LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 2) - PROVISION OF HOPE

Luke 2:8-15

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. 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.”

This is a passage of how the good news began to be spread. An angelic army visiting shepherds, watching over their sheep at night in the hills outside of the bedroom community of Bethlehem, just a few miles away from Jerusalem. Later on in chapter 2, after the shepherd visit the newborn savior, they are so filled with joy that they spread the news to everyone they encountered.

Last week we began our series in the Gospel of Luke by looking at some UN-extraordinary people, Zechariah and Mary - but people who were living in HOPE.

Here Luke continues that theme. The shepherds were UN-extraordinary as well. Gruff, uneducated working class people, doing their duty as they protected the lambs that would be used for the sacrifice at the temple. But the message was truly extraordinary: Today, in the city of David, a SAVIOR has been born to you - he is the anointed one, the Lord.

This message, according to the angel, was good news of great joy for the world. For all people. And the angel army chanted their worship of God who was finally bringing the provision that would bring peace on earth: peace between God and man, which would lead to peace among mankind.

We are so used to hearing that part of Luke 2 that often we forget another UN-extraordinary person who shows up in the Christmas story - he is an old man who has been waiting for such good news as the angel delivered to the shepherds.