Scripture
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Jesus came to save outcast, despised, unclean sinners.
Devotional
Out in the fields on the first Christmas night, there were some shepherds tending their flock. All was quiet save for the soft bleating of sheep and gentle breeze of the wind. And then all at once… glorious light! An angel shone forth in the sky!
Have you ever wondered why God sent an army of angles to announce the birth of Christ to lowly shepherds? This was the birth of the Messiah! The Word made flesh! The Son of God become a man. It was the most momentous event in human history! The King of kings and Savior of the World was born. But God didn’t announce Christ’s birth with a multitude of angels to kings or rulers or those born in high places. He sent them to shepherds so that, from the very birth of Christ, God could give a picture of and powerfully proclaim His amazing grace.
Christians today typically have a romantic view of shepherds. We like them. We view them as something positive. After all, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). But back in Jesus’ day, shepherds were not an honored group of men. They were despised and some of the lowest class of people.
That’s nothing to say about these particular men, but generally shepherds were often regarded as untrustworthy liars and thieves who regularly “confused” their sheep with the flock of someone else. They were so untrustworthy they could not even give their testimony in a court of law.
Not only that, but while they were often raising lambs that would later serve as animal sacrifices for others in the Temple, the nature of their work left the shepherds themselves ceremonially unclean and unable to draw near to God in the Temple and worship Him.
So shepherds, generally speaking, were lowly men… despised outcasts and far off, unclean sinners. And its to these men that God sent a delegation of angels to announce Christ’s birth saying, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Good news of great joy… the gospel itself. God’s grace to save sinners. And in the shepherds we see a picture of that gospel for all of us. We are all shepherds. In our sin we are all lowly, despised outcasts and far off, unclean sinners unable to draw near to God. But that’s precisely who the gospel is for. That’s who Christ came to save. He is the King of Grace who came to save the lowest of the low. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
To these shepherds… to all of us… the angel brought good news of great joy. That’s what the gospel is. The joy of salvation and redemption of our souls. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Notice how personal this proclamation is. Unto you… you shepherds!… God has sent His Son and given Him to you as your Savior. Jesus saved us from all our sins. He died on the cross and rose again three days later to, by His death, reconcile us to God once and for all.
And then the angel said, “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” This shows us the great humility and love Christ had for us in His incarnation. The great depths He was willing to go to save us from our sins. No one would ever expect to find a baby lying in a manger; a common food trough for family animals and beasts. Our babies are too precious. We lay them in a nice crib or bassinet. Something we’ve meticulously prepared for them months in advance. How much less would we expect the Eternal Son of God and King of glory who is Christ the Lord to be laid in a manger wrapped in swaddling cloths born not to the halls of kings and queens, but to a poor carpenter family with no room left for them in the inn? Yet there He lay… not in royal splendor but humble poverty.
And so Christ humbled Himself for us. While never ceasing to be God He emptied Himself which means He made Himself of no account… the lowest of the low all to save even the lowest of the low of sinners. (Philippians 2:5-11)
Then suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” A host of angels does not merely mean a bunch of angels, but an army of angels. An army that doesn’t come to make war and bring the judgment our sin deserves, but one that preaches peace and grace towards men. And you might think that when the angles say peace among those with whom he is pleased that God gives this grace and peace to those who have done something to deserve it. But a literal reading of the angels’ good news says “peace among the people of His good pleasure.” Those God delights to save (Ephesians 1:5). This peace, salvation, and good news of great joy is all of God’s grace.
The shepherds in the field give us a picture of God’s free grace in Christ given to each and every one of us. We were lowly, despised outcasts and far off, unclean sinners and God gave us the gift of His very own Son, the King of Grace. Fear not! For Behold I bring you good news of great joy! For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Outline - Points to Hit in Family Worship
BIG IDEA: Jesus came to save outcast, despised, unclean sinners.
Luke 2:8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
The shepherds are a picture of all of us who were far off and undeserving of God’s grace emphasizing God’s grace and kindness to send the good news of Christ to us.
Luke 2:11–12 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
Hit the humility of Christ in taking on human flesh to save us from our sins.
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (or “Peace among those of His good pleasure”)
The salvation God gives is all of His grace; we do nothing and can do nothing to deserve it. Its the greatest gift of all.
Hymn
Lyrics - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Citizens
Verse 1
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Verse 2
Christ by highest heaven adored
Christ the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell
Jesus our Emmanuel
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Verse 3
Hail the heavenly Prince of Peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risin with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King