT: Luke 2:8-20
“We do not see the glory of this passage until we learn what the shepherds learn. They are out at night keeping watch over their flock (v. 8). This is not glorious work. This is not the best shift…To these lowly men, the angel gives the highest theology (vv. 10–12)…These men are the first to learn of “great joy for all the people.” They understand that the gospel is not just for Israel but for all the nations, that all may have this joy.” — Thabiti Anyabwile
Q: Do you picture God searching? Today we see that God searched for us in two ways: (1. The Greater Shepherd 2. The Better Sacrifice)
1. The Greater Shepherd (v. 8-11)
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Robert Stein writes, “…shepherds were dishonest & unclean according to the standards of the law. They represent the outcasts and sinners…”
“…They represent the outcasts and sinners for whom Jesus came. Such outcasts were the first recipients of the good news.” — Robert Stein
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way…” — Isaiah 53:6
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ — Matthew 2:6
2. The Better Sacrifice (v. 15-19)
“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” — Micah 5:2
“Flocks were supposed to be kept only in the wilderness, and a rabbinic rule provides that any animal found between Jerusalem and a spot near Bethlehem must be presumed to be a sacrificial victim.” — Leon Morris
“It is most likely that these shepherds were in charge of the flocks from which the Temple offerings were chosen. It is a lovely thought that the shepherds who looked after the Temple lambs were the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” — William Barclay
“Gifts of men from distant lands // Prophesy the story // Gold a King is born today // Incense God is with us// Myrrh His death will make a way // And by His blood He’ll win us” — Joy Has Dawned (Keith Getty; Stuart Townend)
TAKEAWAYS: Am I restless or resting?
Embrace the Good Shepherd
“Always men are searching for safety beyond themselves. They are restless, unsettled, covetous, greedy for more — wanting this and that, yet never really satisfied in spirit. By contrast the simple Christian, the humble person, the Shepherd’s sheep can stand up proudly and boast. “The Lord is my Shepherd — I shall not want. I am completely satisfied with His management of my life. Why? Because He is the sheepman to whom no trouble is too great as He cares for His flock. He is the Rancher who is outstanding because of His fondness for sheep — who loves them for their own sake as well as His personal pleasure in them…” — Phillip Keller
Trust the Better Sacrifice
“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” — Luke 2:12
“Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened” (Luke 24:12). The infant in the manger would not stayed swaddled. And his crucified body would not stay dead. He entered into the swaddled, bounded, frail, and fragile reality of our human existence, and carried us with him, even in our finitude, into the boundlessness of eternity and the coming new world. He is not dead; he is risen…yet it all began in Bethlehem, in such mildness and meekness.” — David Mathis
“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” — Isaiah 1:2-3