December 19, 2024 • 12 mins
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
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
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 heartfelt worship this
Christmas season. Help us to spread the good tidings of
great joy to those around us, reflecting your love and grace. Amen,
thank you for praying with me to day. Stay tuned
(00:42):
now for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with
Rabbi Schneider.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Joseph wrapped him in his arms and wiped him with
woven wool. He stared into the le's eyes. There was
nothing different about him. There were no lights radiating 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, he knew
(01:17):
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 him
(01:38):
in her arms. She stroked his face. His name will
be Jesus, she whispered. The Lord says. 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 (02:01):
Hello everyone, and welcome to another Christmas episode of the
Jesus Podcast. I'm Ethan from pray dot Com. Thank you
for joining me for this joyous celebration of Christ's birth.
Today we visit the hill country of Bethlehem. Under a
starlit sky. We'll meet three shepherds whose lives are about
to be changed forever. These lowly shepherds, existing on the
(02:26):
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, shepherds were often considered
(02:49):
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. This isn't
(03:13):
because God considers himself awkward and untrustworthy. Rather, God calls
himself a 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 are one
(03:37):
of the only animals unable to survive in the wild
without human care. They can't become feral, 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
(03:59):
frequently uses the imagery of shepherds to 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 in Christ's birth story underlines the importance of spiritual
(04:21):
guidance and reflects God's care for 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 baz of nearby sheep.
(04:45):
This is where the shepherds find themselves before an abrupt
and glorious interruption.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
In a valley not too far from the glimmering hills
of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds lay in the fields,
tending to their 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 shepherds
(05:14):
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 wood, a quiller.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
The eagle.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
It flies high above our heads, never bound by Earth's ould.
I wish I could sow like an eagle, the younger
shepherd replied. The others chuckled at his boyish imagination. I
would travel to Egypt and behold the great relics of Pharaoh. Well,
I would sow to Rome and have a look at
(05:56):
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 the year, they
(06:16):
existed as outcasts on the edge of the city. They
traveled the plains of the Judean 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 paul. Their gazes, fixed on the boundless heavens, grew
(06:38):
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, in a panicked voice.
(07:00):
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 an orchestra of
instruments and singing come from the light. It was a symphony,
(07:23):
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,
(07:45):
clear and resonant, rang 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
(08:07):
choir of 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
(08:29):
and see for yourselves. You will find the baby, wrapped
in swaddling claws, lying in a manger. 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,
(08:49):
the song crescendoed into a resonating song of praise. Then,
as suddenly as it had come, the light dissipated, leaving
the valley bathed 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
(09:12):
the vision they had just witnessed. The oldest shepherd turned
to his companions, Did we all just see that? Or
is this old 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
(09:34):
still flickered in the distance. Resting above the city was
a new star, radiant and singular, unlike any they had
seen before. The 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
(09:57):
they ran towards Bethlehem. The parts were aflame, with a
joy they could not contain, and a purpose they could
not deny.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people. This message
of joy echoes throughout the New Testament as joy is
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
(10:31):
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
(10:53):
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
(11:14):
to behold the new born King if he did. God
chose the rustic outcasts, 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
(11:36):
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,
(11:59):
and mild 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
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 heartfelt worship this
Christmas season. Help us to spread the good tidings of
great joy to those around us, reflecting your love and grace. Amen,
thank you for praying with me to day. Stay tuned
(00:42):
now for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with
Rabbi Schneider.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Joseph wrapped him in his arms and wiped him with
woven wool. He stared into the le's eyes. There was
nothing different about him. There were no lights radiating 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, he knew
(01:17):
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 him
(01:38):
in her arms. She stroked his face. His name will
be Jesus, she whispered. The Lord says. 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 (02:01):
Hello everyone, and welcome to another Christmas episode of the
Jesus Podcast. I'm Ethan from pray dot Com. Thank you
for joining me for this joyous celebration of Christ's birth.
Today we visit the hill country of Bethlehem. Under a
starlit sky. We'll meet three shepherds whose lives are about
to be changed forever. These lowly shepherds, existing on the
(02:26):
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, shepherds were often considered
(02:49):
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. This isn't
(03:13):
because God considers himself awkward and untrustworthy. Rather, God calls
himself a 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 are one
(03:37):
of the only animals unable to survive in the wild
without human care. They can't become feral, 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
(03:59):
frequently uses the imagery of shepherds to 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 in Christ's birth story underlines the importance of spiritual
(04:21):
guidance and reflects God's care for 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 baz of nearby sheep.
(04:45):
This is where the shepherds find themselves before an abrupt
and glorious interruption.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
In a valley not too far from the glimmering hills
of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds lay in the fields,
tending to their 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 shepherds
(05:14):
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 wood, a quiller.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
The eagle.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
It flies high above our heads, never bound by Earth's ould.
I wish I could sow like an eagle, the younger
shepherd replied. The others chuckled at his boyish imagination. I
would travel to Egypt and behold the great relics of Pharaoh. Well,
I would sow to Rome and have a look at
(05:56):
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 the year, they
(06:16):
existed as outcasts on the edge of the city. They
traveled the plains of the Judean 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 paul. Their gazes, fixed on the boundless heavens, grew
(06:38):
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, in a panicked voice.
(07:00):
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 an orchestra of
instruments and singing come from the light. It was a symphony,
(07:23):
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,
(07:45):
clear and resonant, rang 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
(08:07):
choir of 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
(08:29):
and see for yourselves. You will find the baby, wrapped
in swaddling claws, lying in a manger. 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,
(08:49):
the song crescendoed into a resonating song of praise. Then,
as suddenly as it had come, the light dissipated, leaving
the valley bathed 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
(09:12):
the vision they had just witnessed. The oldest shepherd turned
to his companions, Did we all just see that? Or
is this old 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
(09:34):
still flickered in the distance. Resting above the city was
a new star, radiant and singular, unlike any they had
seen before. The 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
(09:57):
they ran towards Bethlehem. The parts were aflame, with a
joy they could not contain, and a purpose they could
not deny.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people. This message
of joy echoes throughout the New Testament as joy is
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
(10:31):
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
(10:53):
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
(11:14):
to behold the new born King if he did. God
chose the rustic outcasts, 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
(11:36):
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,
(11:59):
and mild 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
Host
Zak Shellabarger
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