Heavenly Announcement - Pt. II

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

Luke 2:10–11 NASB95

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:12–13 NASB95

12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

Luke 2:14 NASB95

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

After a out of the ordinary birth (Lk2:6-7)

Came the heavenly announcement to unlikely people (Lk2:8-14)

(Transition) This morning we will look at the response to the heavenly announcement

The earthly response to the heavenly announcement

Luke 2:15 NASB95

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

Luke 2:16–17 NASB95

16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

Luke 2:18–19 NASB95

18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Luke 2:20 NASB95

20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

In general what do you see the response to the heavenly announcement in these verses?

Anything stick out to you?

Last week we already looked at the verses and pulled from them, just a couple of reminders.

There was an urgency for response (v.16)

They found things just as the angel told them (v.16-17)

The coming of the shepherds brought wonder to all who heard their story (v.18)

Mary treasured all things in her heart (v.19)

Shepherds left back glorifying and praising God (v.20)

With Urgency

When you think of the word urgency, what does it mean?

Defined: importance requiring swift action.

Do you think the word “immediately” implies urgent?

The angel told them what to look for, but they needed to participate didn’t they?

They had to believe

They had to go

They had to look

The angel told them what to look for (2:12)

Wrapped in cloths

Lying in a manger

They would not have looked at the Inn, or even in a home. They knew it would be in a manger, so it did narrow the search to find Him.

They found the babe exactly as the angel told them.

Barclay says this:

“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.”

Just a reminder of unlikely people, unlikely place and God used them!

God uses us, but we must participate!

God tells us some unlikely things too, that is where our faith comes in and needs to be put into action. For God’s word is true and will never fail.

Making the good news known

Luke 2:17–18 NLT

17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,

Luke 2:19–20 NLT

19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Give this a moment, search previous verses. In (v.17) they made known the statement which they had been told, what was the statement, what verse did you find that?

Answer is found in (vv.11-12)

If you have the answer that will bring good news to someone who needs it, would you tell them?

The good news made known brought about wonder, amazement, even if people did not fully understand it, they knew something out of the ordinary happened.

Unlikely people (Shepherds), unlikely place (Bethlehem, manger) with unlikely message (Savior born this way).

Trapp says:

“God, to show that he respected not persons, revealed this grand mystery to the shepherds and wise men; the one poor, the other rich; the one learned, the other unlearned; the one Jews, the other Gentiles; the one near, the other far off.”

Mary stored, Mary treasured all these things, pondering, giving thought to these things. Not just in her mind, but in her heart!

It would not be in that the shepherds came, but in what the shepherds said.

It would be further confirmation that the child truly was the Savior!

Remember I mentioned before that she was not required to go with Joseph to Bethlehem, but she went.

Remember Joseph originally wanted to put her away quietly, but the angel put an end to that.

It was by a Roman decree that they went to Bethlehem, to the City of David (2:1, 4) in the first place.

God orchestrated His eternal purpose, His scheme of redemption in the birth of the Redeemer through unlikely ways.

No wonder Mary would give much though, ponder, treasure these things in her heart.

The shepherds went back, returned.

Glorifying, praising

Why were they? Because what they were told were found to be true.

Lessons from some shepherds

They received the message that brought faith

Rom10:17

They responded with immediate obedience

Act22:16

They reported to others the Good News

Jn4:18-19

They rejoiced and praised God for everything they heard and saw.

Do you rejoice in your salvation, of the Good News that brought your salvation?

May we learn from the unlikely people and follow their example

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