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Series: The Christmas Story

Sermon # 3

The Close Encounter Of The Christmas Story

(Luke 2:8-20)

The movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” which came out in 1977, is a science fiction movie about UFOs, written and directed by Steven Spielberg. According to some, Close Encounters was one of the most important science fiction movies that had been released up to that point because it portrayed aliens in a non-threatening way. And this was a definite departure from the “evil monster” style aliens of earlier films.

I’m not trying to promote or endorse that movie, but I have mentioned it in order to introduce the fact that in Luke 2, some very scared shepherds had a close encounter with beings that were not of this world. And these extra-terrestrials did not come in a threatening way. In fact, they came in a comforting way. And these beings didn’t say, “Take me to your leader.” No, they came to tell them where to find the leader. These shepherds had a Close Encounter, not with aliens, but with angels.

As we have studied the Biblical account of Jesus’ birth and the events associated with it, we have discovered some fascinating facts. We first looked at The Controlled Environment Of The Christmas Story, and we noticed God’s preparation for Jesus’ birth. We looked in a further way at The Comparative Elements Of The Christmas Story, and we noticed God’s purpose for Jesus’ birth. He was born to die. We turn our attention now to The Close Encounter Of The Christmas Story, and I want us to notice God’s presentation of Jesus’ birth. The angel’s announcement to the shepherds was actually the birth announcement that the Father had sent out. As we think about this close encounter of the angelic kind and the amazing announcement that was made, I want us to…

I. Notice The recipient Of This Angelic Announcement

(These Abiding Shepherds)

A. Let’s Think About The Special Location Of These Shepherds

This powerful proclamation was not brought to the palace, but to the pasture. But though they were in a simple environment, it was also a special environment because of the proximity associated with it. For those who received this message were “in the same country,” that is, the same country or the same area in which Jesus had just been born. And this fact is truly special, because God came near. John said “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The Son did not come to keep His distance from humankind, but “they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23). And even though He is now ascended back to the Father, Paul said that He is “not far from every one of us” (Acts 17:27).

We know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. We also know from Luke 2:7 that He was not born in the inn at Bethlehem. So where specifically was He born. The New Testament doesn’t tell us, but the Old Testament does. The Bible says in Micah 4:8, “And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” The phrase “tower of the flock” is the Hebrew phrase “Migdal Edar.” It is a phrase that is first used in Genesis 35 when Jacob, after burying Rachel at Bethlehem, “journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar” (Genesis 35:21), or the tower of the flock. In ancient times, this tower, which was situated on the outskirts of Bethlehem, was used as a military watchtower, or as Micah said, “a strong hold,” in the protection of the area. And it was close to this tower that shepherds kept a particular flock of sheep year round. Micah indicated that the ruler and the king would come to the tower of the flock; therefore Jesus’ birth must have taken place at this tower, close to those shepherds and their flock. Their location was special because of the prophecy associated with it.

B. Let’s Think About The Special Labor Of These Shepherds

Guy King called the recipients of this message “simple people,” but their duty was perhaps more involved than we have always assumed. As Alfred Edersheim wrote, “Jewish tradition may here prove both illustrative and helpful.” He goes on to say that the Jews believed Messiah would be revealed outside Bethlehem at Migdal Eder, “the tower of the flock.” And he writes, “A passage in the Mishnah (a major source of rabbinic Judaism’s religious texts) leads to the conclusion that the flocks, which pastured there, were destined for Temple-sacrifices, and, accordingly, that the shepherds who watched over them were not ordinary shepherds.” The task involved in the labor of these shepherds was a special task. You see, it was their job to make sure that these sheep would be acceptable as temple sacrifices; that they would be without blemish and without spot. And this is the reason that the announcement was made to these shepherds. These temple shepherds were called upon to go “even unto Bethlehem” and see the Temple sacrifice, “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19).

For another moment, I want us to consider the tower involved in the labor of these shepherds. There has been some debate about whether the birth of Christ actually took place in the winter, because if it were winter, the shepherds would not have had the sheep in the field. However, as Edersheim states, this location outside Bethlehem was “where shepherds watched the temple-flocks all the year round.” And this tower, Migdal Edar, was the place where the ewes were brought to give birth to the lambs. In this sheltered area under the watchtower, the priests would bring in the ewes that were about to give birth for their protection. These special lambs, which came from this unique flock, were destined for sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem. One writer indicated that in order to ensure that these special lambs were not hurt or damaged in any way, that the temple shepherds would swaddle them or wrap them in broad bands of cloth to protect them from injury. There is no doubt in my mind that when Mary and Joseph found no room in the inn at Bethlehem, they made their way to the outskirts of town, where they found privacy and refuge underneath the tower of the flock. And in this place where so many sacrificial lambs had been born and swaddled, Mary “brought forth her firstborn son (the Lamb of God), and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes” (Luke 2:7).

II. Notice The Report In This Angelic Announcement

(These Angelic Sayings)

A. There Was The Joyous Message Of The Heavenly Herald

good tidings - euaggelizo, meaning to announce good news (“evangelize”) especially the gospel. It also translated in the New Testament as “declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).”

great – megas.

1. This Angel Mentioned The Savior Of Humanity

(Luke 2:11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

The angel didn’t tell the shepherds that a baby was born to Mary, but unto you. And then as J.G. Bellett observed, the angel didn’t say “a judge nor a lawgiver” but a Saviour.

Saviour – Greek 4990. soter, so-tare'; from G4982; a deliverer, i.e. God or Christ.

(Isaiah 9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

2. This Angel Mentioned The Sign Of Humility

(Luke 2:12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

You shall find this glorious person, however strange it may appear, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a stable! It is by humility that Christ comes to reign; and this is the only way into his kingdom! Pride is the character of all the children of Adam: humility the mark of the Son of God, and of all his followers. Christ came in the way of humility to destroy that pride which is the root of evil in the souls of men. (Adam Clarke)

B. There Was The Jubilant Message Of The Heavenly Host

1. This Message Included The Praise Of God

(Luke 2:14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

2. This Message Included The Purpose Of God

(Luke 2:14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

peace - eirene, from a primary verb eiro (meaning to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication it means prosperity. It also translated in the New Testament as “one, peace, quietness, rest, set at one again.” (to mend like a broken bone)

good will – eudokia, meaning satisfaction, delight, or kindness, wish, purpose. It also translated in the New Testament as “desire, good pleasure (will), seem good.”

It was God’s purpose to show His desire to mankind; to reveal what seemed good to Him.

III. Notice The Result Of This Angelic Announcement

(The Amazing Sequel)

A. These Shepherds Made A Decision

1. Look At The Harmony Of Their Decision

(Luke 2:15-16) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. {16} And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

2. Look At The Haste Of Their Decision

(Luke 2:15-16) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. {16} And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

There was no hesitation to go to Jesus, but there was haste.

Warren Wiersbe said…

Halford Luccock called this “the first Christmas rush.”

B. These Shepherds Made A Difference

1. Their Words Made A Difference In The Hearers

(Luke 2:17-18) And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. {18} And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

2. Their Worship Made A Difference In Their Own Hearts

(Luke 2:20) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

glorifying – Greek 1392. doxazo, dox-ad'-zo; from G1391; to render (or esteem) glorious (in a wide application):--(make) glorify (-ious), full of (have) glory, honour, magnify.

To glorify is to make that which you are glorifying big to someone else. To make a big deal out of it. People in churches are making a big deal out of the wrong things. We need to be making a big deal about God and praising Him.

Conclusion: There is more to the Christmas story than we realize.

(Tan # 10631) Old Mr. and Mrs. Cooper invited the writer (Paul Lee Tan) to their home for Christmas dinner at Winona Lake, Indiana. Underneath their Christmas tree, and prominently displayed, was a red cardboard with some clippings of the three wise men and “Merry Christmas” pasted on it. I was told that the worn cardboard was 45 years old and had been placed under the tree every Christmas. The Cooper’s only son had made that Christmas card in school for his Daddy. And on his way home, some bad boys were going to tear it up. Although not used to fighting, he took off his coat and fought them off for this gift to his Dad. The Coopers never knew until a neighbor who saw it told them. And so, in deep appreciation as only parents can know, that worn-out card (with scotch tape on various places) had been set in front of all other presents for nearly half-a-century underneath their Christmas tree. It had become more than just a card because of the sacrifice involved.

Christmas is more than just a baby laying on some hay. It is an important chapter in God’s plan of redemption and reconciliation.