SCRIPTURE:
"And there were shepherds living out in the
fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord
appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news
of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a
Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great
company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor
rests." (Luke 2:8-14, NIV)
APPROACH
QUESTION:
What is the greatest news you have heard in your
life?
OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what do I learn about the shepherds?
1. They were living out in the fields nearby.
2. They were keeping watch over their flocks by
night.
3. They were visited by an angel of the Lord who
appeared to them.
4. The glory of the Lord shone around them.
5. They were terrified.
OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what does the angel of the Lord do
to appease their fright?
1. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid"
2. I bring you good news of great joy that will be
for all the people.
3. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been
born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
4. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
5. The angel is joined suddenly by a great company
of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself of all the people the angel of the
Lord could have appeared to, what is the significance of appearing to the
shepherds?
Shepherds were usually the lowest of the low in their job classification dealing
with dirt, danger, and death. This was a mundane night job that they were
probably doing everyday faithfully and one day a breakthrough came in their
lives with the greatest news announced to them from an angel of the Lord.
It is to these shepherds who had to clean their
sheep, have to keep them safe from the wolves/lions who want to tear their sheep
apart, keep them from going astray, and have to take them to find green pasture
is to whom the angel of the Lord appears. Sheep are the most cuddly animals but
they are dumb so they needed someone to take care of them. It is to these
shepherds the angel appears with the greatest news. The last thing they expected
was to be greeted by an angel of the Lord.
It just shows that the Lord does not choose
people we think would be chosen to meet the One who would one day become the
King of kings, Lord or lords, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor.
The shepherds were not dignitaries or high class people but smelly and low class
and yet they were chosen to hear about the greatest news first. But, the
significance of the shepherds being chosen is much more greater not only for
them but for humanity. God knows what He is doing.
INTERPRETATION/APPLICATION:
I asked myself how can the angel of the Lord
choosing shepherds, to give the great news, be beneficial not only for them but
for all of humanity?
I believe the angel of the Lord wanted to
introduce them to the One who would become the CEO of all shepherds.
As shepherds, they knew how to take care of their sheep from an
earthly perspective. Now the angel of the Lord wanted to introduce
them to a Savior born in Bethlehem who is Christ, the Lord who would
one day become a Shepherd Himself, not any Shepherd but the Good
Shepherd.
When Christ grew up and became the Good
Shepherd beginning His ministry at 30 years, I believe those
shepherds who were watching over their flock that night could have
remembered that night and said to themselves, ‘as shepherds we saw
Him as a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger and now He has
become a Shepherd too and we had the honor of seeing Him born.'
It is important to remember that those
shepherds whom the angel of the Lord spoke to could have still been
alive because when Jesus began His ministry, He was only 30.
Shepherds in those days were young whether it was Moses or David as
examples. Even if the shepherds were 40, they would be 70 years old
when Jesus began His ministry.
One thing however they would realize is
that Christ became not the shepherd of sheep like they were, but
that He became their Good Shepherd and the shepherds were His flock
who became His sheep.
Jesus said, “I AM the Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10,
NIV)
Jesus also said, “I AM the Good
Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– just as the Father
knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them
also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock
and one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)
It is exciting to know that Jesus is the
Good Shepherd and we are His flock. The angel of the Lord appeared
to the shepherds to tell them the glorious good news of a Good
Shepherd that was born in Bethlehem.
I believe it was also to help the shepherds see that night how one
day the Good Shepherd would lead His flock including themselves.
Whatever they were going through, they were given the Good News of 'A
Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord'
IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself the implications for my
own life to realize that the shepherds were given the Good News
first?
The implications are so profound not only to my life but to humanity
knowing that Jesus Christ was born as the Savior to become my Good
Shepherd and the Good Shepherd of all who would turn to Him
including those shepherds that wonderful night. When I think about
an analogy between what the shepherds were doing that night and what
the Good Shepherd would do thirty three years later it is a joyful,
teary experience. The purpose of today's study was for me to
understand how Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd would clean me,
protect me from Satan, keep me from going astray, and lead me to
green pastures as my Lord and Savior.
HOW
GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING S.H.EP.H.E.R.D.S:
Travel back with me in time and imagine with me the interaction that
could have occurred between those shepherds on Friday at the
Shepherds Union 33 years later after Christ was born! It took place
on the hills of Calvary instead of Bethlehem and how it has impacted
my own life right now in the 21st century.
Shepherds Union: The night Christ was born,
we were in the trenches in Bethlehem cleaning our sheep from the
filthy dirt the sheep got themselves into. We cleaned them with soap
and water. We were visited by an angel of the Lord to go see a
Savior born in Bethlehem and we decided to go and see.
Shepherds Union: Now, 33 years later on
this night ( 3:00 p.m. but dark) when Christ died, we saw
Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd was also in the trenches where he
was laid upon a cross and lifted up at Golgotha to clean me and you,
His sheep. Jesus came to clean humanity from the filthy dirt of sin
that humanity is in bondage to. But, no amount of liquid soap
and water could clean humanity so Jesus became the Living Water and
decided to use His precious blood as the soap disinfectant to wipe
away my sin and yours. Only Christ could clean humanity from it's
filthiness because He who had no sin had to become sin for me and
you. He who had no sin was the only one who could produce a pure
antidote for our cleansing from this filthy, deadly virus known as
sin. So, Jesus died on the cross of Calvary shedding His precious
blood for humanity. But, Jesus was not going to force His antidote
on any of the sheep (you or me) to clean us except make it available
to us by His grace. When you and I take the antidote He offers you
and me, you and I will be cleansed of all our sin. He is the Good
Shepherd that came to lay down His life for the sheep (you and me).
He is our Savior.
Shepherds Union: The night Christ was born,
we put our lives in danger to protect the sheep from the
wolves/lions who wanted to tear them apart. The wolves liked the
blood of our sheep. Boy, were we frightened when we saw an angel of
the Lord come to us lowly people, but the angel gave us great news
of joy by leading us to see the Savior born in Bethlehem, wrapped in
swaddling clothes laying in a manager, as His mother Mary stands
next to Him looking over Him.
Shepherds Union: Now, 33 years later on
this night ( 3:00 p.m. but dark) when Christ died, He became
our Good Shepherd to ransom you and me from the bondage of sin and
death so His blood alone can keep us from being torn apart by the
wolf/roaring lion called Satan. Satan cannot stand the blood of
Jesus. It cannot touch anyone covered in the Blood of Jesus. Praise
the Lord. Thank you so much Jesus for covering us in your Blood. I
am so teary in joy to know that Jesus Christ came to be born, so one
day, He could prevent Satan from attacking me. All I have to do is
listen to my Savior's voice and turn to Him to be saved. He will
save me and you because of what He (our Good Shepherd) did for
us tonight. Mary was so happy that night being full of joy and
now she is here standing next to Jesus crying because Jesus
sacrificed His life for you and me. Thank you Jesus.
Shepherds Union: The night Christ was born
we were protecting our sheep from going astray by being there for
them knowing that our sheep are dumb and cannot take care of
themselves. We almost fainted that night ourselves unable to take
care of ourselves but thankfully the angel took away our fear and
sent us to the stable to see the Savior who was born who would be
Christ, the Lord.
Shepherds Union: Now, 33 years later on
this night ( 3:00 p.m. but dark) when Christ died, He became
our Good Shepherd to protect us from going astray forever when He
provided the means and antidote to save us through His BLOOD. As a
sheep when I turn to Him, He will take care of me forever from going
astray. Sin has made us dumb to goodness so none of us are good, not
one for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and
that is why Jesus, the Good Shepherd had to intervene in our lives
and He has. He has! I am so teary again to think about what Jesus
did for you and me. Jesus had to be born to die for you and me for
He was born to die to bring direction to Heaven. Thank you Jesus! We
got to experience the joy of His birth and now the sadness of His
sacrifice for us. He has become our Savior though it is so painful
for us to experience what happened to our Good Shepherd.
Shepherds Union: The night Christ was born
earlier that day, we led the sheep to green pastures to eat and be
filled so they become nourished. Later, we were led to a
stable where we saw Christ the Lord, in a manger. Who would have
thought 33 years later we would be reflecting on what happened then
and now.
Shepherds Union: Now, 33 years later on
this night ( 3:00 p.m. but dark) when Christ died, He became
our Good Shepherd who provided the way for us to find the green
pasture of Heaven when we follow Him. Jesus came that we might find
life and find it more abundantly. This would not have been possible
without the Good Shepherd laying down His life for us the sheep. I
am so teary with joy again. Thank you so much Jesus.
And the Shepherds adjourned the meeting for
the night and went to bed sorrowfully. At the conclusion of the
Shepherds Union on Sunday, they got the most astonishing news ever.
They heard through the grapevine that the Savior who they saw as a
baby wrapped in swaddling clothes laying in the manager who came for
them, the Savior who they saw wrapped in blood laying on the
cross who died for them, has come back to life and has shown
Himself to more than 500 people. Their joy knew no bounds for they
knew they will be taken care of by the Good Shepherd who would
forever be their Good Shepherd as their Lord and Personal Savior.
This same Good Shepherd became my Good
Shepherd too. Whatever the shepherd's experienced because of
Christ's birth, death, and resurrection, I have experienced too
because of what Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd has done for me. I
can relate to the shepherd's story but more than that I have the
Word of God to give me promises of His Salvation to save me. That is
exciting to know on this glorious Christmas Day.
He can be your Good Shepherd too! As Pastor
Hugo gave one of the meditations at the Christmas Eve service, He
concluded the service with John 3:16 which is the Christmas story
and Gospel in a nutshell. He asked me and others in the congregation
to put our names in the Bible verse because just as the angel of the
Lord spoke to the shepherds that night to tell them about a Savior
to save them, God is telling us about His love and the Savior who
can save us. Yes, friend He can save you and me.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not
perish but have Everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"For God so loved the world
[RAMESH] that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever [RAMESH]
believeth in Him, shall not perish but have
Everlasting life!" (John 3:16, NIV)
God giving His begotten Son to you and me
is the Christmas story. God giving His begotten Son to die for you
and me, so that we will not perish but have Everlasting Life with
Him, as He came back on the third day, is the Gospel story.
Jesus came to be born for my sake and your
sake. He became our Good Shepherd to shepherd us for all Eternity.
He died and rose again to give us new life. I believe in Jesus. I
believe He died and rose again. I believe He came to give me life.
He is standing in our amidst to heal us now and the grace to
forgive. (Words taken from song 'I Believe in Jesus') He came
to give you abundant life too. Yes, He has friend.
As you think about Christmas, don't just
get stuck with Jesus as a baby in the manager. Jesus is not a baby
anymore but the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the
Savior that the world needs. He is our Emmanuel who alone can bring
light into this dark world covered in sin. He is the Word that
became flesh for us and made His dwelling among us so He
could become our Lamb of God to take away our sins by becoming our
sacrifice to redeem us. I praise the Lord for that.
What Jesus did for me He can do for you too
right now redeeming you and giving you new life. It does not matter
what you have done or where you have been because Jesus saves you by
His grace. It is a free gift of grace to bring freedom to you not
dependent on your good deeds but solely upon Him.
For none of us are good but all have fallen
short of the glory of God but God demonstrates His own love for us
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and purchased us with
His precious Blood. (Romans 3 & 5)
You don't have to have doubts whether the Lord
will accept you because He will accept you as you are in your sin
when you turn to Him repenting of your sins and asking Him for
forgiveness. He will then make you new as you acknowledge Him as
your Lord and Savior of your life. For that is why He came.
(Romans 10).
He will be your Good Shepherd too as He has
become mine. Come as you are and ask Jesus to be part of your life.
You don't need special words and the best gift you can give Jesus
for His birthday is yourself surrendering your life over to the One
who came to save you and set you free! Praise the Lord! The
shepherds were revealed that and now it is revealed to you that the
'I AM' is here for you.
Jesus also said, “I am the good
shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– just as the Father
knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them
also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock
and one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)
I ask you now dear friend how do you relate
to the S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D.S this Christmas season?
Dear friend, no matter what your occupation is, where you have been,
what you have done, what you are doing, you can come to the Good
Shepherd as you are and allow Him to work in your life, bind up your
wounds, and lead you.
As the shepherds were introduced to a
Savior by the angels so can you just as you are! If you are all
muddy and yucky with things that have happened, allow Jesus to clean
you. He will clean you so well and cover you with His precious
cleansing blood.
None of us can clean ourselves for if we
could do that, there would not have been no reason for Christ to be
born. Christ came to be born so one day He could be our Good
Shepherd and deliver us from the wolf of Satan.
You are never out of His love and never out
of His reach. He will hold you in His arms of love as a Good
Shepherd holds a sheep. He will be your Mighty God and Everlasting
Father! He will be your Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace!
The angels came to the shepherds for a
reason. It is to introduce them to the One who came to be their Good
Shepherd one day. Jesus wants to be your Good Shepherd too! Yes, He
does friend! Yes, He does! Come and give your life to the Good
Shepherd this Christmas season!
Yes, come as you are! When the presents are
given and the presents are opened, the soul will still be
malnourished without Christ the Lord entering and transforming it.
But, with Christ the Lord everyday can be Christmas because Christ
is born in your hearts everyday. You will not be walking this life
alone but with the One who gave His life for you.
The Good Shepherd is only a call away.
Jesus wants to be your Good Shepherd and lead you. Jesus sees you as
His tender flock. He wants to lead you through green pastures and
give you everything you need. Yes, He does! He wants to guide you in
the best pathway for your life and watch your progress. No matter
where you have been, Jesus looks for you and wants to bring you back
to His fold.
When you are alone without Jesus in your
life, you are so susceptible to the wolves of life whatever they
maybe to come and pounce on you, trouncing you, wounding you, and
even leaving you to die. You maybe be alive physically but the soul
can be so malnourished because of the sin that is so prevalent, it
will affect your life spiritually, physically, emotionally,
relationally, and mentally in a negative way.
But the Good Shepherd does not want that to
happen to you or to me. Because of His agape love for you, Jesus was
born to die. Jesus died on the cross to deliver you from Satan's
clutches because He loves you so much. Jesus knew only His blood can
clean you and make you clean.
Jesus became the Lamb of God to take away
the sin of the world. If it ended there, there would be no hope but
just as exciting Christmas season is, so is the season of Easter
when Jesus came back to life to bring Salvation to humanity after
giving His life on Good Friday.
Friend, the Lord desires that none should
perish but all come to repentance. Christmas season if for all to
come realize that the baby Jesus is not a baby anymore but the
Savior and Lord of the Universe who sought humanity to save them by
His death and resurrection after His birth.
Friend, if you don't know Jesus or have
lost your first love of Jesus, you can come back to Him this
Christmas season. Yes, you can friend. Right now is the time. You
don't have to wait. Now is the time of Salvation to receive the Good
Shepherd or return to Him if you have known Him at one point but
went astray. Yes, you can friend!
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we become
His sheep that He wants to take care of when we allow Him to. When a
sheep gets lost, the shepherd goes out to look for the sheep.
Many of us can be lost in our own problems
and our own sins. Because of those things we can go astray in life
even entering dangerous situations but there is hope when that
happens.
Yes, there is friend and it is in Jesus
Christ, our Good Shepherd. Jesus shared a story in Luke 15 about 100
sheep and even if one is lost, the shepherd goes after that one and
when that one is found there is great joy and rejoicing in heaven.
Jesus wants to be your Good Shepherd this Christmas season. Yes, He
does friend!
When my friend Yanbo Chang gave his life to
Christ, there was rejoicing and celebration in Heaven. When a young
Hindu family man gave his life to Christ after hearing my mom share
Christ's love with him in the hospital, he gave his life to Christ
few days ago. Now, as he called on Jesus' Name, He was completely
healed and released from the hospital and wants to share the love of
Christ and His testimony when he returns home to his children and
wife letting them know the love of Christ.
Friend, if you do not know Jesus or have
bee far from him. You can come back. Yes, you can! This Christmas
season is for you. Jesus is the reason for the season. No matter
where you have been or what you have done or what others have done
to you, Jesus loves you so much that if you were the only one living
He would have still been born to die for you and redeem you! Yes,
friend Jesus wants to be your Good Shepherd and came to seek and
find that which was lost.
If you are reading this and do not know
Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior or have known Him but the
things of this life have crowded Him out, Jesus is still seeking
you!
Friend, are you that
lost sheep?
Have you gone your
own way?
Have you lost the
meaning of Christmas and why it is special?
Have you entered
dangerous situations?
Jesus is the Answer and He is there for
you! When a wolf attacks a sheep, the sheep is wounded but when the
shepherd sees that happening, if he is the Good Shepherd, he does
not stay away but comes to rescue the sheep and bind its wounds.
Jesus said, "The thief comes to steal,
kill, and destroy, but I have come to give life in all its
fullness!" (John 10)
Oh yes, friend Jesus has come for you as
you are as He came for me and so many other. In life, we are
attacked by a wolf that comes like a roaring lion waiting for
someone to devour and wound. Satan is his name and attacking
humanity is his game. Many have been attacked by Satan and have been
wounded but the Good News is there is a Good Shepherd. Jesus is His
name and He is there to bind up our wounds and lead us in the right
path. He wants to do that for you! Oh yes He does!
The wounds can be the sins in our lives
that only the Lord's cleansing precious blood can be the antidote
for. When you come to Him, confess your sins repenting of them, and
ask Jesus to be your God and Savior, He will because He died for
your sin and came back to life to save you. Yes, friend Jesus is
alive. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born as
God-incarnate into this world to redeem humanity to redeem you and
me!
The Word became flesh and dwelled among us
and the light shined in the darkness and the darkness could not
extinguish it. (John 1)
"To all who received Him, He gave them the
right to become the children of God, children not born of natural
descent but by the will of God!" (John 1:12)
Psalm 147: 3 says, “He heals the
brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalm 23 says, The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he
leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in
paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for
you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint
my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will
follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of
the LORD forever.”
Jesus is for you and came for you! May you
know Christ happily redeems intentionally souls today mightily as
Savior! He came to redeem you too! May this poem tell you the story
of Christmas and keep Christ in your heart as you pray the prayer
below too!
Many, years ago, prophesy told the coming of
no ordinary child.
Entering Bethlehem, Mary & Joseph settled in a
place that was wild.
Resting there, Mary gave birth to her
firstborn Son.
Realizing from the Angels, a Savior was born,
the Shepherds did run.
Yes, they hurried off and saw the baby lying
in a manger away from danger.
Concerning what had been told about the Child, they spread the Word.
Hearing, all were amazed what shepherds said
and none were bored.
Raising their voices, appeared with Angel
company of Heavenly Host.
Indeed praising God and saying, "Glory to God
in the Highest (Most).
So overjoyed, Magi came from the East, seeing
a beautiful star.
They found house, bowed down, worshipped
Christ, after coming so far.
Magi, then presented Jesus with gifts of gold,
frankincense, and Myrrh.
And Mary, treasured up all that happened &
pondered them in her heart.
Since Herod was evil, Magi took another route
in their camel's cart.
"Christ Happily Redeems Intentionally Souls
Today Mightily As Savior!"/"How do you relate to the shepherds this
C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S?"
"Savior's Holiness
Emancipates People's Hearts Everyday Redeeming Daily
Souls!(S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D.S)"How do you relate to the S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D.S
this Christmas season?
Won’t you come to
Him friend and help others come to Him?
If you want to turn to the Good Shepherd,
make this your prayer.
Prayer:
Jesus, you say, 'I AM the Good Shepherd!' God alone used 'I AM'
when speaking with Moses. You use it now to make it known that you
are Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, and Prince
of Peace. Thank you for being born and all that you are to me. I
heard you are the Good Shepherd. I want to thank you most of all for
being the Good Shepherd even for me. I need a Good Shepherd in my
life to lead me and guide me. My sin has made me dirty on the inside
and attacks of Satan have wounded me. I have gone astray and have
done my own thing. Yet, you care for me and laid down your life for
me on the cross to give me new life as you shed your blood for me to
wash away all my sins. Your Blood became the transfusion for those
wounded by Satan. Your blood heals all the wounded areas to give me
a new life. I want that new life so I turn to you now as a sheep
that has gone astray and ask for your forgiveness of all my sins, to
come and save me Jesus. Deliver me Oh Good Shepherd! I know you can
save me when I turn to you and ask you to be my Good Shepherd. I
know you died for me and came back to life to save. Now I can hear
your voice in my heart as I stay with you. I want you to stay with
me Jesus in my heart and make my heart your home so I can always
have you as my Good Shepherd with me knowing you are my God and my
Savior. This way even when I am going the wrong way or fall in a
ditch, you can pick me and set me in green pastures. I love you
Jesus! Thank you for being with me. Thank you for loving us so much
that you were born in a stable in Bethlehem so one day you could
become our Good Shepherd. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal
Savior. I thank you for being the Good Shepherd who laid down His
life for me the sheep and for coming back to life on the third day
to save. Thank you for being the Lamb of God. Help me to share you
with everyone. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior.
Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior and changing me.
Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. In Your
Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
May my spoken words
and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my
Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace,
Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a
life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I
need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround
me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your
presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you
love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek
your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for
your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case.
Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!
(Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)