December 22, 2024, Luke 2:8-20 (Full)

Luke 2:8, shepherds keeping watching over their sheep in the pitch dark night, keeping them safe from predators and other things expected to creep in the night
Luke 2:9, all of a sudden, the angel of the Lord appears by surprise
Luke 2:10, 'Fear not', 'I bring good news for all people'.
1 Samuel 16:11, shepherds were usually the youngest in the family, and they had the lowest profession in the family
Luke 2:11, the good news delivered first onto the shepherds, the lowest of folks: 'unto you is born this day in [Bethlehem] a Savior, which is Christ the Lord'. Israel during this time was under the oppression of the Roman empire. The significance of a savior to common people was deliverance from this oppression, but there was more to God's will than that.
Luke 2:12, the angel told the shepherds where the Christ would be born, in a manger among the animals (the animal shelter was actually more like a cave)
Luke 2:13-14, suddenly the scenery changes drastically again: a multitude of angels appear out of nowhere, praising God and delivering the rest of the good news
Luke 2:14, 'with whom he is pleased' appears in some translations, to highlight the importance of obedience to God
Luke 2:15-16, the shepherds had been told where and what to seek by God and His angels, so they rise up and go immediately to find Mary, Joseph, and Jesus
Luke 2:17, after witnessing in person, the shepherds immediately spread what they had been told and seen
Luke 2:18, and those who heard this news from the lowest people in society, marveled
Luke 2:18-19, Mary put all these things to remembrance
Luke 2:20, on the way back to the sheep, the shepherds continued glorifying and praising God
Luke 2:11-12, Christ came down to the earth as a perfect lamb, to accomplish God's will

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