When the year ends we tend of have a summary of the past year’s events. They usually include the year’s disasters, market crashes and deaths. Births, tend not to get much mention. The greatest birth in Human history did not get much immediate attention either except for a few shepherds on the Job. But this event was Good news.
Although this story is one of the most familiar in human history, there was great surprise in reaction to it. 1) Some have spent their lives watching for this event. 2) some were in astonishment, 3) some responded in praise and worship and 4) some told others of this amazing event.
In examining the light that came into the world, God shines his light into our hearts and lives. Your reaction to this story is a good indication if it is good news for you or not.
1) Surprise in Watching (Luke 2:8)
Luke 2:8 [8]And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (ESV)
Shepherds in an agrarian society may have small landholdings, but these would be inadequate to meet the demands of their own families, the needs of their own agricultural pursuits, and the burden of taxation. As a result, they might hire themselves out to work for wages. They were, then, peasants, located toward the bottom of the scale of power and privilege (Green, J. B. (1997). The Gospel of Luke. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (130). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).
These shepherds were encamped in the open field, by turns keeping watch over their flock. During the day these animals were out on the grass. In the evening they could, when necessary, be led into crude shelters, pens, or sheepfolds, to protect them against inclement weather, wild beasts, and thieves. Right near them, always watching, were the shepherds. Those men who needed sleep could retire to a hut made of branches. The actual work of keeping watch over the sheep was done “by turns,” some resting while others watched.
Does the presence of these sheep in the fields mean that Jesus cannot have been born in the month of December? Bethlehem was nearby Jerusalem, and many of the sheep used in the temple sacrifices came from there. The surrounding hills were prime grazing land, and shepherds worked in the area day and night, all year round. Therefore it is not possible to draw any conclusion about the time of year by the fact that shepherds were living out in the fields (MacArthur, J. J. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Lk 2:8). Nashville: Word Pub.).
The decision that Christ’s birth occurred on Dec. 25 was reached in the fourth century, i.e., during the reign of Constantine, the first Christian emperor (period of reign: A.D. 306–337). It was then that the date of the Savior’s birth was made to coincide with Saturnalia, the orgiastic pagan festival celebrating the return of the sun after days of constantly increasing darkness. During that festival gifts were exchanged. Christians did not object to the giving of gifts, especially if they were in the form of donations to the poor.
And as for rejoicing because of the sun’s victory over the darkness, that too was no problem. According to Malachi’s prophecy, reaffirmed by Zechariah (Mal. 4:2), is not Christ the Sun who illumines our darkness?
Luke 1:78-79 [78]because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high [79]to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (ESV)
One should not romanticize the occupation of shepherds. In general shepherds were dishonest (Sanh. 25b) and unclean according to the standards of the law. They represent the outcasts and sinners for whom Jesus came. Such outcasts were the first recipients of the good news (Stein, R. H. (2001). Vol. 24: Luke (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (108). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
As the recipients of a divine visitation, these shepherds are highly esteemed in the world of the birth narrative. This is not an esteem shared by the rulers of 2:1–2; their power is relativized and they receive no news of this divine intervention. Good news comes to peasants, not rulers; the lowly are lifted up (Green, J. B. (1997). The Gospel of Luke. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (131). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)
Poem: ("Would We Know?")
Rebecca Barlow Jordan wrote:
If we had been the shepherds one night long ago,
I wonder if we’d recognize the star or if we’d know
the reason for His birth and if we’d really go
to worship at the manger. I wonder, would we know?
Is it really any different than if Jesus came today?
I wonder, would we recognize His face in any way?
Or would we turn away from Him
not knowing what to say?
If Jesus walked among us in our hurried, busy pace,
I wonder if this stranger would really find a place?
(Galaxie Software. (2002; 2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press)
2) Surprise in Wonder (Luke 2:9-14)
Luke 2:9-14 [9]And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. [10]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. [11]For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12]And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." [13]And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14]"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (ESV)
With dramatic swiftness, one moment, the shepherds are watching their sheep and then all of a sudden an angel of the Lord, holy, strong, brilliant, stood by them. They had not seen him come.
At the same time the glory of the Lord—heavenly brightness, rightly regarded as the manifestation of God’s presence and power—flashed all around them.
The exhortation in Luke 2:10 fear not/Do not/stop being frightened/afraid is a PRESENT IMPERATIVE with the NEGATIVE PARTICLE, which usually means to stop an act already in process (Utley, R. J. D. (2004). Vol. Volume 3A: The Gospel According to Luke. Study Guide Commentary Series (Lk 2:10). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.).
This is because the angel brought the good news is that of the “evangel,” the gospel. See also 1:19; 3:18; 4:18, 43; 7:22; 8:1; 9:6; 16:16; 20:1. This was the good news of salvation through Christ (cf. to evangelize).
This was “of great joy.” for what greater joy could there be than the realization and wholehearted acceptance of the fact that God himself, through the sacrifice of his own and only Son, had brought about the solution of the world’s greatest problem, that of sin? And was not the Son’s incarnation the first step in this solution?
• “Great joy.” Gaiety, hilarity, festivity, mirth, laughter, in one measure or another these are found in many places throughout the world. But great joy, the “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:8) is the portion of God’s children, of them alone. This joy is deeply rooted. It satisfies, lasts, and even keeps on increasing, to God’s glory.
This was “for all the people,” that is, all regardless of nationality, age, wealth, fame, social position, sex, education, etc. This was the promise of Genesis 3:15; 12:3; Exod. 19:5–6; and of the eighth century prophets. This is the mystery hidden in ages past, but now fully revealed in Christ (cf. Eph. 2:11–3:13). This good news even reaches to outcast shepherds (and by implication to Luke’s Gentile readers)! (Utley, R. J. D. (2004). Vol. Volume 3A: The Gospel According to Luke. Study Guide Commentary Series (Lk 2:10). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.)
The birth mentioned in Luke 2:11 this day in the city/town of David …” Since the Jews begin the day with sunset, “this day” means this very night, only a little while ago (Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (130). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.).
In OT usage Jerusalem, not Bethlehem, is the “city of David” (e.g., 2 Sam 5:7, 9), but Bethlehem is the city of David’s origin (1 Sam 16; 17:12; 20:6), and more importantly Bethlehem is connected in Micah 5:2 to the messianic fulfillment of God’s covenant with David’s royal line (cf. at 1:32). Bethlehem is about five miles from Jerusalem and eighty-five miles from Nazareth (Nolland, J. (2002). Vol. 35A: Word Biblical Commentary : Luke 1:1-9:20. Word Biblical Commentary (111). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.).
This is as if to say, “long ago promised, promised, promised … now finally born: the promise has been fulfilled.”
The angel completed his message in Luke 8:12 by giving the shepherds a sign. This would help them recognize the baby, but it would also attest the truth of the angel’s words. In Bethlehem that night there might be one or two babies wrapped in swaddling cloths, but surely only one lying in a manger (Morris, L. (1988). Vol. 3: Luke: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (102). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).
The cloths in which Jesus was wrapped were commonly referred to as “swaddling cloths.” These were bandages that were tightly wrapped around a newborn child to hold its legs and arms still.
A manger is a feeding trough used for cattle, sheep, donkeys, or horses. Archaeologists have discovered stone mangers in the horse stables of Ahab at Megiddo. They were cut out of limestone and were approximately three feet long, eighteen inches wide, and two feet deep. Other ancient mangers were made of masonry. Many Palestinian homes consisted of one large room that contained an elevated section and a lower section. The elevated section was the family’s living quarters, while the lower section housed the family’s animals. Usually a manger, in the form of a masonry box or a stone niche, was located in the lower section. Mangers were also put in cave stables or other stalls. The manger referred to in our text-verse may have been in a cave stable or other shelter (Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & customs of the Bible (Rev. ed.].) (499–500). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.).
The future tense “you will find” takes for granted that the shepherds will seek this most wonderful babe in David’s city and assures them of their finding it (Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (132). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.).
The one they are to seek out is the “Savior who is Christ the Lord.” In order to place all the emphasis on the saving work of Jesus. In all the Synoptic Gospels this is the only place in which Jesus is called Savior. This Savior, moreover, is here introduced as the Christ, that is, the Messiah or Anointed One. He is the One anointed by the Holy Spirit to be his people’s Great Prophet, Sympathetic Highpriest, and Eternal King. The Jews expected that one day God would send a very special deliverer. He would be not simply ‘an’ anointed, but ‘the’ anointed, the Messiah. It is this one whom the angel announces (Morris, L. (1988). Vol. 3: Luke: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (102). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).
"Lord" in the Greek (is often) used to translate the covenant name of God, ... a title of deity (MacArthur, J. J. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Lk 2:11). Nashville: Word Pub.).
In Luke 2:13 we see the appearance of a multitude of heavenly host. We can here see what Jesus meant when he said that at his word twelve legions of angels (about 120, 000) would come to his aid. Áἰíïýôùí and ëåãüíôùí are plurals and modify the singular óôñáôéᾶò. The multitude “army” is a collective (Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (133). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.).
Revelation 5:11 suggests that the number of the angelic host may be too large for the human mind to fathom (MacArthur, J. J. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Lk 2:13). Nashville: Word Pub.)
Poem; Milton imagined them in serried ranks:
The helmed cherubim
And sworded seraphim,
In glittering ranks with wings displayed.…
The stars with deep amaze
Stand fixed in steadfast gaze.
(John Milton, “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity” (XI, 12–14; 69–70; VI, 69–70).)
“Host” is a military term, and it is remarkable that an army should announce peace (v. 14) (Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). Reformation study Bible, the : Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture : New King James Version (Lk 2:13). Nashville: T. Nelson.).
These angels, having been associated with Christ in heaven before his incarnation, knew something about his glory, riches, and majesty (Isa. 6:1–4; John 12:41). They had also become aware of man’s fall.
And they had been informed that God had provided a way of salvation for man. Gabriel’s announcement to Joseph—“You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21)—clearly implies this. Yet this very love probably included among “the things which angels desire to look into” (I Peter 1:12), but cannot fully comprehend?
Although the possibility must be allowed that these words were sung or chanted, is this the best explanation? Whether literally song or not, the words of Luke 2:14 are above all else an outpouring of adoration. One might perhaps say that, having become informed about the Savior’s birth, a birth under such circumstances and with such a self-sacrificing purpose, these angels never before had been so thrilled! No wonder, therefore, that from the bottom of their hearts they shout: Glory to God in the Highest!
Here the “highest” refers to the highest heavens (cf. 19:38), not to the highest degree (Stein, R. H. (2001). Vol. 24: Luke (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (109). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
These angelic words are the keynote of the famous Gloria in excelsis which was used as a morning hymn in the Greek Church as early as the second or third century, and thence passed into the Latin, Anglican, and other Churches, as a truly catholic, classical, and undying form of devotion, sounding from age to age and generation to generation (Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., van Oosterzee, J. J., & Starbuck, C. C. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures : Luke (39). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.).
The Angleic hosts proclaim that all creation shall praise God. They realize that this very Jesus, through the accomplishment of the task which the Father gave him to do, brings peace (John 14:27).
John 14:27 [27]Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (ESV)
That peace not to be taken as a universal declaration of peace toward all humanity. Rather, peace with God is a consequence of justification (MacArthur, J. J. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Lk 2:14). Nashville: Word Pub.).
• It is (a) reconciliation between God and man; (b) the believer’s serene assurance that he has a share in this reconciliation. (Rom. 5:1, 2; II Cor. 5:18–21). The more people sincerely praise God for the salvation he has brought about, the more also they possess this peace.
The angels are not glorying in man and his merits but in God and his grace (Matt. 11:26; Luke 10:21; Eph. 1:4, 5, 9.)
For those whom God is pleased focuses on His sovereign delight. True and lasting peace is the portion of those, and only of those, whom God has graciously chosen ( Isa. 26:3, 12; 32:17; 48:22 (= 57:21); Hag. 2:9; Zech. 9:10; Luke 1:78, 79; John 14:27; 16:33; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14, 17; Col. 1:20). The entire work of salvation, from start to finish, must be ascribed to him alone (Ps. 32:1; 89:33, 34; 115:1; Ezek. 20:14; Dan. 9:19; John 6:44; 15:16; Eph. 1:4; Rev. 5:9–14; 15:3, 4).
Isaiah 48:22 [22]"There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." (ESV)
Illustration: "If Only It Could Last"
World War I was characterized by trench warfare. Often the trenches of the two enemies were only a few yards apart.
On one Christmas Day the officers on both sides in one trench sector agreed that they would permit the soldiers to come out of the trenches for Christmas fellowship. The troops gladly did so.
After a short time the officers order them back into their trenches. They realized that the soldiers could not fellowship together one day and then suddenly be enemies again.
These words were written many years ago: “Thus we can always know that men could live with goodwill and understanding for each other, because one day in each year the little Divine Prince of Peace still compels them to do it.” (Hobbs, H. H. (1990). My favorite illustrations (48). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
3) Surprise in Worship (Luke 2:15-16)
Luke 2:15-16 [15]When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." [16]And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (ESV)
Their response to one another “Let us go over to” probably implies that these men had to cover an appreciable distance in order to reach Bethlehem. The place was not right next door. the translation “in the nearby fields” (verse 8) is probably not the best. Nevertheless, fully realizing that it was God himself who, through his angels, had spoken to them, they went with haste/left immediately.
By the use of the imperfect tense Luke shows very graphically that these devout men never hesitated. This was something that had to be found.
• The real test to see if information about God has penetrated our hearts is if it can be seen in action. Our obedience to truth, or lack of it shows our true belief in that truth. When God conveys information to us, often through the godly counsel of others, there is great danger in responding with a delay. Instead of thinking of a future time that we think we will obey, the truth must make an immediate impact on our actions.
4) Surprise in Witness (Luke 2:17-20)
Luke 2:17-20 [17]And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. [18]And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. [19]But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. [20]And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (ESV)
The Shepherds felt compelled to relate their marvelous experience: how first one angel had addressed them, exactly what it was he had said about the child, and the sign he had given them; how that first angel had been followed by an entire army of angels, and what this heavenly host had joyfully proclaimed. These men hid nothing. They told their story to Mary and Joseph, and to many others besides (note in verse 18: “and all who heard what the shepherds told them,” etc.).
Psalm 107:2 [2]Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble
• So thoroughly convinced were these men of the truth of their story, and so sure were they of its importance, that they were willing to risk disbelief and even ridicule.
Now amazement is fine, but it should lead to something better; as, for example, in the case of Mary in Luke 2:19. Mary treasured this report. The idea in the participle is that of throwing things together, comparing, letting one explain and add to another (contemplating). We catch a glimpse of the depth of Mary’s character, it was calm and deep, spiritually receptive and strong, steady and persevering in grace. The Greek conceives the heart as being the seat not merely of the emotions but of the entire personality, will, mind, and emotions. (“She was putting them all together in her heart/mind”( Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (138–139). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.)
And as to the shepherds? Their story too ends climactically in Luke 2:20. These men, upon returning, showed that they had not been offended by the low estate of Joseph and Mary. They did not shrink back from acknowledging the child in the manger as being indeed “a Savior, Christ the Lord.” In fact, their faith was even strengthened when they reflected on the fact that they had found everything to be exactly as they had been told. Instead of complaining, they were glorifying and praising God
(Format note: Some base commentary from Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 11: New Testament commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke. New Testament Commentary (149–163). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.)
