Behold, The Lamb of God!

Luke 2:8-20 “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them: and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them,”Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherd began saying to one another, “let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which were told them about this child. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”

Christmas is rich with symbolism. God had sent His only Son to be born from a virgin. When Christ was born, angels came and scared some shepherds spitless. What would you do, if a bunch of angels showed up talking to you? Logically, they were afraid. But the angel calmed them down and sent them to go see the Christ. So they did, and left, praising God for all they had heard and seen.

Why shepherds? Why did angels come to shepherds who were just out, minding their own business, watching over their sheep. I believe, God was continuing a narrative He had begun with Israel a long time ago.

God had the people of Israel make a sin offering by sacrificing a sheep. They had to go find a spotless lamb, then sacrifice him, for the temporary cleansing of the people’s sins. But this was only temporary. They had to keep doing it. This was the story, God was telling them. One day a lamb would come and sacrifice His life for the sins of all people for all time. He would be the spotless lamb. He would be sinless. He would be the Savior of the world.

As Jesus Christ entered the world, the angels came to the shepherds to let them know that it had begun. The Lamb, they had been looking for, had come. The Savior of the world, had come. He’d arrived into the world as every person does, through birth. The shepherds were told, because they were shepherds. They knew sheep. It would be a announcement to the world, the ultimate lamb has arrived! Why shepherds? Because Jesus was the lamb. He was the ultimate lamb.

God continues this narrative, when John the Baptist announces Jesus: “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” John 1:29

And when that time came, for Jesus Christ to offer His life as an atonement or our sins, He walked through the Pratorium, where they brought all sheep through, to be sacrificed. He followed that exact same path all sheep walk, just before they are sacrificed.

Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth, Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before it’s shearers, so He did not open His mouth.”

Those shepherds were introduced to the ultimate Lamb of God, the Savior of the world. They knew sheep. And God was telling them, here was the last and only lamb, which WILL take away the sins of this world. And they went away rejoicing and praising God. Let’s remember why we celebrate this Christmas season and let’s all rejoice, for the Lamb of God has come and He took away the sins of the world! Amen.