The Shepherds’ Jubilee | Christmas Sermon | Luke 2:1-20

INTRODUCTION

What is your state of mind as we near the end of this year? Maybe, you are pretty much caught up with your work, paying back your loans, raising your children, and caring for an invalid parent. Nothing out of the ordinary seems to be happening. You may feel, “Well Christmas will come and go but I do not find anything interesting, my life is the same, my sorrows are always with me, I’m struggling and there is no jubilee in my life.” Today we will see how we can be jubilant in our lives in the midst of our circumstances by looking at the Shepherd’s Jubilee. How to experience joy amid sorrow?

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-10

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register. ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Luke 2:11-20

¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:8-10

 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

The first announcement of Jesus’ birth went to some shepherds. The only invitation from God to anyone to come and visit Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus was to a group of shepherds. Shepherds were at the opposite end of the social hierarchy. They were common, ordinary people who lived in the fields with their animals, they weren’t respected, and they had no power or prestige, yet these shepherds were given importance by God.

1. You are important to God according to the Shepherd’s Jubilee

God knows you. Somebody says, “I’m precious to God.”
No matter how insignificant you may think you are; God knows you, & you are important to Him.

1 Corinthians 1:26-28 

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world.

God chooses the lowly and despised to show His power to the wise. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, rejected by his employer, and put in prison but God chose Joseph to advise Pharaoh.

When God decided to select a mother for His Son, He went past the Romans and the Herods. He went past the rich and the influential to an insignificant village called Nazareth. He found a godly girl. She did not dress in the best clothes, neither did she have a great education, nor did she have gold or silver, but she was pure, and God selected her to be the mother of His only begotten Son.

The birth of Jesus brought good news to the despised and suffering people. Mothers who are struggling to raise their children Christ has good news for you. You who are lonely, Jesus cares for you. If any one of you is feeling useless & empty today Jesus Christ loves you and that is why he was born. You are important to God.

2. Christ brings good news for all those who believe

Luke 2:9-10

 ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

Listen, when the good news was presented by the angel and as the light shone around the shepherds, they were terrified. Fear is a natural response of man. This is the same even today. Even as we have Christ in us some of our hearts seem to be filled with fear – fear about your family, your health, your job, your children, your finances, your tomorrow. If Christ is in you, you need not be fearful because Jesus brings good news of great joy.

The shepherds soon started to believe that Christ had been born. The faith was reassured by God by sending them a heavenly host of angels. The shepherd’s jubilee shows it all.

Luke 2:13-14

 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The joy of Christ is only for those who believe. The shepherds started to believe in Christ and soon they were surrounded by the heavenly angels. Their fear was replaced by joy, singing, and jubilee. Innumerable angels stretched from one horizon to the other to witness and sing for the most amazing event in the history of the universe – the birth of Jesus Christ.

History says there was one such previous occasion where all the angels sang. The book of Job says that at creation the morning stars sang together, and all the angels shouted for joy.

Job 38:7 

While the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

When God thought of creating you and me the angels sang, and there was music in heaven. Then when man sinned and when God sent his son Jesus to redeem you and me to him again the angels sang thinking about the good news that has come to us.

Only a few had the privilege to share in this jubilee of Christ’s birth. While the people of this world are living in fear Christ is good news and joy for the ones who believe in Him.

John 3:16

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

3. How do you respond to Jesus makes all the difference in your life

Luke 2:15-16

 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

What would have been some of our responses if we were in the shepherd’s place?

1. Doubt. We would have doubted this message. Some of us still doubt the gospel. Why only the Bible, why only Jesus, why not this and why not that and they finally would not go.
2. Reject. Some of us would reject it. Oh, Christ is not for me!
3. Give excuses. Oh, It’s night! I’m tired. Maybe I will go to church next Sunday. You know I am going through a tough time, so keep me out of celebrations.
4. Debate. The shepherds could have sat down and analyzed what they should do. They could have debated about the scriptures. Some assume themselves as intellectual and debate about the gospel.

If we were in the place of the shepherds, we would have talked and talked and talked and not responded to the good news. Sometimes we talk out rather than respond in faith. But the shepherds chose to believe and put their belief into action hurrying in the night to see Jesus.

Luke 2:16 

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

It is not enough to hear about Jesus. It is not enough to know about Jesus. The birth of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago in Bethlehem will not make any sense to you unless you respond by accepting Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

4. What you do with the good news is of even greater importance as we see the shepherds

Luke 2:17-18 

¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Once they saw Christ, they started spreading the word to everyone about Jesus. The shepherds did not emphasize what it was like to see an angel or to hear the angelic choir. Nor did they dwell on how frightened they were. Their main interest was in reporting concerning this Child.

Listen the shepherds had a good time listening to the heavenly choir. They had a great fun trip to Bethlehem. Most of all, seeing Jesus was the high point of their life. The whole event was fun and exciting like a great vacation but soon they had to get back to work and responsibilities as a shepherd. They had to face the reality of life. However, the encounter with Jesus changed their perspective on life. Their lives changed, and they could not keep themselves from sharing the good news with everyone they came into contact with.

Receiving Christ is an exciting and triumphant experience but soon every one of us faces the realities of life. What keeps us jubilant throughout our lives is the message of the good news that we are to share with others. People outside need Christ, people in your neighborhood need Christ, people working with you need Christ, and our relatives and friends need Christ. We have a greater responsibility to tell the world about this savior born and as we share this good news with others it makes our lives jubilant.

See what happened when the shepherds shared Jesus?

Luke 2:18 

All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Amazed means greatly surprised, astounded, and filled with wonder.

The gospel amazed them. Even today the gospel amazes people and attracts them to Jesus. The gospel of Jesus has great power. It is our responsibility to share this wonderful, amazing, good news with others.

CONCLUSION

Being a shepherd in Jesus’ times was lonely, boring, tedious, and often filled with danger. In Jesus’ story, the shepherds are jubilant people. What kept the shepherds going and jubilant was hope, hope that came to them when the angels proclaimed the good news of Christ’s birth. Whatever the circumstances you are going through today you can be jubilant, and you can have hope if Christ is in you, and you share Christ with others. Let the shepherd’s jubilee fill every heart in this place and may God give us the grace to proclaim the good news to our world. God Bless.

Let’s Pray.

For more related sermons

A Saviour has been born | Luke 2: 10 – 11

Christmas Responses 

Christmas – A message of Hope | Luke 2: 10 – 20 

Hope | Luke 2: 1 – 20