1. The Shepherds & The Lamb December 16 th, 2012

2. The Reputation of Shepherds  ‘for all shepherds are detestable to Egyptians’ – Genesis 46:34.  They could not vote.  They were considered unclean.  Many did not keep the Mosaic Law consistently.  These were the men that God sent the angels to!

3. The Story of the Shepherds  They are living in the fields.  They are most likely Jewish shepherds watching temple sheep.  A single angel appears to them, the glory of the Lord shines around them, and they were terrified.  What were the shepherds terrified of?

4. The Glory of God  What is the glory of the Lord? >God’s presence revealed in light.  God is Spirit -he reveals himself as light.

5. What is the Good News?  God himself is showing his presence in a way he has never shown it before.  He is showing his glory in a way he has never shown it before.  But…he’s not showing it on the mountain, or in the tabernacle, or in the temple…

6. The Good News Revealed  On this night, the presence of God, the Light of the world has come in a person – Jesus Christ & he’s not saying stay away – He’s saying… Come & Worship!

7. The Shepherds Response to The Good News  They drop what they are doing to go see Jesus.  They seek after Jesus, they want to see Him!  The shepherds encourage Mary.  They spread the word, they told others the Good News!  They return to their life praising and glorifying God.

8. The Lamb of God He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)

9. The Lamb of God  Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6 NLT)

10. John the ‘Witness’  “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)  John’s Message: REPENT!

11. The Sinless, Spotless Lamb For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. 21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. (1Peter 1:18-21)

12. Whose Sins Are Forgiven?  Not everyone is forgiven of their sins.  Only those who go to the Lamb for forgiveness.  Only those who ask the Lamb to cleanse them.  Only those who acknowledge that this child is the Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God.  Only those who trust him alone as Lord and Savior.  And those who do will come and worship him!!

13. The Lamb in Heaven “…Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13

14. Respond to The Lamb of God  Would you trust in him alone as Your Savior today?  Would you trust in him alone as the sacrificial Lamb of God for Your sins?  Would You come and worship him?