Have you noticed how stressed out people are this time of year?
I've noticed that around this time of year, people get very grumpy, they can be easily angered, and are generally stressed out.
What has happened, and why are people so stressed?
~According a survey done by the Credit Council, the average American family will spend around $930 dollars on Gifts and accessories during the Holiday.
~According to Parenting and Family magazine, back in 2005, the Playstation 3 was released and many parents went on a spending frenzy in hopes of purchasing one for a child for Christmas. There was a shortage of Consoles, so the bidding war began on ebay. The highest bid was $30,000. Any other time of year, the Playstation 3 would sell for 399 dollars.
In this study, we'll answer at least two very important questions:
What is Christmas really all about?
What do we do with this information?
Luke 2:8-20
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold,[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!”[c]
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
You can just imagine these shepherds sitting out in the dark...keeping watch over their sheep...
Shepherd facts: The duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact and protect it from wolves and other predators. The shepherd was also to supervise the migration of the flock and ensured they made it to market areas in time for shearing. In ancient times shepherds also commonly milked their sheep, and made cheese from this milk; only some shepherds still do this today.
In many societies shepherds were an important part of the economy. Unlike farmers, shepherds were often wage earners, being paid to watch the sheep of others. Shepherds also lived apart from society, being largely nomadic. Shepherds would normally work in groups either looking after one large flock, or each bringing their own and merging their responsibilities.
The responsibilities were great, for every sheep was held in high value. Notice the way Jesus uses this to make his parable in Matthew 18:12
Example: the parable of the "Lost Sheep"
Matthew 18:12
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?
So hear they sit in the dark, under the stars, when "Suddenly" the Angel of the Lord appeared and the Glory of the Lord Shone around them.
One second the shepherds are sitting there minding there own business, and the next, they are surrounded by a brilliant light and an Angel of the Lord is standing before them.
The word Around here is tranlated from round "About" in the KJV. About in this context is "perilampÅ" (to shine around)
Fact: perilampo Peri (around) and Lampo (to shine); which is where we get our word for lamp.
This word is only used one other time and that's in Acts 26 as Paul gives his testimony before King Agrippa.
Paul says in verse 13 13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.
So we know that this light is bright, for Paul claims it was brighter than the noonday sun.
Its understandable then why it says in verse 9 that they were greatly afraid.
Note: The greek for great is "Megas", where we get our word Mega.
We could say then that these 3 shepards were "Mega" scared!
But the Angel of the Lord immediately calms their fears with some Great news in verses 10 and 11
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
This is the beginning of the "Gospel" or "Good News".
The angel say's "I bring you Good news of Great Joy which will be to all people".
Remember the word Megas? Same word here in vs. 10 "Mega Joy".
Notice the "all people".
Look back to Genesis 12: 2-3
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
God spoke to Abraham and in verse three spoke of Jesus being born of Abraham's lineage.
This Good News is for All people to hear and rejoice over! Every man, woman and child needs to hear.
This was a great day of celebration in Heaven too! look at verse's 13 and 14.
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, goodwill toward men!”[c]
A "Multitude", not just one or two, but a "Great number": Same word used here in Mark to describe the masses that followed Christ.
Mark 3:7 ; 7 But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea
The word Host implies and "army of angels".
Imagine the scene of thousands of Angels, the brilliant light brighter than the sun, and all of their voices proclaiming "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
What a scene.
This gives us a glimpse at the Love that God has for us, and how the angels truly celebrate when we are saved.
example: Luke 15:7: I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Notice the Order of the Hosts praise.
First: Glory to God in the highest (Highest here is a Superlative: to the highest degree or rank)
second: peace on earth, and good will towards men.
The word "will" here used in conjunction with the adjective "Good" is eudokia (you-doe-kia) which means "Well intent" or "Good Pleasure" "desire".
Then in verse 15 we read
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste
The shepherds left their sheep, and with "Haste" or "urgency" they set off to see this Savior.
Note: they left everything; This news was more important than their lively hood.
What did they do once they had seen baby Jesus? (spread the Good news of Great Joy) vs. 17
And what was the result of this? People began to Marvel vs. 18
Once the Shepherds returned to Mary, Joseph and Jesus, What did they do? vs. 20
What is Christmas about?
What do we do with this information?
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