Messenger
“Good News of Great Joy”
Luke 2:8-20

“I am not __________”

Luke 2:8-20

“…the city of David, which is called Bethlehem…” –Luke 2:4

Why shepherds?
Lowly
Deprived 
Classless 

Significance of the location

Adam and Eve - Gen. 3:15
Jacob = Israel - Gen. 32:28; 35:10
Jacob & Rachel - Gen. 35:16-21
Rachel died & buried
Ephrathah “fruitful place” - Gen. 35
Ephrathah = Bethlehem
Beyond the Migdal Eder: “Tower of the Flock” - Gen. 35:21

“And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.” - Micah 4:8

Micah 5:2
David born in Bethlehem - 1 Sam. 16:1-4
Unblemished sheep for temple sacrifice
900 years

Significance of the location
Migdal Eder
“tower of the flock”

Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God was born in the same place unblemished lambs for Temple sacrifice were born

Sore Afraid
megas phobeo

“Fear not…” - v. 10
Jesus’ birth was for the purpose of His sacrifice!
Includes everyone 

“And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” –Hebrews 10:10

“Wonder of Christmas” - v. 14

Like the Shepherds…
Let’s rehearse who Jesus is - v. 15
Come and rededicate our lives to the Savior - v. 17
Put Christmas in our everyday work - v. 20

Messenger
“Do not be afraid” even if God rewrites your script
“Do not fear” to reverse the course of actions 
“Fear not” because of good news of great joy