Title: Shepherds/Luke 2:8-20
The Magi and the Shepherds Worshiping Baby Jesus
Word: Luke 2:8-20
1. The shepherds were outside watching their flocks by night: vv. 8-9
First, the story of the shepherds and the magi tells us that God invites all kinds of people to Jesus, the light of salvation, whether they have learned little or much, high or low social status. The shepherds tending the sheep were ordinary people who managed to live in a small town called Bethlehem, who had little or nothing to learn. The light of the Lord shone on the shepherds who were unknown people, and they had the honor of being invited to the baby Jesus who came as the light of salvation. Even today, the Holy Spirit is leading those who receive little attention to the light of salvation.
Unlike the shepherds, the Magi were people with a high level of knowledge of the day, not only in astronomy but also in mathematics and philosophy. People who knew the principles of the world, important people who were recognized by society, and their words had an impact. Even those who were well-educated and socially recognized were invited to Jesus, the light of salvation. Even today, the Holy Spirit invites people who have learned a lot and are important to society before the Savior Jesus.
Second, the story of the shepherds and the magi tells us that people who were close to Jesus or not are invited to Jesus, the light of salvation. Shepherds are Jews who were close to Jesus. They are people who have heard a lot about God and expected the Savior Messiah. The wise men, on the other hand, were people from a distant country who did not have much knowledge about God. The shepherds who were close to Jesus, and the magi who seemed to have no relationship with Jesus at all, came to worship before Jesus. God brought them to Jesus in God's way. Everyone is invited to Jesus, who is the light of salvation.
When I look back over the past year, even those who have been close to faith but do not yet know Jesus, who is the light of salvation, have been invited by God and raised up as people of the kingdom of heaven. Also, the Lord came and changed people who lived without Jesus or who thought they had nothing to do with the church. The Holy Spirit not only transforms those who are close to faith into those who have met Jesus, but also transforms those who seem so far from faith into those who have met Jesus. Therefore, do not be discouraged by the current state of affairs and the Holy Spirit will change you as you continue to pray for that person.
Third, the story of the shepherds and the magi tells us that all human beings are equal before Jesus without discrimination. This world discriminates according to whether you have a lot of knowledge or little, whether you have a lot of money or not, and whether you have beauty or not. But in the sight of Jesus, there is neither educated nor ignorant, there is no one who has, there is neither handsome nor ugly. But in the sight of Jesus, who is the light of salvation, all become worshipers, and all become equal and honorable children of God before Jesus. It is in the presence of Jesus where discrimination between people disappears and true unity is experienced. Your place in the world doesn't matter at all before Jesus. We who worship before Jesus simply cannot live without God's grace. Without God's grace, we cannot be saved. Before Jesus, we all become worshipers of God.
Fourth, the story of the shepherds and the magi tells us that the humble worshiped Jesus, who came to this earth in the most humble way. Jesus came to us as a little baby, the weakest of us. Also, he was born as the son of an unknown father, not in the royal palace or the high priest's house, which is a symbol of power. The shepherds and wise men bowed their knees to worship before the weakest child, before the child lying in the most destitute-looking stable. Not reluctantly with the power of power, overwhelmed by the atmosphere, but with respect and love.
In the presence of Jesus, who came as a child, we realize that the core of Christian faith is humility. Jesus came to this earth in the most humble form. And we see the shepherds and magi who worshiped before Jesus in the most humble way. Christianity is a faith of humility. The humble will meet the humble Jesus.
2. In their daily life, they are called to Jesus, the light of salvation: verses 8-9.
God has called people who are working in their lives. When shepherds give up all shepherding and think only of God, God does not call them. When the shepherds were shepherding the sheep, God led the shepherds to the light of salvation. The same goes for the wise men. While the Magi were studying the stars, they came across a special star. It was God's calling that the wise men from the East met a mysterious star while studying the stars.
God called Moses, who was tending the sheep on Mount Horeb. The Lord called Peter, who was engaged in fishing in the Sea of Galilee. God calls us into our daily life. It is to reveal to us Jesus, the Lord of life, through the experiences we experience in our daily life.
3. The mystery of worship before Christ: verses 12-14
At first glance, saying that it is a sign to see ?쏪esus lying in a manger wrapped in cloths??rather than ?쏿 man wearing a crown and sitting on a throne??sounds absurd. What a pitiful sight to see a family struggling to receive a newborn baby after making a makeshift shelter in a stable, a resting place for horses. It is far from glory. However, it is the mystery of faith that allows us to meet the glory of God in that humble and insignificant place.
Going to church and praying in front of the power, splendor, and glory of the world is very humble. However, through prayer that seems powerless, humble, and has no influence, you come across the power and mystery of God.
Worship is also weak. If you look at the hymns in the worship service musically, it will be of a low level. A rhetorical analysis of sermons in worship would be insignificant. Nevertheless, through those seemingly feeble things, we show signs of God's grace. It's strange.
The church's chapel is shabby compared to the splendid buildings of the world. However, in this seemingly insignificant church, people change and meet God's mysterious power. In this church, you receive the comfort of God that the world cannot give.
Today, through what seemingly feeble things are we seeing the signs God gives us?