International Sunday School Lesson Commentary: “Glory To God In Th” New Living Translation Luke 2:8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. ―Don’t be afraid!‖ he said. ―I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.‖ 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 ―Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.‖ 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ―Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.‖ 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. The People, Places, and Times Shepherds. These were men who looked after sheep. Throughout the Bible, there are a number of references to shepherds. Scholars agree that a reason for the common reference to shepherds is most likely because, where the Israelites lived, the pastoral way of living was widespread. But shepherding was not a glamorous form of work; rather, it was a humble job. Understanding the lowliness of shepherds makes our passage for today that much more meaningful when we consider that God decided that they should be among the first to receive the news that the Messiah and Savior had been born. Bethlehem. In the story of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem is the key town. Historically, Bethlehem was known as the city of David, referring to the famous King David who ruled the people of Israel hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth. Bethlehem was not a large town, so when the shepherds arrived, they probably had little difficulty finding Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. Also there is evidence that Joseph had a significant connection to Bethlehem, perhaps being an owner of a piece of land, which is the reason he and Mary journeyed there for the census. It was also known as the city that was prophesied to be the birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:5–6) Backstage By the time we arrive at the story of the angel of the Lord bringing news of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, several events have already occurred. The angel Gabriel had been sent by God to inform Mary that God was giving her a son named Jesus, who would be ―the Son of the Highest‖ and would rule a kingdom that would be established forever (Luke 1:26–38). Pregnant Mary and her fiancé Joseph had traveled at least 70 miles (from Nazareth to Bethlehem) to register under a census by Quirinius, governor of Syria. After no suitable room could be found for her to deliver the child, Mary delivered Jesus into a manager where animals stayed nearby (Luke 2:1–7). Combing Through 1. The Angel of the Lord Delivers a Message (Luke 2:8–14) In these six verses, the angel of the Lord appeared. The angel of the Lord is commonly referenced as a heavenly being who is a special messenger or servant of God. Typically, the angel comes to accomplish the explicit will of the Lord. Beside the stories of Jesus’ birth, the angel of the Lord also appears in the Old Testament, for example, to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3). The angel of the Lord came to (or stood before) the shepherds who were tending to their flock at night. The nighttime setting gives an interesting contrast when the glory of the Lord appears with the angel of the Lord. The glory is said to have ―shone round about them,‖ suggesting an image of radiating light. No wonder the shepherds became afraid. Imagine walking at night and a comet suddenly appearing before you. Fear would seem like the natural response. But the angel of the Lord quickly reassured these fearful shepherds by announcing good news of ―great joy.‖ The angel told the shepherds that he brought a message that should evoke the opposite feelings. Whereas the shepherds were afraid after having been startled by the angel, the angel said the message of Jesus’ birth should turn their fear into joy! 2. The Shepherds Spread the Message (vv. 15–18) After receiving the news of Jesus’ birth from the angel of the Lord and witnessing the multitude of angels praising God, the shepherds did two things: they believed the message was from God, and they went to see this child. Their excitement is obvious! ―Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us‖ (from v. 15). Then instead of delaying, the shepherds acted ―with haste‖ (v. 16). The shepherds’ belief in the angel’s message and their prompt journey to Bethlehem are remarkable. When the shepherds saw Jesus and realized that things were as the angel of the Lord had announced (v. 17), they could not contain what they heard; they shared it with those present, who reacted with wonder. It is not clear what they were most surprised by: perhaps by their receiving this message, or the message itself—that is, perhaps they wondered how this baby in the manger would be the Savior and the Messiah they anticipated from the Lord. 3. Mary and the Shepherds Respond (vv. 19–20) Mary’s response to the shepherds’ statements was different from the others’. Whereas they wondered at the shepherds’ words, Mary pondered them ―in her heart.‖ The language here might suggest that unlike the others, Mary’s reaction was internal and private, while the others outwardly responded. Following Mary’s reaction is the shepherds’ response to the unfolding events. Like the angels who had appeared before them, the shepherds now glorify and praise God to others. Like the angels, they experience the same joy and thankfulness to God, and they respond with worship. The shepherds couldn’t keep the angel’s message to themselves; they had to share it. Why do you think they did this? What do you think the appropriate reaction should have been to the shepherds’ message? Lesson Learned ―News is like the new reality show,‖ it has been said. Our culture has become so obsessed with news that you can find it anywhere and at anytime you want. News has almost become entertainment. You can get rapid news updates on your smartphone, Facebook, and Twitter. The unfortunate thing is that we often pay too much attention to stories that don’t matter; and the stories that do matter hardly affect us because we’ve become so numb to hearing them all the time. In our news society, how are we hearing the ―good news‖ of Jesus’ birth that the angel of the Lord announced to the shepherds? My prayer is that we don’t get bored with the good news. I pray that we are renewed and refreshed in embracing the Word of God. I pray that we see how important and how relevant the Word of God can be in our lives and in the lives of others. Make It Happen How can you read the story of Jesus afresh and with joy? Take time during this season to read through the story in different ways, each time concentrating on what Jesus’ coming into the world truly means. Try reading it aloud. Another time, try doing a slow reading (concentrating on each word). Read it at home with your family. Read it outside in an open field or area. Read it in a public place, focusing on what the ―good news‖ might mean to the people around you. And finally, remember what it means in your life, and allow yourself to be drawn to worship and praise God. I couldnt decide which song to use between the two so I put both in! May Jesus Christ and Christmas be in your hearts always!!!
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 06:14:08 +0000
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