The Shepherds

It is time for God to announce the arrival of his only begotten Son. Who shall He choose to proclaim his arrival to first? Kings? Priests? No… He sends a choir of angels to lowly shepherds.

Today's Bible verse is Luke 2:10, from the King James Version.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke to ten,
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the lessons we learn
from the shepherd's encounter with the angels. May we embrace humility,

(00:21):
rejoice in your redemption, and engage in heart felt worship
this Christmas season. Help us to spread the good tidings
of great joy to those around us, reflecting your love
and grace. Amen.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Joseph wrapped him in his arms and wiped him with
woven wool. He stared into the child's eyes. There was
nothing different about him. There were no lights radiate in
from his eyes or humming of heavenly hosts behind him.
He was a baby, crying and taking in the newness
of life. But as Joseph cradled him in his arms,

(01:02):
he knew without a doubt this child was exceptional, chosen, blessed.
All the turmoil, danger and chaos he had to endure
was worth it for the sake of this treasure he
held in his hands. We already know his name, he
said to Mary. Mary reached for her son and cradled

(01:23):
him in her arms. She stroked his face.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
His name will be Jesus.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
She whispered, the Lord saves. Mary pressed Jesus against her
chest and cried joyfully. He was the fulfillment of God's
promise to humanity, the good Shepherd of Israel, the Savior
of the world.

Speaker 3 (01:46):
Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
Bible and a Year podcast. Thank you for joining me
for this joyous celebration of Christ's birth. Today we visit
the hill country of Bethlehem under a Starlit's will meet
three shepherds whose lives are about to be changed forever.

(02:06):
These lowly shepherds, existing on the fringes of society, are
about to be visited by a divine chorus of heavenly messengers.
Their message is a resounding song of joy, peace and salvation.
Why would God choose to visit shepherds of all people,
to be the first to behold him. In Biblical times,

(02:30):
shepherds were often considered to be on the lower rungs
of the social ladder. Their work was humble, demanding, and
required they isolate for months at a time. As a result,
shepherds were considered awkward and untrustworthy. Yet God saw fit
to choose them God often refers to himself as a shepherd.

(02:53):
This isn't because God considers himself awkward and untrustworthy. Rather,
God calls himself a sheefer shepherd because we are like sheep.
Think about sheep for a moment. They have large bodies,
small legs, and aren't very intelligent. All those qualities make
them fearful and anxious creatures, vulnerable to predators. Additionally, sheep

(03:18):
are one of the only animals unable to survive in
the wild without human care. They can't become faralh, meaning
they'll perish without a shepherd to look after them. We,
like sheep, are skittish and vulnerable. That's why David called
God his shepherd, who restores his soul and protects him
from enemies. Scripture frequently uses the imagery of shepherds to

(03:43):
describe spiritual leadership. Moses was a shepherd before returning to
the people of Israel. King David was a shepherd before
becoming Israel's king, and Jesus refers to himself as the
good Shepherd. The shepherd's inclusion and Heist's birth story underline
the importance of spiritual guidance and reflects God's care for

(04:06):
his people. So let's join these shepherds now on the
rolling hills of Bethlehem. Imagine yourself lying back on a
grassy hill, gazing up at the vast universe above you.
Hear the crackling of the fire behind you, and the
occasional a of a nearby lamb. This is where the

(04:26):
shepherds find themselves before an abrupt and glorious interruption.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
In a valley not too far from the glimmering hills
of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds lay in the fields,
tending to their flocks. The night was alive, with the
distant songs of crickets and the gentle rustle of tall
grass swaying to a soft breeze. The sheep had settled
for the night, their breathing gentle and rhythmic. Together, the

(04:54):
shepherds pointed out constellations, their fingers tracing the ancient patterns
in the sky as they told stories and shared laughter.
One of them, an older shepherd with eyes that held
the spark of countless sunrises, pointed to the sky. Look there,
he said, his voice, like weathered would.

Speaker 1 (05:13):
A quiller the eagle.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
It flies highbove our heads, never bound by Earth's oul.
I wish I could so like an eagle, the younger
shepherd replied. The others chuckled at his boyish imagination that
he would travel to Egypt and behold the great relics
of Pharaoh. Well, I would soar to Rome and have

(05:36):
a look at Caesar's great throng room. The three shepherds
laughed together, their eyes tracing the lines of constellations, finding
in them the stories of gods and heroes, love and loss.
The valley listened, a silent witness to their friendship. The
life of a shepherd was often lonely. For most of

(05:56):
the year, they existed as outcasts on the edge of
the city. They traveled the plains of the Judaean wilderness,
often alone with their sheep. But at this moment they
had each other the stars and shared stories beside a
crackling fire. Their bodies, wearied from the day's labor, began
to succumb to sleep's gentle pull. Their gazes, fixed on

(06:17):
the boundless heavens, grew soft as dreams beckoned. Then, without warning,
a gust of wind, sharp and cold, swept through the valley,
stirring the shepherds from their rest. The wind extinguished their
fire with an abrupt hiss, and they leaped to their feet.
Darkness enveloped them. What is happening, one of them said

(06:38):
in a panicked voice. Then, in an instant, a burst
of light split the horizon like a long shimmering blade.
It split and danced, reaching out to them in a
blinding embrace. Light poured out like a rushing waterfall, and
surrounded the shepherds in a myriad of beautiful colors. The
shepherds heard in orchestra, instruments and singing come from the light.

(07:03):
It was a symphony, pure and transcendent, as if they
were listening to it within their own souls, As if
they were listening to it within their own souls. Terror
and awe came upon the shepherds as they fell to
the ground, their bodies trembling. Then from the light a
voice emerged fear not. The voice, clear and resonant, rang

(07:27):
out from the light. Its timber was filled with authority
and gentleness, command and comfort. We have come with good
tidings of great joy. In the town of Bethlehem lies
a baby. His child is the Messiah, the Lord, the
savior of the world, and redemption of mankind. The shepherd's
eyes widened as the angel and an entire choir of

(07:49):
heavenly hosts emerged from the light. They couldn't speak, for
their minds struggled to even grasp the magnitude of what
was unfolding before them. The lights, hues of bright, orange, pink,
and white, swirled around them like a flock of ethereal doves,
casting a warm glow on their upturned faces. Go therefore

(08:09):
and see for yourselves. You will find the baby, wrapped
in swaddling cloths, lying.

Speaker 1 (08:15):
In a manger.

Speaker 2 (08:16):
The angel continued his words, infused with an urgency that
set their hearts aflame. As he spoke, the choir of
angels slowly rose their voices. The light swirled to the
rising and falling of their harmony. Finally, the song crescendoed
into a resonating song of praise. Then, as suddenly as
it had come, the light dissipated, leaving the valley bathed

(08:39):
in the soft glow of the stars. Once more, the
melodies of heaven were replaced by the gentle whispers of
the evening wind. At a few chirping crickets, The shepherd
sat stunned and silent, their minds reeling from the vision
they had just witnessed. The oldest shepherd turned to his companions.
Did we all just see that? Or is this old

(09:00):
man finally loose in his mind? The two others nodded
their heads in confirmation that they had all born witness,
Still stunned by what they had seen, Slowly their eyes
turned towards Bethlehem, where a few torchlights still flickered in
the distance. Resting above the city was a new star,
radiant and singular, unlike any they had seen before. The

(09:23):
older shepherd turned to his young friend and laughed, you
make it to see royalty after all. They all laughed
with unexplainable joy. With a shared understanding, they rose, leaving
their belongings behind, their steps quickening as they ran towards Bethlehem.
Their hearts were aflame with a joy they could not contain,
and a purpose they could not deny.

Speaker 3 (09:48):
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy. What shall be to all people? This message
of joy echoes throughout the New Testament as joy as
a hallmark of those who have experienced Christ's redemption. The
good tidings are indeed of great joy because they announced
the arrival of the Savior, fulfilling God's promise to redeem

(10:12):
his people. The angel's announcement heralded a new era filled
with hope. The joy comes from the realization that God
has not abandoned his people. That should bring all of
us joy. Today we don't worship with God, who has
remained distant and aloof despite our sin and depravity, God

(10:33):
chose to rescue us and raise us to glory with him.
The very fact that these lowly shepherds were able to
behold the splendor and majesty of the angels is a
testament to how God operates. He doesn't think about status, symbols,
or wealth. The wise men would have been the first

(10:54):
to behold the new born King if he did. God
chose the rustic outcast, proving he doesn't care about your wealth,
your popularity, or your status, no matter where you are
or what you have done. The Gospel message is for
you to enjoy. Let's not make the mistake of thinking

(11:16):
Christmas is merely for us to enjoy. Though ultimately Christ's
birth gives glory to God. The angelic praise glory to
God in the highest should resonate in our hearts as
we ponder the magnitude of what God has done. His
redemptive plan and magnificence are shown throughout the birth, life, death,

(11:40):
and resurrection of Jesus. Join us for our next episode
of Stories of the Messiah. As the shepherds search high
and low for God's son, when they finally arrive at
the stables, the fear and awe of the Lord come
upon them, and unbeknownst to them, they set the stage
for King Herod to catch wind of Jesus. Thanks for

(12:02):
listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Pastor
Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot Com app
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(12:23):
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