Posted on December 14, 2008 - by Tim L

Visitor - the Sheepherders

2008 Christmas 2nd class stamp

Talk 1

I was trying to buy stamps during the week for the Christmas cards we send all over the country. I tried a number of outlets and post offices but to no avail. You see I was trying to buy the 2^nd class stamps with Mary and Jesus on them rather than the ugly sisters from a pantomime. My quest was unsuccessful. I had quite an interesting conversation at the 3 pots post office. They had sold out of the religious stamps and they would not be getting anymore in as the post office would not supply them. When you go into the post office and ask for Christmas stamps they will provide you with the panto stamps – you have to specifically ask for the religious stamps if you want them. That is of course if you can actually find a post office or store that stocks them. It was all a bit of a pantomime.

Do you have a dog?

Did you know that if you point at an object out to a dog it will look at your finger rather than the object that you are pointing at. There is something the way the dogs brain is wired that means it looks at your finger. It can be very frustrating if you are trying to get the dog chase a ball. The dog looks at your finger rather than chasing the ball. You even might have to go and fetch the ball yourself if you are not too careful.

In first century Palestine it was Augustus Caesar who had ordered the decree for the census. It was he who had turned a Roman republic into an all conquering empire with him at the head. He had a famous father, Julius Caesar, who had adopted Augustus. Augustus declared his dead adoptive father to be divine and styled himself as “son of god”.

⁸There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. ⁹Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. ¹⁰The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: ¹¹A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. ¹²This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

¹³At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

¹⁴Glory to God in the heavenly heights,

Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

¹⁵As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” ¹⁶They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. ¹⁸All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Luke 2; 8-18 (The Message)

There are many things that are signposts in the Christmas story. We can see some of them here in the account by Luke, an angelic choir, a stable and a manger – they are all signposts. They are all pointing fingers, but they are not why the object is mentioned in the first place.

So, …dogs, stamps, shepherds, signposts, rulers?

There are signs today. Christmas cards, turkey, shopping, business, lights being switched on, Christmas trees, credit card bills, excited children, nativity plays, making mince pies,

But they are all signs. They are only signs.

The Shepherds were given signs. The angelic choir, the manger, the stable,…But they were all signs, they were only signs.

The shepherds were also told who this child was. This child is the Saviour, the Lord, the promised one, the King, the son of God, the re run of creation, humanity as it should be lived,….

How did they respond? They ran, .. they ran towards the sign, they ran towards the Saviour, they ran to the re-run of creation, they ran towards humanity as it is supposed to be lived, they towards it and visited the manger. But they did not worship the sign, they worshipped the baby. Seeing was believing for them.

But it did not stop at that visit for them. They visited the baby and were changed, hope had arrived, promises were being fulfilled on that day. Their response was not one of splendid selfishness, they did not just consume what they had seen and heard. Their visit changed them, they could not stay as they were. They told others, they told others that the Saviour had come, they told others that hope had arrived, the told others that salvation was here. They told others, Go and visit.

Can you see the signs?

Light a candle if the baby is the real deal

Can you be a sign?

Light a candle for someone you can tell about the baby

Candles and quiet

There are candles about for you to go and light. But don’t get confused they are a signpost, they are not the real thing itself. If the baby at Christmas is the real deal then light a candle. If you can get past the signs then light a candle. Visit, no run towards, the baby yourself. And the other pile of candles is the hope that you might tell someone else this Christmas to forget the signs but ……