The greatest news is brought to the broken! This does not make sense. The only thing in this narrative that makes sense are the angels! Shepherds are considered social outcast! They were thieves. They are the type that TSA would repeatedly search again and again.
Let me give you some cultural background. If you were to have your first son, you would hire a herald to proclaim the birth of that son. Why? Because the family lineage can continue. It’s a cultural pride thing. If you had a lot of money, the herald would be great and speak well, share often. If you were broke, you might get a little herald who doesn’t like public speaking, doesn’t share the news often.
God gives the greatest news to the most unlikely herald. Why?
The Broken Marvel vv.8-14
Do we still marvel at the work of God? Is there a healthy fear of the majesty of Christ? Is there a seriousness within us that says, “I should be obedient to His will?” Two reasons why we don’t marvel at the work of God.
- We are ignorant of the work of God. We don’t know God’s Word and don’t care. When you’re broken you are looking for and clinging to the promises of God!
- We don’t marvel at God’s work and promises when we don’t think we need them. When we’re healthy, financially ok, or happy, we are comfortably numb to the need for the promises of God! That is why we don’t see the churches full until great tragedy occurs!
God uses the broken so that He alone gets the glory!
Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
The Broken Are Moved vv. 15-18
The first evangelist in the Bible are thieves who have been transformed from their former life!
Why do we not share our faith?
- We have bought the lie that says we have to have all the answers. God doesn’t need you to answer all the questions, He wants you to share!
- Pride, we want to be accepted. The approval of others! There was nothing acceptable about the Shepherds.
They were moved to be heralds of the greatest news; that salvation is here! You will not be moved to action unless you are marveled at what He has done for you! It’s not out of guilt but out of glory that moves anyone. It’s not out of an expectation of gifts but out of gratitude for what He has done on the cross! You don’t know where to move until you know where you came from. We are all broken people before Christ. God’s message of salvation is to move the most unlikely person to a saving relationship with Him! You and I were their! If you are here today and do not have relationship with Christ, you are broken, but can be made in Jesus! He loves you and died so that all of your wrong doing will be forgiven.
The Broken Are Made Right vv. 20
We go from a life of sin and self to a life of Savior and selflessness.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”