The Glory Shone Around Them
Luke 2:8-15 (NKJV) 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”
Introduction:
A Savior is born.
The Light of the world has come.
The night all heaven stood by watching.
The angels were sent and appeared to the shepherds.
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them
What a night for the shepherds, their silent night had quite an interruption.
It was a holy night but not a silent one.
“Angels were heralds of the new-born Savior, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible)
Why appear to the Shepherds
Shepherding is a calling.
keeping watch over their flock by night.
In the business of their calling…
Keeping watch over their flock…
We all have a flock to be keeping watch over…
It’s when the night sets that Predators come by cover of darkness.
The most important time for a shepherd to be alert is at night.
The glory of the Lord shone around them.
9 … and the glory of the Lord shone around them
An angel stood before them.
One unnamed angel stood before them.
And they were scared to pieces…
and they were greatly afraid.
With just one angel the glory of the Lord shone around them.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
With just one angel the shepherds were greatly afraid.
First it was one angel then it was literally an army of singing angels.
That wasn’t the most breathtaking thing that they experienced that night, it was the glory that filled the atmosphere.
Heaven is a place of light which comes from the glory of God.
1 John 1:5-7 (NKJV) 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 Tim. 6:16 …who dwells in unapproachable light,
When the rays of the sun hits your face on a cold day you can feel the difference.
Not the same when you turn on a lamp next to your chair.
The rays of the sun carry a radiance, a warmth, a power.
Glory carried from the presence.
Angels have no glory in and of themselves. Created beings.
The reason the glory of the Lord shone around them is because they were coming from the presence of the Lord.
It was light but a different kind of light.
This light had substance;
The angels were carriers of the glorious light from Heaven.
When Jesus entered the world the light was turned on.
Matt 4:16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
Isa 60:19 “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory.
The advent of Christ brought light to a dark world.
Witnessed the Light has come into the world.
John 1:6-9 (NKJV) 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
The wise men were led by the light in the sky.
Like we are now led by the light in our heart.
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Walking in light.
1 Peter 2: 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
marvelous light: that passes human comprehension, causing amazement joined with terror, extraordinary, striking, and surprising.
Enlightened hearts with the light of Christ.
Eph. 1:18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Psalms 119:105 (NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalms 119:130 (NKJV) The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
Psalms 119:135 (NKJV) Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.
Light creates conviction.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
When the darkness’ is penetrated by light so it all changes…