For the final time this year, it was my pleasure to preach at the midweek service for the dual parish of Immanuel Lutheran in West Point and St. Paul in Wine Hill. We concluded our "Fear Not" series with the message of the angels to the shepherds.
CLICK HERE for the sermon audio.
Fear Not: Shepherds
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
The shepherds knew a thing or two about fear, and they certainly had reason to know about fear. After all, tending the flock involved many dangers. The sheep themselves are stupid animals, just as likely to run in the opposite direction or even trample the shepherd as to go where the shepherd leads. And, of course, there are the wolves looking for dinner; they want the sheep, of course, but they’ll settle for the shepherd. The nights were long and cold and dark, conditions with plenty of inherent dangers. So if they allowed themselves to think about it, these men had plenty of reasons to be afraid. And that’s all before the angels show up—you remember: those angels that bear no resemblance to the Hallmark figurines; those angels who reflect the glory of the righteous God; those terrifying angels who bear the Word of God like a flaming two-edged sword.
And these shepherds were, at best, ordinary men. Being a shepherd did not require an advanced degree in theology, or even a degree in shepherding. It didn’t require jewelry or fancy clothing, though warm clothing would certainly help some nights. It didn’t require a way with words, though it did help if you spoke gently to the sheep so they would recognize your voice. It did require physical fitness to keep up with the sheep, sometimes to carry a sheep, and to be able to fight off wolves and thieves. Ordinary men—and sometimes just boys—these shepherds would have no reason to expect that God would have a special message delivered just for them. After all, they already knew the Ten Commandments, and they heard the rabbi teaching God’s Word. For such simple men, that was probably it for them in the way of theological education. The shepherds were ordinary people just like us—and maybe even more ordinary.
So why does this divine message come to these humble shepherds? Why should the shepherds cast off their fear at the appearance of this divine messenger and his heavenly host? The angel gives us the answer. The message that the angel delivers is “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” The others who were visited by the angels might have seemed like regular people, but they had unique qualities or backgrounds which set them apart. Mary and Joseph may have seemed ordinary, but they were descended from King David himself. Zecharias may have seemed ordinary, but he was a member of the priesthood, selected to serve in the Temple. But these shepherds were the lowest of the low, and still the Lord sent His messengers to them. On the other hand, we know King Herod was afraid; he thought Jesus was coming to steal his earthly throne. The angel doesn’t come to reassure Herod. The high priests and Pharisees and other religious leaders would be afraid; Jesus was coming to do away with the false piety of these imposters and lead the people to the true Temple, which is the body and blood of Jesus. But the angel didn’t come to them, either. He came to these shepherds. So the message isn’t only for those the world sees as special people. The message isn’t only for the ruling class, though it certainly was for them. The message isn’t only for the religious leaders. It’s for all people, even the humblest shepherd. This is truly “good tidings of great joy,” for Jesus is a Savior for all people.
This joyful message, first given to humble shepherds, is for all humble sinners. It is for us: sinners who kneel before our Lord and admit that we have sinned; sinners who admit that we fall short of God’s glory; sinners who admit that we deserve only present and eternal punishment. This joyful message is for shepherds, for doctors and nurses, for prison workers, for teachers, for students, for farmers, for mayors and judges, even for pastors! “Unto you”—unto each of you sitting in this holy sanctuary this evening, and to me, as well—“Unto you is born…a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Unto sinners is coming the Savior. He is coming to bring “peace, goodwill toward men.” How will He do that? He has come to bear your sins; He has come to die, and in that death He gives us that peace which the world cannot give: true peace, peace between the holy Father and redeemed sinners, now made saints in our Lord Jesus Christ.
The true joy and peace of this has everything to do with God’s unconditional gift to us: the giving of Jesus as a full and complete sacrifice to a world that has nothing to offer in return. Our joy and our peace are not located in check books or credit cards or gifts that are bought and paid for with our silver or gold, for these things will corrode and turn to dust and fade away. Our true Christian joy and peace are found only in the gift of life that is ours in Christ Jesus alone, which He bought and paid for “with His holy and precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.” He has come to die for your salvation, and He is coming again to bring you to be with Him forever. That is our joy and peace. And by His death and resurrection He says to you, “Do not be afraid!” In the name of the Father and of the Son (†) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.
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