Dig Deeper
The
Hebrew meaning of Bethlehem (“Bēṯ Leḥem”) is “house of bread.” As an agricultural
community shepherds were commoners who were often despised by the religious
elite. The very fact that these shepherds were chosen as the first to hear the
gospel message by an angle of the Lord declared, “I proclaim to you good news
of great joy that will be for all the people” is in itself evidence of the
message’s scope “for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)
In
addition to demonstrating the universality of the gospel message, the selection
of shepherds served to reinforce God’s role as Shepherd to His people (Psalm
23:1) and foreshadowed Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). It is also significant
that due to their proximity to Jerusalem these Bethlehem shepherds most likely raised
sheep for sacrifice alluding to Jesus’ great sacrifice for the sins of the
world (1John 2:2).
What
do the following Scriptures reveal God's role as Shepherd of His people?
Psalm
23:2--
Amos
3:12--
Ezekiel
34:8, 22-24--
In
John 10:11 Jesus proclaimed, ““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays
down his life for the sheep. Read John 10:11-18. What insights about Jesus as
the Good Shepherd are gained from these verses? What further roles fulfilled by
Jesus as Shepherd are revealed in the Hebrews 13:20 and 1 Peter 5:4?
Application
Bible
teacher Gene Getz in the Life EssentialsStudy Bible comments on the reaction of those who heard the Shepherd’s
report, “and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds were told about
this child” (Luke 2:18), “We should never ceases to be awestruck by the
redemptive story revealed throughout Scripture.” Read other accounts of those
amazed in Luke’s Gospel-- Luke 2:33; 4:22; 8:25; 9:43; 11:14; 11:38; 20:26;
24:12: and 24:40-41. Pastor Getz asks, “How can we keep this amazing story of God’s
grace and redemption from becoming merely factual and ritualistic repetition in
own worship experiences?
Memorize
This
Matthew
1:23— Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall
bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us. KJV
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