The Shepherds Celebrate and Share the Good News
Theme: Good News to Share
Theme Verse: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10b NIV
Readings: Luke 2:1-20
Memory Verse: "When they had seen him, they spread the word, concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:17-18
Background: vs.1-5. Luke places Jesus' birth in its historical and political context. (Luke is always concerned with accuracy, see Luke 1:1-4.) "World" refers to the Roman Empire (what they ruled!) The Emperor Augustus reigned from 27 BC to 14 AD (present calendar). Bethlehem was King David's ancestral home. The name means "House of Bread". (Remember what Jesus said about himself in John 6:35, "I AM the Bread of Life".) Betrothed (literally reads betrothed to him as wife). Betrothal was legally binding. Then the groom would go to prepare a place in his father's house for his bride and bring her home when he was ready and have the marriage feast and start to live together. Remember that Joseph had thought about divorcing Mary when he first heard she was pregnant. (NOT like engagement.) There are 2 sets of vows in our marriage ceremony. The church put them together. See BCP p.424 & 427.
Once again we see God's timing, so that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, which included a walk of about 70 miles ("as the crow flies") but by road would have been much farther. God's plan also included a time when there would be "no room in the inn". Caesar could not have known that his desire for a census and more taxes would cause prophecy to be fulfilled.
God turned worldly expectations on their heads. Jesus wants us to reflect on his humble birth. Compare this with Isaiah 53:2-3, "For he grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Jesus knows what it is to be rejected and humiliated. Jesus can sympathize with us because he's been there too. Jesus was rejected by many even at his birth. (But it was also a time when God's glory was revealed.) God does not despise or look down on our condition of need or poverty. He can use all things to bring glory to himself. God sometimes uses inconvenient or distressing events to accomplish his purposes. Do we "fall apart" when things do not go as we wanted or expected or do we give it to God for him to use as he will? Remember Psalm 31:15, "My times are in your hand."
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7) Word received: Is there room in your (underline your) heart for my son? Make room in your heart for my son. Make room in your heart for him. Cast out the affections that get in the way of having him in your heart. Mary has the baby clothes ready but for the birth she had to improvise. Normally societies will care for women in childbirth but this young couple had no one because they were far from home. They just had each other -- and the presence of God!
"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2:8) Word received: Pray that I will raise up shepherds to watch over my flock by day and by night.
Notice that Jesus' birth was both humble and full of glory, but not worldly glory. "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid." (Luke 2:9) Word received: I want you to seek and see my glory. I want my glory to shine about you as you come to know me and receive me into your life and your heart. It had been several hundred years since God's shekinah glory had been seen in Israel because of their sins.
"Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." (Luke 2:10) Word received: I want my joy to be in you so that you can share it as you share the good news of my birth. "For there is born to you (underline you) this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11) Word received: I came for you (underline you). The Savior came for you and me. (Turn and say that to your neighbor.) The Savior came for ALL even though not all will receive him. The angel then tells the shepherds how to recognize the special baby.
Notice that the angel gives 3 titles for Jesus. He is Savior, Messiah and Lord. (Lord was a word that meant ruler, master. The Roman emperors soon claimed to be a god and Lord. The Jews used the word Lord to substitute for God's Name, I AM, which they considered too holy to speak. Early Christians claimed that "Jesus is Lord" which brought them into direct conflict with the Roman emperors' desire to be THE Lord and to be worshipped. Note the contrast between a Savior to ALL people and vs.14 where "peace on earth" is to those "among men with whom he is well pleased". (One Greek letter is missing in later manuscripts which changes the phrase to "peace, good will among men.".)
The Shepherd's reactions were first fear, then surprise, wonder, adoration and belief. What a wonder to be able to see the host of angels praising God and proclaiming the Good News. Heaven could not hold the joy of Jesus' birth! PRAYER: Lord, may the joy of our Christmas celebration reflect the joy that heaven could not contain when you were born!
When the angels went away the shepherds said, lets go see this thing the Lord has told us about and they went "with haste" . They saw, heard from God and took action;. They responded "immediately" like the first disciples. Word received: Believe like the shepherds believed.
"And when they had seen him" Word received: What have you seen that I have done? Have you shared it with others as the shepherds did? Word received: Share like the shepherds shared. They just did it -- with excitement and joy. People probably didn't understand all that had happened, but they willingly praised God. The shepherds praised God and remembered what they had seen and heard. Do we? "What they had seen and heard as it had been told them" Word received: My word is always true and reliable.
Mary treasured and pondered these things in her heart. How do we treasure and ponder the Lord's revelations? We don't have to understand to begin with, we just have to know something is from the Lord. St. Augustine said, "I believe in order to understand."
Word for teachers: Come, come to Me, all you who are burdened and heavily laden. (It is time again to invite the children to invite Jesus into their hearts and lives again.)
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 14
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
1.Jesus was born at just the right time according to God's plan.
2.Even though Jesus is the Son of God, He was born into a poor family. Jesus knows what it is like to be poor.
3. Is there room in your heart for Jesus? Have you invited him into your heart?
4. God shared the most important news of all time with humble shepherds.
5. The shepherds believed and shared the Good News with others. God wants us to believe and share the Good News with others.
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